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It’s no secret that one of my favourite things in my summer wardrobe is my accessories, especially jewellery. I love layering my gold or silver pieces with some colourful beads. It allows me to add a pop of colour to my relatively neutral summer wardrobe.
Over the years, I have tried different fashion jewellery brands and learned about materials and metals. In this blog post, I wanted to share my experience and tips on choosing quality jewellery pieces that will last and won’t tarnish quickly in a budget that works for you.
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Gold Plated Jewellery
Most fashion or semi-fine jewellery brands produce gold-plated jewellery. This means that a layer of gold is plated on a base metal using different techniques. When shopping for the first time from a jewellery brand, always look for the base metal they’re using, their type of plating, and the gold karat. These are good indicators of the quality of the items you’ll get.
How can you tell the quality of a piece of jewellery according to its base metal?
Base metals will usually be brass, sterling silver, or stainless steel.
Sterling silver is a more expensive metal. It can indicate a higher quality of the jewellery. However, it can tarnish over time, so you’ll see the silver metal underneath the plating. If your skin is sensitive, choosing gold-plated pieces on silver can be a good solution since sterling silver is hypoallergenic. If you shop for gold-plated jewellery on silver, I recommend selecting gold vermeil plating, which is more durable. I will elaborate more on this in the plating section.
Stainless steel is usually a durable base metal, and its plating doesn’t tarnish. Moreover, you can go to the pool or shower with gold-plated stainless steel jewellery since it is a corrosion-resistant material. So far, I have had quite a successful experience with these pieces. One of my favourite brands using stainless steel for their jewellery is Boutique Minimaliste.
How can you tell the quality of the jewellery according to its plating?
There is a difference between gold-plated jewellery, gold-filled jewellery, and gold vermeil jewellery. Gold-plated jewellery has a thin layer of gold on another base metal. Gold-plated jewellery is usually the most affordable option, and its quality can vary. Although, it’s not considered very durable. A fashion brand that makes gold-plated jewelry of relatively good quality is & Other Stories.
Gold-filled has a thicker layer of plating made on a cheaper base metal such as brass or copper. This makes the jewellery pieces more affordable yet durable. Gold vermeil also has a thicker plating layer, and its base metal is sterling silver. Gold vermeil is usually the most expensive option for gold-plated pieces. Yet, it is cheaper than solid gold jewellery. My favourite brands that make gold vermeil pieces are Monica Vinader and Missoma.
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What does the gold karat stand for?
The gold karat can also affect the pricing. A higher karat indicates the purity of gold alloyed with other metals. Higher gold karat also means the jewellery colour will be more yellow since there is a more significant amount of pure gold in the plating. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean the plating will be more durable. It depends on the type of plating mentioned above.
Solid Gold Jewellery
Recently, some semi-fine jewellery brands have started to produce solid gold jewellery at a more accessible price. I believe it’s because the designs are relatively minimal, do not use a lot of material, and use only 14k gold. Solid gold has its advantages. It doesn’t tarnish, and you can wear it when you shower or at the beach. I would consider investing in classic jewellery pieces in solid gold. You can find such pieces in brands like Maison Miru, Mejuri, and Linjer.
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Silver Jewellery
If you prefer silver jewellery, most brands I’ve mentioned have the same pieces, both in gold and silver. The most durable option is 925 sterling silver pieces, but some brands also offer a more budget-friendly option using silver plated pieces on brass. In this case, ensure it’s sterling silver plating (not just a silver colour). Some brands also offer a warranty for the plating that indicates the quality. One of these brands is Shlomit Ofir, and from my experience, their plating is relatively durable.
Vintage Jewelry
I don’t own many vintage jewellery pieces besides some I’ve inherited from my family. Solid gold and sterling silver pieces can be more affordable if they’re vintage. When it comes to gold-plated pieces, information about the base metal and the type of plating is sometimes unavailable. However, I recommend looking for stainless steel pieces that are more durable. I usually like to look for vintage jewellery on Etsy.
Sustainable Jewelry
Like in fashion, jewellery making has its sustainable practices. Some brands use recycled metals like silver, gold, or gold vermeil. When it comes to diamonds, conflict-free diamonds or lab-grown diamonds are the ethical options. Other sustainability practices include ethically sourced materials, recycled packaging, or carbon-neutral shipping. Lastly, some brands offer repair services or warranties for their jewellery, allowing the longevity of your pieces.
One of my favourite brands that have excellent sustainability practices is Monica Vinader. They are also rated ‘good’ on the Good on You app, which ranks brands for sustainable practices. I’ve got to work with Monica Vinader for the past couple of months. I highly recommend them for their beautiful, high-quality pieces. If you wish to add new jewellery pieces from Monica Vinader, use this link for 20% off*.
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I hope these tips will help you shop for jewellery more thoughtfully and consciously. Similar to clothes, I recommend choosing your pieces carefully. Go for classic pieces you’ll wear year after year instead of trendy pieces. You’ll also be able to layer them more easily. When I want to add trendy pieces, I do some DIY, such as switching pendants or buying beads and creating my own jewellery. This is a much more affordable and sustainable alternative for me.
For more info about my jewellery layering tips, read here.
If you have more tips on how to shop smartly for jewellery, feel free to share them in the comments 🙂
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