Show your personality. I have some inherited pieces (not expensive but deeply personal - a locket from my grandmother who I was named after that was a gift to her at HS graduation in the 1900s, a cameo that was from a great aunt etc.) I have my standard wedding/engagement/anniversary rings along with basic essentials. Plus I have quite a number of inexpensive but IMO beautiful pieces from my travels. I also have a lot of "sets" bc its been my husbands thing to gift. I mix all with costume jewelry that I pick up bc I like it. Ok, I have a jewelry problem. 😁

All this to say you need to figure out what you like and wear that.

Hmm essentials. These are what I wear the most:

-everyday wear: gold bangle, diamond pendant and diamond huggie hoops (I sleep in these), engagement ring

-yellow gold huggie hoops and yellow gold pendant

-pearl earrings, turquoise earrings for when I want a pop of color

-cartouche on a long chain for when I wear a high neckline

-medium length chain to mix and match with

-thick chain necklace and bracelet to wear with button downs

-necklace with my name on it

-some favorite rings

-big items that are the “statement” when I wear them: earrings, necklace, bracelet

I would figure out what is most flattering first. Yellow gold or white gold? Dainty, medium, or chunky pieces?

Then I would think about the occasions during which I would wear the pieces. Everyday jewelry is very different from special occasion jewelry.

I wear my Cartier Trinity wedding band every day, the mixed metals ensure that it goes with everything. I treasure my South Sea pearl drop earrings for special occasions.