A statement set is often bought for one big day. A necklace, a pair of earrings, perhaps a bracelet, all worn together for a wedding or a family celebration. Then the set goes back in its box and stays there.
It does not have to be that way. A well-made set can be worn together, worn apart and worn for many years after the day it was made for. Here is how to think about it, with three of our one of one pieces as examples.
Start with how the set was made
Before you plan how to wear a set, look at how it was put together. Some sets are designed as one piece of work. Others are made separately and paired later. Both can be worn in more than one way, but the reasons are different.
Scarlet Royale is a necklace and a pair of earrings, made separately and paired because they share the same colour. The necklace has seven pear cut rubies hanging side by side from diamond links, with the largest ruby at the centre. The earrings set marquise and oval rubies inside curls of small diamonds. The necklace is simple and the earrings are rich, which is why they look so good worn together. It is also why each one can stand on its own.
Wear it all together, once in a while
Some days call for the full set. A wedding, a milestone anniversary, a large family gathering. On those days, let the set do the work. Keep everything else quiet: a plain neckline, hair away from the ears, and no extra rings competing for attention.
When you wear a full set, think about balance. If the necklace sits close and high, the earrings will frame it. If the necklace is long, the necklace and the earrings become two separate points of interest, so a simpler outfit helps.
Wear the pieces apart
This is where a set earns its place. The earrings from a statement set can lift a simple dress or a plain silk sari for a dinner. The necklace alone can carry an evening with nothing at the ears.
Indradhanush was made with this in mind. It is a necklace, earrings and bracelet in pink, peach, yellow, lavender and pale blue sapphires, separated by thin lines of diamonds, like the glass and lead in a stained-glass window. The three pieces can be bought together or separately. The bracelet is wide enough to cover the wrist, and the necklace and earrings use the same pattern at a smaller size, so any one of them looks complete on its own.
The bracelet can also be made into a choker on request. That one change gives the set a new shape. The colour moves from the wrist to the neck, and the earrings with a choker look quite different from the earrings with a bracelet.
Wear it after the day it was made for
Many statement pieces are chosen for a wedding. The best ones are designed to be worn long after it.
Chandrika was designed as a bridal necklace, to be worn long after the wedding. It is a row of diamond drops hanging side by side, long and short in turn, each edged with a row of cream cultured Akoya pearls. The pearls were chosen for their warmth, and they soften the brightness of the diamonds. That softness is what lets the necklace move from a bridal outfit to an anniversary dinner or a festive evening years later.
When you choose a statement piece for a wedding, ask yourself how you would wear it a year later. If you can picture it with something simple, it will not stay in the box.
Care that keeps a set ready to wear
A set that is worn often needs a little care. Store each piece on its own, in a soft pouch or a lined box, so the stones do not rub against each other. Put your jewellery on after perfume and hair spray, and take it off before you change. Wipe pearls gently with a soft, dry cloth after each wear.
It also helps to know exactly what you own. IGI and GIA certificates are available for most pieces, and for the rest on request. Keep the papers with the set, so the details stay together for years to come.
Statement pieces are best understood in person, where you can try a necklace on its own, then with the earrings, and see what suits you. Book a private viewing at our Mumbai studio or over video, or message us on WhatsApp at +91 99874 14774.