By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

Granted, when you were living in sweats day-in-and-day-out locked in your house during quarantine, putting on jewelry may not have been at the top of your list of daily dress routine activities.

And temporarily giving up those heavy loop earrings was probably a nice respite for your earlobes during the covid-19 lockdown.

But now that you have begun to venture out into the outside world (albeit at an acceptable social distance and with an omnipresent face cover), it is time to once again consider accessories — and particularly, jewelry — as a fundamental part of your wardrobe.

True, you may not quite be ready to break out the diamond chokers and oversized tennis bracelets, but a few understated pieces can dress up your ensemble and give your look a finished polish.

Even a simple sundress or office skirt and blouse can be transformed into something special with the right jewelry.

If wearing bijou again seems unnatural to you after so many months of “going bare,” try either opting for a couple of tiny strands of gold around your neck and a pair of simple matching earrings, or going bold with a signature statement item that becomes the center of your outfit.

On the other hand, if you feel the need to let your accessory-wearing urge run free, try piling on several layers of matched or unmatched wristbands or wearing multiple rings, one or more on each finger.

Experiment with contrasting lengths, shapes, textures and colors to make appealing layers with rings, necklaces, bangles and even, in some cases, earrings.

Large or small, real or fake, jewelry can lift both your appearance and spirits, and is a personal expression of your individual style.

Once upon a time, it was considered fashion taboo to mix gold and silver, but that’s no longer the case.

So think about pendants that contrast with the color of the chain they are attached to and rings that combine different metals.

When it comes to jewelry, there are no die-hard rules other than not to let your glam baubles detract from your own natural beauty (after all, accessories are intended to showcase, not divert attention from, the wearer).

And with so many new options to choose from, this is definitely a time to think about upgrading your jewelry closet.

A Touch of Mexico

Handcrafted Mexican pieces can be a great addition to any bling treasure trunk, and by purchasing these stylish items, you are helping local artisans stay afloat. (Many have been particularly financially strapped by the coronavirus pandemic.)

Oro de Monte Albán, the 100 percent Mexican jewelry brand that has gained world renown for its classic reproductions of pre-Hispanic and early colonial gold and silver jewelry, has a new filigree collection, due out in early September, that draws on the nation’s ancient indigenous craft of intricate metalwork.

The use of filigree in jewelry dates back to  around 2500 BC, but the origins of the technique are not clear.

In Mexico, filigree jewelry is produced by curling, twisting and plaiting fine pliable threads of metal and uniting them at their points of contact with each other through the use of borax.

The delicate rings, bracelets, earrings and pendants of the Oro de Monte Albán collection are all handcrafted by Oaxacan artists in accordance with a traditional that dates back to the arrival of the earliest Spanish conquistadores, who brought with them the craft of filigree jewelry-making from the Moors.

The Mixtec artisans soon adapted the Arab filigree style by incorporating elements of local flora and fauna.

Mexican filigree is known for its rich, lacy adornments and finely detailed designs, and its use is often associated with special occasions such as marriages and religious festivals.

The new Oro de Monte Albán collection blends traditional Mixtec and Zapotec filigree patterns with contemporary styles to make them timeless beautiful for any occasion.

Oro de Monte Albán, a fourth-generation, family-run enterprise, is the only jewelry firm that has been authorized by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to produce gold and silver reproductions of pre-Columbian art.

Iconic Chic

If your personal jewelry style leans toward more contemporary designs, the Milan-based Pomellato Iconica collection may be exactly what you are looking for.

This stately tribute to Italy’s classic goldsmithing tradition is made fashion-forward by an unabashed use of generous proportions.

The stunning Iconica collection narrates the union of two opposites that complement one another with a distinctive touch of Pomellato sophistication: an unequivocally Milanese understated design and an exuberant quality of daringly bold grandeur.

The classic grace of Pomellato is updated to be uniquely au currant in audacious rings of sensual rose gold with shaped diamonds.

Dauntless, lightweight and stackable, the rings can be mixed-and-matched in Pomellato signature style.

Inconique  Chic

The Mexican design house Iconique also has a new collection out, a gloriously sunny set of necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings appropriately named Summer.

This upbeat, lively collection incorporated cultivated pearls, jade, turquoise, coral and other semiprecious stones to reflect the unencumbered beauty of nature at its best.

Iconique’s Summer, with a perfect balance of metal and natural stones, captures the season with a sophisticated fusion of colors, forms and textures that envelop the very essence of freshness.

Infinite Tiffany

In celebration of the continued reopening of its boutiques worldwide, Tiffany & Co., the last word in ultimate luxury jewelry, launched a new campaign in July called Tiffany Infinite Strength.

In accordance with the two-month campaign, 100 percent of the global profits from sales of the Tiffany Infinity collection through Aug. 31 are being donated to CARE to support that humanitarian organization’s ongoing fight against poverty, particularly addressing the financial resilience of the most vulnerable communities affected by covid-19.

The money raised by Tiffany (with a minimum commitment of $2 million) will be specially earmarked to assist women and people of color.

This campaign follows the Tiffany Foundation’s April commitment of $1 million in the fight against the pademic through the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization and the New York Community Trust’s NYC Covid-19 Response & Impact Fund.

The Tiffany Infinity motif is a powerful symbol of infinite strength and optimism, and a timeless symbol of continual connection.

All 37 styles in the Tiffany Infinity collection are included in the campaign, and designs span bracelets, rings, earrings and pendants in white, yellow and rose gold, platinum and sterling silver, with some select styles set with diamonds.

…Aug. 6, 2020