“Yellow gold is in! Nope, wait, wait one second. Okay no, it’s out again. Hold on! Nope, it’s in…totally in right now. Actually, a celebrity just wore pink gold on the red carpet a minute ago. Yellow gold is so yesterday.”

Ever feel like that’s something that happens in the world of jewelry fashion? Well you’re right; it absolutely is. As someone who is responsible for tracking trends, writing reports and bringing you the latest styles from different jewelry trade shows and fairs around the world, I find it pretty damn hard to keep track of what’s hot one minute and what you should store until the trend comes back, which, considering the way our attention span is acting these days, will likely be in the next week or two.

Currently, however, there are a couple of trends that have been sticking around with no signs of slowing down in terms of their popularity. Here are a few I recommend either investing in or pulling out of the jewelry box if you happen to own them or something similar to them already.

Interchangeable Jewelry
Self-purchasing women are the new “midlife-crisis” men, meaning that, as of late, we’ve discovered a newfound love for variety. In this regard, brands like Les Georgettes out of France and Van Der Bauwede Genève out of, well, Genève (obviously) are taking the flexibility women are used to experiencing in their 7 a.m. yoga class and applying it to everyday, wearable baubles. With bracelets that contain different, colorful materials that are easy to swap for a new look, this is a trend that, for a fairly inexpensive investment, offers the wearer a great opportunity for both self-expression and stylish elegance.

Alternative Metal Jewelry
When I used to hear the term “alternative metal,” I’d think about two genres of rock-n-roll that had no place being fused, but when I started working in the jewelry industry, the term took on a new meaning—one I was much happier getting to know.

With the millennial generation’s interest in storytelling, jewelry made using interesting textiles, obscure elements, and nontraditional materials is all the rage, not to mention these (often contemporary) baubles are usually affordable for those still in the thick of paying off their student loans.

Estate Pieces
Another trend that’s been going strong for years with no signs of stopping is having one or a hundred estate or vintage pieces of jewelry at your disposal. These pieces could be gold knot rings from the 1980s or Victorian-era brooches; there really is no in-between for collectors. It really just boils down to the individual’s love of the art of jewelry making. Estate pieces are very much in demand and wearers of the adornments will often stack items from different eras either on the hands, on the wrists, or on the neck.

In terms of jewelry that may have taken a back seat in your safety deposit box for now, my suggestion is to not store them too far behind your great-grandparents’ original marriage license and that teacup that your mother insisted was used by Betsy Ross. Before you know it, you’ll be pulling them back out.

Here are a couple of jewelry items that, while they may not form part of your everyday wardrobe, should hang close by for the moments you feel they’re appropriate.

Big, Colorful Statement Rings
Stack rings and itty-bitty jewels are sweet and easy to wear, but nothing says, “I am capable of growing entire human beings in my body while making a four-course meal and co-authoring a book on the history of transcendentalism” like a bright, bold piece of blingtastic eye candy. Have a few pieces handy for those nights when you feel your life needs a little more color even when your closet screams, “This is the Home of the Little Black Dress.”

Dazzling Drops
Earrings are my life. If anyone ever asked me what I’d wear if I could only wear one type of jewelry forever, I would say it would have to be long, swingy earrings, hands down. But while they still look beautiful on the red carpet and at cocktail events, many mainstream style mavens have put their long earrings aside and opted for the stud look instead.

And, yes, while I tend to wear studs daily, I also dress up my nights with long earrings that accentuate my neck and get lost in the length of my brunette mane, which is why I suggest jewelry lovers do the same.

At the end of the day, trends are just that—trends. One’s jewelry style is personal. Wear what you feel makes you happy and beautiful, and wear it because you’re your own person who dances to your own “alternative metal” rock band.

Main image via Getty Images.

Just about every woman, at some time in her life, owns a jewelry box. It might start off filled with juvenile pieces like clip-on earrings and fake pearls and then graduate to more mature pieces of better quality that maintain their value as the years stretch on. So how does one start a jewelry collection that’s worth anything down the road?

Here are five tips so you can start your own robust jewelry collection that speaks to your personal style.

1. Know the difference between designer jewelry and luxury jewelry.
When starting a collection, the first thing to take into consideration is that the word “worth” is relative, and that all collections must begin with your individual passions.

