Everyday Jewelry You Never Have to Take Off: A 5-Piece Starter Set

Most jewelry that gets taken off at night isn't taken off because of how it looks. It's taken off because water, sweat, soap and sunscreen will ruin it — plated brass tarnishes and goes green, silver darkens, and thin plating wears through.

Jewelry you never take off has to be made of something that doesn't react. 316L stainless steel is the practical answer: it doesn't rust, tarnish or turn skin green, and with PVD gold the gold colour is bonded into the surface rather than sitting on top of it.

A thin chain at around 45 cm sits just below the collarbone and works with every neckline. It is the piece people notice least and miss most. Go for a flat or tight link — open links catch on hair and jumpers.

A thin, comfortable band you can make a fist with. It is the ring that stays on through dishes, typing and the gym. Smooth edges and a rounded inside matter more than the design on top.

A signet, a wider band or a single stone — the piece that makes the hand look considered. Wear it on a different finger from the slim band, or stack the two if the widths differ.

Earrings you sleep in need to be small and closed: huggie hoops or flat studs. Anything that dangles will catch on a pillow. If your ears are sensitive, material matters even more here than anywhere else.

A fine chain or a slim bangle that sits close to the wrist. Skip charms for everyday wear — they knock against laptops and desks all day. If you wear a watch, put the bracelet on the other wrist.

Pick the metal that matches what you already wear most — usually your watch or a ring you never remove. If you can't choose, start in one and add a two-tone piece later: it makes both colours work together. Mixing is allowed; it just needs each metal to appear at least twice.