The 7 Secrets to Choosing Jewellery You’ll Treasure for a Lifetime
Jewellery isn’t just something you wear — it’s part of you.
It’s the silver bangle you’ve worn to every celebration.
The ring you fiddle with while you wait for your morning flat white.
The earrings that somehow make you feel quietly brave before walking into a room.
We keep these little treasures because they hold more than metal and stone. They hold stories.
But with so many choices out there, how do you know what will truly last — not just in quality, but in meaning?
Here’s what I’ve learnt at the bench in my Mt Eden workshop, crafting handcrafted jewellery for people who want pieces that feel like them.
1. Choose Texture and Detail You Can Feel
The most-loved jewellery isn’t just beautiful — it’s tactile.
Run your fingers along a hand-scored silver surface. Feel the dip in a hammered bangle. Notice the warm weight of solid bronze resting in your palm.
These little details are impossible to fake. They’re what make a piece worth reaching for, day after day.
2. Look for a Connection, Not Just a Sparkle
That first “ooh” moment is magic, but connection runs deeper.
It might be a pendant shaped like a seed pod from the garden you grew up in. Or earrings that echo the curve of a leaf you’ve seen a hundred times on summer walks along the coast.
If you catch yourself smiling at it without thinking… that’s the one.
3. Favour Quality Over Quantity
We’ve all bought “just for now” pieces — and watched them fade or break.
A small collection of well-made jewellery will outlast a dozen fast-fashion buys.
Solid gold or silver jewellery. Natural gemstones. Pieces that can be repaired or resized as life changes.
Good jewellery isn’t a fling. It’s a long-term relationship.
4. Think About Your Everyday Life
A statement necklace is lovely… but if it never leaves the drawer, it’s not doing its job.
The pieces you love most are the ones that fit your real life.
Look for everyday jewellery that can shift from work to weekend, from school run to dinner out.
If you can style it three ways without trying — that’s a keeper.
5. Ask About the Story Behind the Piece
Every handcrafted piece has a story.
Sometimes it’s the maker’s inspiration — a clematis vine curling up a fence, or the rippled imprint of basalt rock.
Sometimes it’s the way it was made — wax shaped by hand, then cast into precious metal.
When you know the story, you’re not just wearing jewellery. You’re carrying a fragment of someone else’s journey, woven into your own.
6. Try It On and Notice How You Feel
Jewellery is personal.
It’s not just about how it looks in the mirror, but how it feels the moment you put it on.
The right piece feels like it belongs — as though it’s been waiting for you.
If it makes you feel more like yourself, even on a Monday morning, you’ve found a match.
7. Care for What You Own
Even the toughest pieces need a little love.
Store them somewhere safe (zip-lock bags work wonders for silver), keep them away from harsh chemicals, and know when to take them off.
A gentle polish now and then will keep the metals glowing and the gemstones bright.
If you’d like more tips, read my free Jewellery Care Guide — it’s full of easy, practical ways to keep your favourites looking just as good as the day you got them.
Your jewellery should be as individual as you are — shaped by your stories, your tastes, your life.
Choose pieces that make your heart lift when you wear them, and you’ll have a collection you’ll never want to part with.
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