I'm far from a magpie when it comes to jewellery; I don't like things that are too glitzy or glamorous with huge diamonds or slabs of gold hanging down (not that I could afford THAT type of jewellery anyway). No, I much prefer the understated look - I guess some of us would call it 'minimalism' - with classic details and high quality stones.
I never used to be like that. When I was a teenager, I loved huge blingy rings and statement necklaces, probably because I liked to show off. But, after working in the jewellery industry for five years (and realising that, as much as I thought otherwise, people don't like a show-off), I found that my tastes refined and I began to appreciate what I like to call 'quietly brilliant' jewellery: pieces that are well made, understated and not at all trend-led.
I also prefer pieces that are practical for my lifestyle. I'm always on the move, going from home, to the office, to press events, to dinners and back again, so I need low maintenance, secure jewellery that I don't have to worry about losing every five minutes. If it's got fiddly bits or loose/badly set stones, then I'm not even thinking about buying it.
When I got invited to try a piece from Rocks & Co, an online outlet for affordable jewellery, my initial reaction was, 'God, I'm so picky that I doubt they'll stock anything that'll fit the bill.' However, just a quick scan through their website presented a selection of over 2000 rings alone. As you can imagine, I was pleasantly surprised.
If I couldn't find one piece that I liked out of a selection of thousands, there must have been something wrong with me. Luckily, however, I fell in love with one particular ring from the moment I saw it: a beautifully unfussy 9ct Welo Opal ring.
Opal is my birthstone, and my favourite stone overall. I love that it comes in so many different variations and that, in certain lights, it looks as if it's on fire, and in other lights it looks perfectly opaque and creamy white.
So, of course, this ring was the perfect choice for me. With four simple claws and no other stones, this ring is gorgeously minimalist. I also like the fact that it has a solid shank (the bit of the ring that goes round you finger) rather than a hollowed shank like I see from so many jewellery retailers; this tells me that it's high quality, sturdy and made to stand the test of time.
From a style point of view, this goes with everything in my wardrobe (another benefit of minimalist jewellery). However, I'm currently pairing it up with a black turtle neck top and pastel blue tailored trousers for a smart office look. When wearing opal rings, I like to keep my nails coated in a nice shade of nude to really emphasise the many different colours found in the stone - or you can pick a complementary colour like turquoise, off white or coral.
My other favourites from Rocks & Co include a Tanzanite and 9ct Gold Ring, Black Diamond & White Gold Earrings, and a Colour Change Fluorite Gold Pendant. What are your favourite pieces? Let me know in the comments below!
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