What jewellery to wear with a silk saree

Most silk sarees have gold zari in the border or the pallu, and that is your best guide. Antique gold-tone jewellery has the same warm, slightly muted colour as zari, so it looks like it belongs with the saree instead of fighting it. Bright, shiny gold-tone pieces can look flat next to rich silk.

Let the blouse neckline decide. With a high or boat neck, skip the choker and wear a long necklace that falls over the saree. With a round, deep or sweetheart neckline, a choker sits beautifully at the base of the neck.

For a wedding or a big function, wear both: a choker with a long necklace or haaram below it. It is the classic South Indian bridal pairing and it suits heavy silks perfectly. Browse antique long necklaces and antique choker sets, and see how to layer necklaces for the details.

Pick stone colours from the border or the pallu rather than the body of the saree. Red and green stones are the classic match for maroon, mustard and green silks; pink and mint stones suit pastel silks; a multicolour piece works when the border has many colours. One or two stone colours across all your jewellery looks more finished than many.

Jhumkas are the natural partner for silk. If your necklace is heavy, choose medium jhumkas; with a simple necklace, go bigger. Browse our earrings.

Add a bangle set on each wrist, or a few bangles with one wider piece. Our antique bangle sets are made to stack. For weddings, a maang tikka and a waist chain complete the look.

A heavily woven saree with a wide border needs less jewellery: a long necklace and jhumkas may be enough. A plain silk with a slim border is the time for a statement choker set.

Put your jewellery on after you have draped the saree and pinned the pallu, and check clasps and hooks so they don't snag the silk. At the end of the day, take the jewellery off first, then unpin the saree.