Glad You Asked

I want to celebrate my recent promotion with a piece of quality jewelry. I’m not sure what to get, though—a ring, bracelet, earrings, or a necklace. Any advice?

—Barbara I., Sacramento, CA

Congratulations! Jewelry is a great choice to celebrate your achievement. Since your special jewelry piece is likely to get some attention, think about what you’d like to accentuate about yourself. Do you have well-cared-for hands that you’d like to show off with a stand-out ring or fashionable cuff? Would you like to flatter your face with earrings or a necklace? Jewelry worn on the arms and fingers gets the most wear and tear, so if you have an active lifestyle you may want to choose a necklace, earrings, or a pin instead, or wear your quality jewelry only on special occasions. If you’d like a ring but do a lot of filing or other light hand work, choose a setting that sits flush instead of one where the stone rises above the mounting, so it won’t catch on everything.