You reach for the same necklace most mornings, layer in a couple of favourites, and rarely give any of it a second thought until something looks dull, a clasp gives way, or a chain comes out of the drawer in a knot.

You reach for the same necklace most mornings, layer in a couple of favourites, and rarely give any of it a second thought until something looks dull, a clasp gives way, or a chain comes out of the drawer in a knot.

Stand in front of a tray of chains and they can all look much the same from a step away. Get closer and the differences come alive: the flat polish of one, the rounded rope of another, the way light runs along a snake chain…

Asking the people you love most to stand beside you on your wedding day is one of the sweeter parts of getting engaged. There is usually a little ceremony to it, a card, a glass of something, a small gift held out across the table.

A bracelet that fits well is one you stop noticing. It slides on without a fight, sits with a little movement, and stays put while you type, drive and wash your hands.

The word sustainable now sits on more jewellery than ever, and it is fair to wonder how much of it is real. Sustainable jewellery in the UK usually means pieces made to lower their impact across their whole life: recycled metals where possible, durable construction…

Most of us have stood at the mirror holding a gold chain to one collarbone and a silver one to the other, turning side to side, trying to work out which one looks like us.