Video

Newsletters

Competitions

Quizzes

Offers

Social Network

Message Boards

Fab frocks
Figure-flattering autumn dresses

Star scoundrels
Top 10 celebrity love rats

Perfect sex positions
Make sure you're doing it right

Relationships

Topics

Affairs
Brides
Married Life

Hot stuff

Vote for a good cause

Photo galleries

Hen party accessories

Back-to-school survey

Men are perfect but...

Newsletters

Promotions

Dating dilemmas
Find a new man with the help of DatingDirect.com

Transform coffee breaks
A sprinkling of Latte Creations makes an everyday coffee break extra special

Summer nights
Spice up your sex life this summer with the delectably sexy range of toys and lingerie at Ann Summers

Find the perfect diamonds for your personality

They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, and just as you gravitate towards friends that complement your personality and style, so you would your diamonds. Here, from the book A Girl's Guide to Buying Diamonds, discover how to choose and wear diamonds and jewels that enhance your own unique style and personality

The five sample personalities outlined here are merely guidelines. Don't be afraid to take advice from multiple columns when it comes to choosing different components for your diamond jewellery. Don't forget: jewellery you choose for yourself should reflect a little something of your personality. Signature pieces have long defined the world's most stylish women from Elizabeth Taylor (the Taylor-Burton diamond) and Jackie O (Jean Schlumberger bracelets) to Coco Chanel (long, layered strands of pearls).

The Traditional Woman
Far from being stodgy or boring, the traditional woman in this sense points to a classic and classy point-of-view in looks and attitude. Clues that you may be a traditionalist in terms of your jewellery: are simple pearl or diamond studs still your standard accessory? Does your dream engagement ring come in Tiffany & Co's little blue box? Is Audrey Hepburn one of your style icons? Women in this category tend to dress on the conservative side in tailored clothing that stays in style from season to season.

If this sounds familiar, there are a few tips you can follow for finding a piece of diamond jewellery to fit your style. Traditional women often opt for the classic round, brilliant cut for its universally appealing shape and maximum brilliance or the princess cut for its simple and understated modernity. The Tiffany setting - in its classic four-prong - will probably be the most appealing option for a solitaire. If you have a two-toned wristwatch, white metal, for its simplicity and beauty, will invariably be your best choice for setting your colourless diamond.

contemporary

The Contemporary Woman
If the words 'sleek' and 'modern' define your living space or your wardrobe, you might fall into the contemporary category. Unfussy and uncluttered, your lifestyle is based on clean lines and simple good taste. Would you rather hang a piece of abstract art above your couch than a pastel Impressionist rendering? Does your wardrobe consist of solid colours in body-contouring fabrics such as silk jersey? Your jewellery box is filled with objects of a similar nature: bold pieces that seamlessly integrate stones and metal, fluid shapes that mould to the contour of the body, and geometric forms based in an artistic mindset.

emerald Most contemporary women do not shy away from metal. Even when mounting a beautiful stone, they are not afraid to use oversized settings in rich, yellow golds or cool whites. Understated stone shapes such as dome-shaped stones (cabochons) and emerald cuts may be good choices for this woman.

bezel Other options are bezel setting; a fancy shape such as a marquise or oval for an updated, less traditional look; or tension-setting diamonds for a completely modern piece of jewellery.