There was a little bit of concern floating around after my post about dressing up with jewelry – some of the more gorgeous items that I shared with you were a bit… pricey?… and a few people expressed their concern that they couldn’t do justice to dressing up unless they won the lottery first.
But lower-priced jewelry exists, and can be an extremely good thing to search out, for a number of reasons.
- If you’re test-driving a new style or type of jewelry, and it doesn’t make sense to spend a fortune on something that you’re not sure you’ll love.
- If you’re buying jewelry to wear with just one specific garment or outfit, and you know that you aren’t going to want to keep the piece forever,
- or, if you’re going to be taking your jewelry someplace where security is iffy, and you DO want jewelry, but DON’T want to have to make an insurance claim.
Jet and grey pearl earrings – 1928.com, silver and grey pearl earrings – Allurez, Tahitian pearl and diamond earrings – Allurez, gold and rhinestone hoops – Dorothy Perkins, gold star and circle hoops – Freida Rothman, gold and diamond earrings – Jude Frances, brown stone chandelier earrings – Saks Fifth Avenue, scroll patterned earrings – Oscar de la Renta, silver and gold earrings – David Yurman
Black and rhinestone bracelet – Romeo and Juliet, studded lace bracelet – Alexis Bittar, pearl and rose gold bracelet – Delfina Delettrez, pearl and rhinestone “Janice” brooch – Nina, “coral” and pearl brooch – Kenneth Jay Lane, diamond brooch – Allurez, red stone cocktail ring – Ariella Collection, gold and labradorite ring – Melinda Maria, silver and gold ring – Konstantino
Gold and rhinestone chain bracelets – Saks Fifth Avenue, huge link bracelet – Kenneth Jay Lane, braided bracelet – Rewind, square amethyst pendant – Kohl’s, oval amethyst pendant – Allurez, square amethyst on box chain – David Yurman, rounded rectangle face watch- Relic, round faced watch – Saks Fifth Avenue, 2nd round faced watch – Citizen
love,
Janice
Thanks for this. Excellent advice (as always)! Some other good sources of lower priced jewelry: Local artisans — unique, handmade items, plus you are supporting local arts and small business. Consignment or antique shops — antique shops often have estate jewelry at very reasonable prices. If you want to try your hand at making your own, check out local art museums. One of our local sculpture gardens sometimes offers jewelry making classes. (A friend made a hammered silver bracelet that was gorgeous!)
Thanks for this. I have a drawer full of nicer costume jewelry (semi precious stones, etc.), and wholeheartedly endorse your exceptions list. Sadly, I have a nickel contact allergy so the $ category is generally out for me, but I've found some nice, moderately priced pieces. As your earlier commenter mentioned, antique stores are a fun place to look.
Good morning, As the previous writers state, its all in the eye, Knowing your style and looking in places you would never expect to find something that appeals both to your heart and your wallet,
Deb from Vancouver
As with all your blogs….what you show is a guide. Jewelry, clothing, handbags, shoes etc. can be found in all price ranges. It would be nice if money was of no concern, but it is, and any woman can dress with style and confidence if they understand the lessons of simplicity.
As always, this is good advice. I didn't know about Allurez, that is a good find. There is a jewelry store chain in some places called James Avery. I buy my earrings from them: if you lose one they buy back the remaining earring (if it is still in stock.) Then you buy a replacement pair, so basically half price. And then the returned earring is melted down and used again for new jewelry. It takes some of the sting out of a loss of earrings nice enough for work.
The great thing about well chosen jewelry is that you will most likely have it for a very long time. I have an antique locket that I bought as a teenager. Now nearly fifty years later I can still wear it. I also have a gold bracelet that I bought over thirty years ago at a craft market. As Virginia suggested artisans can be an excellent source of jewelry if that is your style. I live in a retirement community that has a craft fair twice a year. In my community, there are many artisans that sell at reasonable prices. Most do it as a hobby and not to support themselves. I have purchased many beautiful pieces at good prices. Most of my pieces are in silver since the community has a Silver & Lapidary studio for residents. If there is a retirement community nearby you should check it out.
Good advice from several of the above commenters and you too Janice. Almost all of my jewelry is locally made and many are signed pieces worthy to be called museum pieces. I have to add that my husband buys most of my jewelry as presents. Yes, he has a good eye and most of them become favorites, although there have been a few duds.
I mix my jewelry that I am wearing–I may wear earrings of ivory and a silver bracelet at the same time.
Hi Janice. I look at your website almost every day. I love fashion but am really trying to dress to compliment my body shape which is rather boyish. Anyway – didn't Chanel say, "“Costume jewelry is not made to give women an aura of wealth,
but to make them beautiful" ? I remember saying this to two of my older sisters because since we were immigrants and left everything behind when we were small, they will only wear real jewels. I guess for them it is a sign of success and maybe security too? (I do remember buying some real gold earrings when I had my first job in the 80s and they were not cheap so I guess they did symbolize success to me.)
As for myself – I love fake. You don't worry about losing it and can change styles when you want. There is also a local bead shop and I have made a few things too.
I bought a set of faux druzy earrings from Joan Rivers a few years ago – I really miss seeing her on QVC – and when I wear those earrings, people everywhere ask me what I am wearing. They add color and sparkle to the plainest outfit. They are much lighter than real druzy which I love.
– Maggie
Janice, you must have spent ages finding these examples for comparison, and what useful comparisons they are! An excellent illustration of how careful shopping can produce a fine result, even on a budget. I totally agree with you and the other commentators that it's possible and fun to buy perfectly good jewellery inexpensively. Other possible sources are museum and art gallery shops – they can be pricey but sometimes there's a little something quite delightful that meets the case without breaking the bank.
Good for you for sleuthing out less costly pieces! And (you know this is coming), I'd only buy real pearls. Fake pearls have no orient, so therefore, no depth, no mystery. Genuine pearls do not cost the earth, especially for the freshwaters. For example, see this pair of freshwater and topaz earrings, set in 14k for about $207 (with the current sale), and look at the play of colour and luster there.
http://kojimapearl.myshopify.com/products/deep-sea-topaz-and-fresh-water-dangles
I am more than happy to tell people that my earrings are fake. I do like real stones in my earrings sometimes but they are heavy. I have a few pairs of artisan silver drops in different designs and in different colored stones but they are heavy. Also, I live in a cold climate now and metal earrings get cold rather quickly. I just keep in my endless hoops in 24/7 and go crazy with the scarves.
Except for a few pairs of my larger gold earrings and artisan silver earrings, I donated most of my costume and less expensive real jewelry to the resale shop at the senior center in my town and to one of the local churches for their jewelry and trinkets table at their plant and flower sale in the spring.
-Maggie
– Maggie