Small, fiddly jewellery is a thing of the past, with this season’s international catwalks full of huge dramatic pieces that made as much of a statement as the clothes they accessorized.

Leading the pack was Armani, who finished off their steely grey separates with sea-themed necklaces. Big, bold beads were combined with discs of shell, starfish and fish shapes. Jasper Conran was another designer to go for an aquatic theme; their chunky gold chains had oversized fish pendants and matching earrings.

D2 and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac showed serious bling, with D2 piling big gold chains on with their pure white pieces to give them a really glamorous feel. Castelbajac showed large gold pendants and bangles as well as huge chains made from Lego.  Not for the faint hearted!

At the more traditional end of the scale were Chanel and Dior. Chanel had some truly beautiful pieces, from pearl drop earrings and matching necklaces trimmed with bows to silver multi-strand necklaces adorned with twinkling stars. Dior took the old Hollywood glamour approach with chandelier earrings and hair accessories studded with hundreds of diamantés.

Whichever jewellery look appeals to you, the good news is you don’t have to pay designer prices if you don’t want to. The high street has been quick to create lookalikes at affordable prices. Alternatively, get crafty and create your own. Beaded necklaces are easy and quick to make and, if you hunt around in haberdashery and bead shops, you’ll find lots of fun bits and bobs to get creative with. Just remember – the bigger the better!