On craft, proportion, and how a piece becomes yours.

By Mia Hebib, Oblik Atelier

Why This Guide Exists

Buying jewelry online means making decisions without your hands, without a mirror, without the weight of a piece on your wrist or the way a hoop sits against your jaw. After the omg I love this piece comes the series of practical considerations: weight, size, and fit. For jewelry that is voluminous and sculptural like Oblik Atelier, that intel is crucial.

Reading the Listing

The numbers in a product description are the actual object. A piece described as large might measure 3/4 of an inch across. What one brand calls a statement piece might be 2 inches. That difference is enormous when you are imagining something on your body. Every Oblik Atelier listing includes precise measurements and photography, because the photography serves as the first guide to show how my jewelry fits on the body.

Materials and Skin

Oblik Atelier offers products in three materials and finishes: gold plated brass, brass with patina, and sterling silver.

Gold Plate

The Brass Band, Connected, and Drawing Series collections are finished in 14k nickel-free gold plating. Nickel is the most common cause of metal-related skin reactions, so nickel-free matters if you have sensitive skin, known allergies, or simply want to wear a piece every day without thinking about it. The brass beneath is shaped by hand. The plating gives it warmth.

Sterling Silver

The Elemental collection is inherently hypoallergenic, one of the safest metals for skin contact, and honest about time. Sterling silver develops a natural patina as it ages. Many people come to love this, the way a piece carries evidence of a life lived in it. If you live in a high-humidity environment, please know that your pieces will tarnish more quickly. I am always happy to repolish them and send them back.

Brass with Patina

The Worn Years collection is finished by hand and oxidized to produce deep surface tones that no two pieces share exactly. It is one of the more distinctive things I make. Worth knowing: brass can react with certain skin chemistry and may temporarily discolor skin. It is not harmful, but it is not for everyone. If you are comfortable with brass, use the polishing cloth regularly to maintain the contrast between the bright highlights and the dark patina. The patina deepens over time and will burnish off where the piece is handled most. I am always happy to refinish a piece to its original patinated look.

Care

The care video and FAQ page cover each material in detail. The short version: keep plated pieces away from chlorine and harsh chemistry and they will last.

Sizing

Rings

The finger changes size throughout the day. Measure in the afternoon, when your hand is at its average. Wrap a thin strip of non-stretchy paper around the base of the finger you plan to wear the ring on. Mark where it overlaps. Measure that length. Match it to the size chart.

For bands wider than 1/2 inch, go up half a size. A wide band grips more surface area and will feel tighter than a slim band at the same measurement.

Reference guides: Blue Nile ring size guide, Brilliant Earth printable sizer.

You can also shop the Oblik Atelier ring collection directly.

Necklaces

The same length falls differently on different bodies. Here is a working framework:

14 to 16 inches: at or just above the collarbone, choker or collarbone length

18 inches: just below the collarbone, the most universally versatile length

20 to 22 inches: mid-chest, good for pendants and layering

24 to 30 inches: sternum and below, great for layering with smaller pieces 

When you are building a layered set, space lengths at least 2 to 4 inches apart. That separation creates distinct visual registers without tangling. Buying layering pieces from the same maker keeps chain weight and finish consistent, which is the difference between a set that reads as intention and one that reads as accident.

Reference: Borsheims necklace length guide.

Oblik Atelier necklaces fall a bit outside standard lengths. The collar necklaces are usually 17 inches, so if you have a smaller or larger neck we would need to consider making a custom-size collar. I am always happy to do so, just reach out.

Bracelets

Measure your wrist with a flexible tape or strip of paper. For a standard fit, add 1/4 to 1/2 inch to your measurement. For cuffs and bangles, you also need to know your hand circumference at its widest point, because the piece needs to pass over the knuckles to get to the wrist. This is noted on individual product pages where it is relevant. Browse the bracelets and cuffs collection for options.

Earrings

For sculptural or architectural earrings, the worn photograph tells you more than any measurement. The question is not how long a piece is in the abstract. The question is where it lands relative to your jaw, your shoulder, the way you hold your head. Oblik Atelier earrings are photographed on real people for exactly this reason.

Post and wire type changes how a piece moves. A French hook hangs and swings freely. A lever back holds the earring closer to the ear. A threaded post lies flush against the lobe. All Oblik Atelier ear wires are gold-filled and nickel-free.

What the Photography Is Telling You

Multiple angles. Close-ups that show surface texture, the trace of the hand, the variation in a handmade piece. At least one shot of the earring worn, the ring on a finger, the necklace against a collarbone. Without that last one, you are looking at an object floating in space. As much as I love seeing my jewelry as sculpture, ultimately it is the way it looks on the body and how it fits that matters most.

A maker who is confident in their work will show you the work plainly.

Mixing Metals and Styling

The old instruction to match your metals belongs to another era. Mixing gold and silver, warm and cool, polished and oxidized can produce something more interesting than perfect coordination. What matters more than matching is hierarchy. One piece leads. The rest support it. A bold sculptural cuff is a lead element. The earrings and necklace around it should serve it, not compete with it.

When everything insists on being seen at once, nothing is.

When You Are Not Sure

Write before you buy. I answer sizing questions myself. I will tell you honestly if a piece runs narrow, if a wire photographs lighter than it wears, if a particular ring works better on certain finger sizes. This is the beauty of an artisanal atelier. You can contact me directly or find me on Instagram.

Oblik Atelier pieces are handmade in Brooklyn, NY. Every piece passes through my hands.