As jewellery prices continue to rise, women are looking for multi-functional pieces that can be worn in several ways, allowing them to play around with different looks and styles.
'This idea was quite popular in the 1940s during the war, especially when metal was scarce. A brooch could be attached to a necklace or worn on its own,' says Mara Hotung, jewellery designer and owner of Creative-Jewels.
Necklaces are ideal since many styles are versatile and can be worn at different lengths. A popular style is the Sautoir, a long rope usually without a clasp that can be worn around the neck or the wrist, such as Links of London's Purity pearl necklaces.
'You don't have to go for the classic all-pearl look, but maybe a mix of semi-precious stones to add a bit of glamour and originality to any outfit,' suggests Agnes Caer Piras of Calamansi Bijoux.
Other fun styles include Calamansi's Grappi necklaces which can be adjusted to any length by pulling on a Chinese knot that holds both ends of the piece together. Loffredo's coral necklace comes with a special clasp that allows the piece to be worn as a choker or a chunky bracelet.
'A pair of interchangeable earrings is also very functional because you can wear the smaller components for more conservative settings and switch to or add larger components for more casual events,' suggests Brigetta jewellery designer Bridget King. For spring, King has designed the Labyrinth earrings, which consist of three different pieces that can be worn in up to nine different combinations.
