I know we’ve all become used to online shopping, even, it would seem, for precious objects such as jewellery. But one thing I’ve learnt from the last 18 months is that nothing beats touching, feeling, and trying on jewels.

Everything about that process feels particularly special and heightened right now, from the anticipation of entering a store to the gentle showcase browsing, then the moment something catches your eye to the ceremony of it being handed over to you for closer inspection.

Because online shopping doesn’t offer the joy of how a necklace or earring (or any piece) works in relation to you – how it sits on your skin, how the proportions work and how the sparkle of diamonds or the soft lustre of gold or pearls is practically unbeatable in terms of flattery.

Sloane Street is the ideal place to experience this less harried, in-person style of shopping. At just under a kilometre of luxury, that runs from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square, its jewellers are spread from end to end and offer big hitters such as Cartier and Tiffany & Co, but also independents such as Anabela Chan and British institutions such as Cassandra Goad and Boodles.

And while self-care shouldn’t be discouraged, a Sloane Street gift card (redeemable at all of these jewellers) is the perfect present for treating someone else. But, what to buy? I’m not a big believer in jewellery trends – whatever you purchase shouldn’t be seasonal – but there are some themes that seem to resonate simultaneously with jewellers on some unspoken level, and I hope they resonate with you too.

And just for the record – I tried on everything I mention below – and loved it.

JESSICA DIAMOND IS THE WATCH AND JEWELLERY DIRECTOR AT SUNDAY TIMES STYLE AND TIMES LUXX. SHE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT WATCHES AND JEWELLERY FOR OVER 14 YEARS, HAVING BEGUN HER CAREER AT VOGUE BEFORE MOVING TO WALLPAPER MAGAZINE AND CONDE NAST TRAVELLER. JESSICA IS ALSO A WATCH AND JEWELLERY STYLIST AND HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE FT, VANITY FAIR AND SOTHEBY’S.

Jewellers are often inspired by far-flung lands with jewels that encourage some vicarious globe-trotting. The new ‘Beach’ collection from Boodles is designed to transition easily from the sand to dinner (the rub-over setting is far more casual), while Cassandra Goad’s new ‘Maroc’ collection includes these raffia earrings inspired by the basket weavers of Marrakech. And Anabela Chan’s Medusa earrings evoke tropical waters.

There’s nothing like the shimmy-shake of a tassel for some instant party-ready glamour. Tiffany & Co’s Jazz Age heritage is reinforced in this pendant, while Cartier adds tassels to its panther ring and bracelet. And Boodles’ diamond tassel earrings are literal head-turners.

There is something brilliantly fun about fruit jewellery – it shouldn’t work but it does. Look to Boodles’ soft brushed-gold pears or Cassandra Goad’s pomegranate earrings; Anabela Chan’s cherry earrings are deliciously graphic.

I know that layering and stacking is a huge trend but, actually, a singular cocktail ring is still great for statement impact. Of course, it’s all about colour (and the more unusual the stone the better), from Tiffany & Co’s tanzanite ring and Cassandra Goad’s Umbalite garnet, to Anabela Chan’s USP of lab-created stones, such as this opal surrounded by Paraiba tourmalines.