Jewelry for your hands, your fingers and your height

The scale of a jewel matters as much as its design: a piece can look huge or lost depending on who wears it.

Hands and fingers #

• Small hands or slim fingers: fine or medium-sized rings, with small stones. A very wide ring or one with a huge stone can dominate.
• Large hands or broad fingers: wider rings or ones with large stones; very fine ones can get lost.
• Short fingers: elongated shapes, such as marquise, pear or oval, and settings that lengthen. See ring styles.
• Long fingers: suit almost any shape, including wide bands and multi-stone rings.
• Prominent knuckles: getting the size right matters: it must pass the knuckle without spinning. See how to find your size.

Wrists and bracelets #

A snug bracelet marks the wrist; a loose one swings. Measure your wrist and add 1.5 to 2 cm of ease. See how to measure a bracelet and bracelet styles.

Height and proportions #

• Short stature or slight build: small or medium-scale pieces and fine chains; very large ones can swallow the figure.
• Tall stature or large build: larger pieces with presence; very small ones go unnoticed.
• Short neck: long or V-shaped necklaces that lengthen. Long neck: chokers and short necklaces.

The final test #

Look at yourself in a full-length mirror: the jewel should look proportionate, neither too much nor too little.

See also: stackable rings and jewelry for neckline and clothes.