If you don't have a particular style in mind then look at your own jewellery. Why do you like it, what do you wear most? Are there similarities between the different pieces of jewellery you have bought for yourself, or other people have bought for you? Is it the wearablilty or the look that you deem most important?

When you start jewellery making you will find that you naturally notice more what kind of jewellery other people are wearing, what the shops are selling, what the current fashion trends are etc, and this is great. Also look at photos in magazines and newspapers. And look around you beyond jewellery to maybe architecture you like, or nature, or art, include everything you can in you designs and you will be surprised what you can come up with.

Form and function are important in jewellery. Look for the symmetry and balance of a piece: the heaviest piece of a necklace should be at the base of the V or the Y. Repetition of a particular shape or colour will bring a piece together, maybe varying the size.

That brings me to contrast. To highlight a particular element of your piece try contrasting it with something opposite e.g. dark and light, large and small. This can make the jewellery more interesting to look at than a uniform piece.

Colour is as important in jewellery making as it is in painting. Choose colours that compliment each other, either by contrast e.g. red and green, or by blending similar tones. Use your own judgement here, if it is not pleasing to the eye, you will see it even if you are not sure exactly what the problem is. Some pieces will take more work than others.

The most important thing is function, jewellery is made to be worn. So the physical weight is important, as well as the balance. The construction beneath the design should give strength to the piece so that all your hard work doesn't fall apart when used.