The 8 pieces of jewellery you should treat yourself to

Getting dressed (without the fuss)

Meet The Telegraph"sTimeless Style columnist, Anna Harvey:theEx-Voguedeputy editor, consultant to Princess Diana and author of Timeless Style: dressing well for the rest of your life (??12.89,Double-Barrelled Books).

I recently read that when the actress Elisabeth Moss won her first Golden Globe, she bought herself a ring ??? often mistaken for an engagement ring.???January Jones taught me this: to buy jewellery for yourself,??? she explained of her co-star in Mad Men.???That way it???s never like, ???Oh, a man got me this so I can???t wear it now that we???ve broken up.??????I was intrigued and not a little envious.

Then I saw that the supermodel Adriana Lima had posted a picture on Instagram of herself wearing a diamond ring, with the words, ???What???s up with the ring?It???s symbolic, I am committed to myself and my own happiness.I am married with me.???

It isn???t only celebrities.According to new reports, all sorts of women are buying their own fine jewellery.It makes sense; women now have the disposable income to indulge themselves with clothes, accessories, holidays ??? and jewellery.And they do. How I should adore to be in this position.To be able to buy that diamond solitaire I have so often dreamt of, an armful of bangles for the summer, or even a simple ankle bracelet to wear on holiday by the pool.(I believe the history of this last piece is colourful ??? in some cultures indicating that you are ???available???.Be warned.)

Instead, I have been imagining what I might go out and buy were I a self-made young woman looking to treat myself to the perfect jewellery wardrobe.

Clockwise from left:White ceramic and steel J12 watch, ??4,200, Chanel;Elsa Perretti bean pendant and necklace, ??215, Tiffany;Bella drop earrings, ??59, Swarovski

I have settled on eight essential pieces (we have to draw the line somewhere,), that my alternate self couldn???t ???live without.

I???d start with a magnificent ring ??? a Jessica McCormack solitaire, perhaps, which could be turned into something more bling for special occasions with one of her clever ???party jackets?????? a jewelled surround that can be slotted around your everyday ring.Then an everyday watch that???s chic but not too pretty ??? perhaps Chanel???s classic J12.Add to the mix the simple stud, drop or hoop earrings from Swarovski or Kiki McDonough; longer earrings for the evening (SJ Phillips have some wonderful Georgian choices); a classic silver bracelet or Cartier???s Love bracelet; a pendant and chain necklace from Tiffany; a more showy evening necklace ??? for this I might choose costume jewellery, but Marni, Miu Miu and Vicki Sarge all have lovely pieces, or for a semi-precious option I???d visit John Lloyd Morgan or Pomegranate.And finally?I???d have to have some pearls ???perhaps a little something from Coleman Douglas.

You can see how one might get quite carried away.Tempting, isn???t it?

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