Second, learn to discern between designer and luxury jewelry. They might sound like the same thing, but in the jewelry and fashion world, the difference is significant. Designer jewelry tends to come in at broad price points that can cater to several markets, and its design is often swayed by popular trends. Designers operate on a season-by-season basis, so it’s not unusual for entirely new collections to pop up once or twice a year while last season’s material is sold at a discount. Designer goods are also usually delivered immediately, since there usually is very little customization involved.

Conversely, luxury goods come in at higher price points to maintain the long and expensive production process for each piece. Luxury brands rarely, if ever, stray from the classic motifs and designs that they have been making for decades, if not centuries. These designs tend to contribute to the overall branding of the larger company—as such, few variations upon the narrow product lines they produce become available. The prestige, then, that comes with luxury jewelry is the result of the brand’s long and storied history that is rooted in an esteemed country of manufacture and the brand’s unwavering dedication to the tenets of design that have made it great.

2. Invest in proper storage cases.
While some pieces of jewelry are considered very rare, there’s no reason to treat your items like they’re going to break if you handle them—but that doesn’t mean you should toss them on the kitchen counter alongside your lunch container after a long day’s work, either.

If you’re into designer jewelry pieces and find yourself creating collections from your favorite artisans, then chances are you actually wear the pieces you have instead of keeping them locked away. Invest in nice leather and fabric-lined jewelry cases that can easily be transported in a carry-on bag but can also protect your pieces from damage. If you find that you’re buying more high-end, luxury pieces of jewelry, our hope is that you’re storing them in either a safety deposit box, or a home safe that’s bolted into the floor or wall of your house.

3. Buy from the heart, as well as the head.
Jewelry was made to be worn, and there is no more offensive statement you can make to a designer than to buy a piece of their jewelry only to pack it away for safe keeping. Jewelry is an artform and wearing it should make you very happy.
When looking to add to your jewelry collection, find pieces that you know you’ll wear, even if it’s only on special occasions.

It’s important that you still fall in love with a luxury piece so that you don’t have regrets shortly after your purchase. And always consider pre-owned pieces, too; shopping pre-owned means you can save some money and avoid the shocking resale value drop-off that comes with taking a brand new piece out of the store. (To learn more about the benefits of shopping pre-owned, read our post on the topic here.)

4. Appraise and insure your pieces.
Remember that home safe mentioned above? Well, that won’t always be enough to cover the cost of your loss should your jewelry go missing or get damaged.

Make sure that if you’re buying an expensive piece of luxury jewelry, you have the piece appraised within the first week or two after your purchase. Once the piece has been assigned a replacement value, look into what your homeowner’s insurance will cover, or, look into a Jeweler’s Mutual plan that specializes in jewelry coverage. For your designer jewelry pieces, you’ll want to look at the replacement cost versus your deductible before deciding whether to add those pieces to your current insurance plan. However, if it doesn’t raise your premium that much, it’s worth the peace of mind of knowing they can be replaced.

5. Don’t just buy based on investment.
Let’s face it, there are buyers out there who only buy investment pieces of jewelry from auction houses, and only if the piece was owned by the wife of a former Grand Duke of Tuscany (or the like). Chances are that isn’t you, so it’s best not to enter a purchase with that mentality.

Besides, it’s hard to determine when something will fetch high or low, or what the cost of gold will be tomorrow, or how much platinum will be next week. Buying jewelry that you love—and this goes for both luxury jewelry or designer jewelry—should be a decision that is made based on taste, price, personal style, or love of gems, not whether you could fetch a pretty penny for something down the road.

Remember that diamonds are eternal and that gold has been around for thousands of years, so whatever piece you choose to add to your collection will likely become an heirloom for your family or another’s, and may forever carry your story for as long as it exists.

Last night may have been the biggest night in music at the 2015 Grammy’s, but no one ever forgets about the fashion. While most people were distracted by the gowns – we’re looking at you Rihanna – we were watching out for the red carpet trends in jewelry. Check out our favorite trends from your favorite celebrities.

The red carpet left us green with envy this year. We spotted emerald trends this year with Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga finishing their looks with bold emerald jewelry from Lorraine Schwartz. From earrings to rings to plunging necklaces, emerald got the Grammys green light.

Emerald or not, rings reigned on the red carpet. Many celebrities downplayed their jewelry this year in favor of sparking dresses, but no look was complete without a ring – or several. Rihanna’s hands were covered in Chopard, while Katy Perry kept it simple with a single Harry Kotlar yellow diamond ring. Kat Graham made a statement with a large gold and black Carrera y Carrera cocktail ring and Nicki Minaj wore a watch and rings by Jacob & Co.

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