I WEAR jewellery to gain confidence and to be fashionable. But as a doctor, I have little spare time. If I had more time, I would pay more attention to what I should wear according to current trends.

In my opinion, the importance of jewellery does not really depend on the value of the items. It is more about how people wear it that reflects their status and personality.

I think jewellery holds importance for women as a way to express their social status and self confidence, and for other reasons as well. For example, I own a bracelet that is a birthday present from my mum. I treasure it not only for its beauty but also for the thoughts behind it.

The way jewellery makes me feel when I wear it varies. If I wear something that reflects my personality, I will be comfortable and satisfied. I wear a necklace and earrings to work because I don’t feel complete without them, but I rarely wear rings or bracelets as they do not suit the nature of my job.

My favourite gems are diamonds, but I must admit that I also love all kinds of pearls. That is why I wear diamonds and pearls to formal events. For dinners or parties, I feel more relaxed wearing costume jewellery and semiprecious stones.

My birthstone is sapphire. I guess I could consider it my lucky stone, but I don’t really have any superstitions about that.

I occasionally go shopping for jewellery. Mostly I buy something that suits my outfits. I tend to choose pieces that will go with most of my outfits. I prefer something simple and classic.

– Su Myat Hla