(I realize this is more of a fashion question than a jewelry care question, but I couldn't find a folder for fashion/style queries.)

Is it considered a major fashion faux pas to wear ring/necklace/earring combos in which the diamonds are of different shapes?  I mean, does it look noticeably weird if your earrings are round studs and your ring(s)/necklace are Asschers?

This is coming from a near total diamond novice, so please, nobody laugh.  ;-)

Also, someone should tell me if this question belongs in a different folder.

Totally okay in my opinion.  Most of my little diamonds are rounds and my e-ring is a radiant.  I would wear whatever I wanted and not worry about it.  I'm not totally into being "matchy" though.

I also mix metals so I think having everything look the same is not needed.

                          And don't forget colors...   

I had a lesson about this once.

Many years ago, prospective female officers received what I can only really think of as finishing school classes in the British Army. The woman from Estee lauder came to show us how to apply make up for specific occasions, the woman from Christian Dior came and told us what to wear for each occasion, and the man from a high-end London jeweller talked to us about what jewels to wear, when and why etc.

Mixing shapes was deemed acceptable, or mixing stone colour, but both was frowned upon. For example you might have a necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring all diamond, and they could be any shapes you wanted, or say, a diamond ring, sapphire earrings and necklace - then, they would all be the same shape.

Diamonds aren't worn in the country or before noon, and never by unmarried ladies...

Generally, I like to know what the 'rules' are before I disregard them. When you get right down to it, most of them are nonsense - wear what you like,  and rock it!

HELL YEAH!   

I never even made that connection before!  Very interesting how the rules change from one country to the next.

I know in the US part of the marketing for a right hand ring revolved around the idea that women can buy diamonds for themselves... you don't need a man to buy you a diamond ring.

I am the kind of wife who frowns upon my husband's wearing a tie with a strong print on top of a shirt with any kind of print.  I don't mix polka dots and stripes in cushions or bedspreads.  However, I happily and willingly mix and match diamond shapes and colors!  (If you feel that you must limit your "palette" of diamond selections, let me offer to simplify your life.  I will allow you to send along the odd shapes and the orphans to me, and I will put them in my jewelry box a charitable collection box.)

A word about the "British" rules for wearing diamonds:  I am all in favor of those rules.  They are marvelous!  (Or, as the Brits might say:  "marvellous!")  My opinion is based on the fact that my mother-in-law was a confirmed Anglophile, and she had very unyielding views on what was "correct" with respect to wearing jewelry.  As a result, she did not really wear or enjoy her serious diamonds, and so she gravitated toward her beautiful pearl ring and a few yellow gold pieces.  She was (therefore) very casual about giving her son (my then-fiance) a gorgeous diamond ring to give to me.  (She just didn't really appreciate/value diamonds.)  Of course, she also did not "approve" of my wearing the ring on an everyday basis, and made that clear.  But, as one of my sisters said:  "Well, you know in advance when you're going to see her, so THAT disapproval is easily taken care of!"

So, all Brits who feel that wearing diamonds is disallowed and/or cumbersome may also feel free to send the offending items to my a good home in the Colonies!

I agree... as much as I hated the campaign and knowing they were milking money off of it, the reality is many of my friends liked it and did buy expensive items for themselves where they wouldn't have before

I guess the perception of jewelry of being gifts to someone else and not yourself was bigger than I realized.

Of course I bought my own engagement ring so I had no issues with that anyway even as a younger lady

Sorry, Mrs. M. Silly me.    I knew that. Careless writing on my part. I stand corrected. I should have written "the female officers who were in training to become officers' wives..."

It is clear to me now.

And yes, that is even more hilarious.

I can count on one hand the number of gold pieces I have ever bought for myself. A wedding ring for my disasterous first marriage, a matching set of plain bands for my husband and I, and my chrysoberyl ring. Everything else has come from my husband (though with my input).

Don't get me wrong - I have purchased plenty of silver or costume jewelry for myself but with a mother who has only bought one piece of jewelry for herself and a stepmother whose entire collection was purchased by my father (except for a silver cross she bought when she was 18), I just always assumed my nice jewelry would be gifts from my husband. It's funny though because I have little to no problem buying it for other people. 

I buy almost all my "fine" jewelry myself.   I actually shocked this one woman who never thought of doing it herself.   I found out early, that I'm not going to get the "fine" pieces I like unless I'm the one who does the buying.  My DH actually hates to shop, so he was all in for this, that plus the fact he has no idea how much "fine" costs or should cost.  The last piece of jewely I let him buy me was from a discounted store that sold everything from bbqs to luggage.   We weren't married yet, but still...YIKES...how would I ever get my fancy vivid yellow radiant pendent from there???  Now, when an occasion comes up...he sweetly asks, "what did I get you this time?" and I sweetly answer back..."let me check my gift closet".  ( I believe in buying presents in advance just to make sure they arrive on time! )          

Gift closet?  That is a FANTASTIC idea!

I did forget the anniversary band my husband bought me.  But much like the reset of Sunny I picked it and he paid for it.  Really that's how we work.  Even the ebay diamond was kind of my choice. 

I wonder if he would go for the closet.  Though I would have a hard time buying a ring and not being able to wear it