Personal style—it’s one of the things that separates humans from the other mammals that roam this planet. It doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager or are well into adulthood: your style is something people have complete and utter control of. But when it comes to building a jewelry collection that reflects our personal style, sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why we’re here to help.

Here are four basic questions you can ask yourself which will help determine what your personal jewelry style is to get you on your way to building your dream collection.

“Do I love gold or do I savor silver?”
Or heck, do I do both? Starting a jewelry wardrobe should begin in the way that most wardrobes begin: by determining a color palette and working off that. A great place to start is by looking at your skin tone since jewelry is worn directly on or against the skin. If your skin is warm, tan, bronze, or brown, you’re lucky because you can go with white metals if you prefer, although gold metals often look best. If your skin is pale and has pink undertones, going with yellow or rose gold pieces (or even blackened metals for an edgier look) will play off your skin’s hue. And if your skin has a medium tone with yellowish undertones, metals like platinum, white gold, palladium, or silver work well.

Now, if you’re the type that would rather not follow some skin tone rule because you like what you like and that’s the end of that, then, good on ya, because the jewelry world is your playground at this point. Mix your metals for a modern look and throw in alternative metals like brass, copper, and tungsten while you’re at it. It’s you’re style, after all. Own it as much as possible.

“Am I a dangle darling or a sexy stud?”
Whether your hair is short or long, earrings are the perfect place to start building your jewelry wardrobe because for the most part an earring is the first piece of jewelry anyone will see when they speak to you. Think about it: rings, bracelets, and watches are worn on your hands and wrists, and necklaces may be noticeable first, but only if the person is looking at your chest (which you likely hope they aren’t). But jewelry on your ears comes to right about eye-level, so when a person looks into your eyes—as they should when they’re speaking to you—their peripheral vison is likely leading them to the lovelies on your lobes.

Studs are a standard in many jewelry collections but dangles show off your fun and fashionable side. Having both will allow you to go from day to night, office to event, and from simple to sexy in one easy step, so consider a pair of each as a place to start building up your soon-to-be bountiful bauble box.

“Should I put a ring on it?”
Rings! They’re the jewel most written about in folklore and they’re an essential to any jewelry collection. But how do you know which ring is right? Should you buy one statement ring? Several smaller stackable rings? A variety of both? Gemstone rings? Diamond rings? The options are seemingly endless.
Here is a great way to start: if you don’t already wear a ring but want to buy one (or more) for your collection, go with something versatile that you can add to later when the opportunity arises. You already have your metal choice, so something like a wide gold band, a designer stack, or a silver statement piece will work even if you want to add colored or gemstone rings down the road at some point to fancy up your delightful digits.

“Watch-u, watch-u, watch-u want?”
Nothing says, “I’m serious about who I am and what my style is” like a well-made timepiece that can be worn with everything. Watches have always been a staple in the wardrobes of both women and men, and if you take care of them, they will be a mainstay in your collection for many years to come.
When selecting a watch – either new or pre-owned – try going with one that you can easily change the straps on so that you can adjust your timepiece to your social situation or mood and so that you’ll feel like you’re wearing a different watch every time, depending on how many straps you also want to purchase).

Happy shopping!