The Knowledge: how to build a jewellery collection

Avid Larizadeh, an online jeweller, offers some sparkling advice.

Carry on collecting
A jewellery collection is something that reflects your personality, throughout your life. Every piece should be a reminder of a time and a place and conjure up an emotion. Ideally a jewellery collection is never complete, either; you should continue to build on it, so always keep your eyes open for new pieces that mean something to you.

The heirlooms
Make any little sentimental pieces the basis of your collection, whether they be from your mother, aunt or grandmother. These can shape your taste and are the most emotional items of jewellery you will get. Every day I wear three fine necklaces, including a pendant that my grandmother made for all the women in our family.

Make a statement
You should have at least one statement piece in your collection that you can wear with your little black dress, the type of thing you can pick up if you're not in the mood to wear anything too fancy clothes-wise. It doesn't have to be expensive. Statement styles that are great for this season are collar necklaces and sparkly earrings.

The personal touch
Having jewellery custom-made is the ultimate way of expressing something very individual, which is why engraving is such a nice idea. You could opt for a simple ring with a special message, or a more elaborate piece that you design. Nicola Crawford, one of our designers, makes a pendant with a gold ball on the end, inscribed with anything you want.

Pile them high
Fine friendship bracelets are brilliant for a jewellery collection. They are feminine, and you can wear them all year round and layer them up as much as you want. I find them great for the office as they don't look too heavy or full-on.

Holiday shopping
Always aim to bring back one item of jewellery from your holidays. Something bought at a market or on a beach will add colour to your collection, and what's lovely is that you're taking home a piece of a culture from the country visited. I've picked up a baroque pearl necklace from a small designer in the South of France, and a gold and silver cuff from Iran. Ask questions about the design process, crafting of the piece, selection of the stones and so on. What you choose doesn't have to be expensive, but you want to know that you're buying quality.

Hoard!
Never have a spring-clean of your jewellery. You will only regret it. Store pieces if you think you're not going to wear them for a while, but don't get rid of them. Even something you got at 15 can look amazing when layered with something else.