The ultimate fine jewelry and watches Wish List, selected by NET-A-PORTER’s expert jewelry buyers

When it comes to building your own fine jewelry and watch collection, the aim should be to create a broad and varied array that will cater to both special events and everyday wear. Jewels and fine timepieces should be worn every day – they are the pieces that will elevate each and every outfit. Jewelry will also put a smile on your face, so it should also feel fun to choose your favorite pieces. After all, a piece of jewelry isn’t just another accessory; it’s an item you will keep forever and pass down to future generations of your family.

My very first fine jewelry purchase was my gold and steel Cartier ‘Ballon Bleu de Cartier’ watch and, as my life has progressed, I’ve marked big milestones like getting married and becoming a mother with other meaningful purchases. For my wedding, I wore the most beautiful tiara, which has been in my husband’s family for many decades. And my everyday collection is a rich mix of NET-A-PORTER brands that I switch up, depending on my schedule.

Building a fine jewelry collection definitely takes time, but it is an exciting and rewarding process. As a buyer, I feel very lucky to have direct access to the world’s finest jewelry designers – I see upcoming trends a year before they emerge and select pieces that offer broad and varied appeal to all our customers, so I think my own collection is influenced by this. My jewelry box has a mix of timeless classics, current trends and seasonal pieces, and this fashion lens really helps when building your own fine jewelry collection; it will ensure you have an item for all occasions.

Building a fine jewelry collection is a very long process – it’s not something you can acquire overnight. I have loved building my small collection over the years, and each piece has a special significance and meaning to me. When it comes to my own pieces, I love to buy jewels that I can wear every day. I have a Sophie Bille Brahe pearl and gold earring that I wear all the time, a simple pair of 18-karat gold hoops, a Melissa Kaye gold and diamond cuff and a Maria Tash ‘Trinity’ diamond stud that I never take out. I also love my Yvonne Léon lapis signet ring, which I wear with my mixed-gold eternity ring on my pinky, and my Mateo initial ring, which I wear to go out – I get so many compliments on it.

Not all fine jewelry has to be super-expensive, though. Recently, I have been looking for brands that use 18-karat gold at an accessible price point – fine jewelry should be accessible and aspirational – and once you have your first piece of fine jewelry, it is difficult to go back! Customers can come to us for big household names, but also find unique pieces from independent and alternative designers. It’s satisfying to discover new names and fall in love with brands that are a little off the beaten track.

I recently chose my wedding band, a Carolina Bucci Florentine-finish yellow-gold band that I cannot wait to wear – and I love how it looks with my engagement ring, but also on its own. There are so many brands out there now that we are always seeking something a little bit unusual; brands that have their own identity and fill a gap in your jewelry wardrobe. As a buyer, you have to balance what is relevant and on-trend with exquisite quality and expert curation – this strategy is just as relevant when it comes to personal jewelry collections, too.