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It’s no secret that one of my favorite things in my summer wardrobe is my accessories, especially jewelry. I love layering my gold pieces or my silver ones together with some colorful beads. It allows me to add a pop of color to my relatively neutral summer wardrobe.
Over the years, I have tried different fashion jewelry brands and learned about materials and metals. In this blog post, I wanted to share my experience and tips on choosing quality jewelry 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 jewelry brands produce gold-plated jewelry. It means a layer of gold is plated on a base metal in different techniques. When shopping from a jewelry brand for the first time, 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 jewelry piece 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 jewelry. 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 jewelry 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 durable base metal, and its plating doesn’t tarnish. Moreover, you can go to the pool or shower with gold-plated stainless steel jewelry since it is corrosion-resistant material. So far, I have had quite a successful experience with these pieces. One of my favorite brands using stainless steel for their jewelry is Boutique Minimaliste.
How can you tell the quality of the jewelry according to its plating?
There is a difference between gold-plated jewelry, gold-filled jewelry, and gold vermeil jewelry. Gold-plated jewelry has a thin layer of gold on another base metal. Gold-plated jewelry 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 jewelry 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 jewelry. My favorite 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 jewelry color will be more yellow since there is a more significant amount of pure gold in the plating. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the plating will be more durable. It depends on the type of plating mentioned above.
Solid Gold Jewellery
Recently, some semi-fine jewelry brands have started to produce solid gold jewelry at a more accessible price. I believe it’s because the designs are relatively minimal, not using a lot of material and because they are using 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 jewelry 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 jewelry, 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 color). 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 jewelry 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 jewelry on Etsy.
Sustainable Jewelry
Like in fashion, jewelry 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 jewelry, allowing the longevity of your pieces.
One of my favorite 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 jewelry pieces from Monica Vinader, use this link for 20% off*.
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I hope these tips will help you shop for jewelry 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 jewelry. This is a much more affordable and sustainable alternative for me.
For more info about my jewelry layering tips, read here.
If you have more tips on how to shop smartly for jewelry, feel free to share them in the comments 🙂
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