How to Add Sparkle and Elegance to your Look with Crystal

Crystal jewellery has a timeless allure that can be subtle or dazzling, depending on how you pick and combine your pieces. The distinctive feature of a quality crystal is the way it gathers and reflects light from its surfaces; unlike many gemstones, whose lustre varies greatly depending on the light source (daylight or artificial light), a crystal necklace has the ability to pick up any available light and will look just as good in candlelight as outside in the sunshine.

Crystal costume jewellery is inexpensive for the quality it offers, so you can easily build up a collection of different pieces for all occasions. Two or more crystal necklaces can be combined together for a stunning evening look, and the separate necklaces can be worn singly during the day - a clever way to stretch your budget! A pair of striking crystal clip on earrings will add distinction to an evening outfit, and can look very classy matched with a simple dress or suit.

Another reason to love crystal is that it can be fashioned into a variety of shapes, from traditional faceted cuts to polished beads. It is available in many different colours, so that you never have to compromise on your look; if you find a design you particularly like, which not buy more than one colour? A good tip is to have a clear crystal set of necklace, earrings and bracelet as an easy option for dressing up your evening wear, and then build a collection of coloured crystal necklaces and matching crystal clip on earrings to use every day. Crystal jewellery is highly affordable, so there is no reason to go without quality jewellery every day, even if you're wearing jeans.

Crystal also combines extremely well with both gold and silver. Crystal costume jewellery often consists of one or more crystals set into a sterling silver or gold-plated design, where the crystals serve to highlight the designer's art. This type of jewellery is particularly useful for wearing with casual clothes, as a chunky bracelet or eye-catching large pendant will not be overwhelmed by bright colours or patterned fabrics. Seek out square or rectangular-cut crystals for a sophisticated and unusual look, particularly if they are set with coloured crystals that will reflect the ambient light in interesting ways.

Don't be afraid to go for a bolder look than you would normally wear; affordable costume jewellery is made to be noticed, and you will be surprised at the reactions you get when you try something different! This is particularly true if you are fond of wearing simple, classic clothes; a plain v-neck or scoop-necked jumper, or a simple white shirt just cries out for a piece of crystal jewellery to set it off. Always look out for pieces that can be combined together; a selection of gold-plated jewellery embellished with small crystals, for example, can be combined in many different ways to make every day's outfit different.

If you like gemstones but find them dull in some lights, one tip is to have a necklace of faceted crystals to wear alongside a gemstone necklace or even wound around it. A short crystal necklace can be wound through a gemstone bracelet to produce a stunning casual effect. The key is to experiment and be bold; crystal jewellery can be used in so many different ways that you will never get bored!