Best Jewelry Decisions You've Ever Made?

[darkangel07760]

Best decisions:
1.Giving up trying to stack my wedding set with anything other than the e ring and wedding band. They are a matched set and are perfect as they are.
2. Joining this forum to keep track of price increases so I can beat those. That’s how I completed my bracelet stack without getting mad at spending more!
3. Learning to wait for sales, sign up for emails and all that so I can save a few bucks!
4. My Cartier Clash bracelet

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

1. Having most of my jewellery in duplicates in either white gold or silver and gold because I wear gold in summer and switch to white gold or silver in winter months.
2. Growing my curated jewellery collection in parallel with my small handbag collection
3. Having a good small collection of jewellery from independent jewelers and not just from big brand names. These are probably my most prized processions yet much cheaper than some of big brand jewelry I own.
4. Not getting into the costume jewellery bandwagon. I only have the Chanel earrings from my teen days (being broke most of my 20s also helped with this).

 

[emeryle]

My best jewelry decisions:
1) The Chanel Coco Crush earrings in 18k beige gold. Yes, they were a pricey purchase but the small overall diameter of the hoop and design is gorgeous and is so unique (yet perfect for daily wear!)--can be dressed up or down, and there is nothing else like it out there imo! I am super sensitive to earring weight, but these are perfect! 100% recommend these
2) My Mejuri daily yellow gold hoops that are chunky yet hollowed inside -- their light weight makes them super wearable.
3) Not allowing myself to buy anything else that I can't feasibly add to my daily jewelry. I've had a lot of jewelry purchase regrets and after losing a lot of money by selling pieces off, I now only allow myself to buy jewelry that can be added on to what I already own, without "taking over" anything I currently have or preventing anything from being worn less often.

 

[Moxisox]

1) No longer buying costume jewelry
2) Buying the pieces that work for me, instead of what’s popular or trendy
3) Wearing my pieces daily
4) Discovering I like mixing metals

 

[Love Of My Life]

I am a big fan of estate jewelry pieces from the 40's (signed & unsigned) especially
chunky link bracelets as well as my strands of pearls in various sizes & lengths.
Many years ago I met a gal who was the jewelry buyer at Bendel & she was very gracious
in helping me curate my pearl collection as she was wearing 2 strands of pearls from Cartier
& then my fun began. I still see how elegant & beautiful they were on her neck.
I also like the Elsa Peretti lacquer bangles, the tassel necklaces & Hermes horn & lacquer necklaces
& earrings & a very special Hermes link necklace that was a gift for a special anniversary years ago,
Other staples are eternity bands, diamond & pearl stud earrings & interesting amber pieces from A. Pintaldi
& several vintage watches.. I wear a Patek from the year I was born that my grandfather gifted to me

 

[DeepSubmerge]

My advice is quality over quantity. Buy fine unique pieces, as opposed to mass produced. Go for pieces that capture your attention.

Many people buy jewelry as an investment but I learnt that most do not increase in value significantly, unless it is a rare item. I would wear jewellery because I enjoy it rather than hoping for future returns.

Hi! I'm a starting professional and I'm looking into dipping my feet into jewelry. I have noticed that some designer pieces depreciate so much. I'm looking at Hermes jewelry in the secondary market here in Canada and they don't hold much value. That said, I'd like to buy pieces that do have the potential of increasing in value, even if I have to spend more. Would you care to give some examples?

 

[DeepSubmerge]

BTW, regarding diamonds, is a GIA-certification the best assurance of getting great stones? Of course taking into consideration the 4 Cs an all that.

 

[Emily1830]

1. Don’t buy costume jewelry. Invest in real gold and good quality materials.

2. Sizing matters. Pay attention to sizing and don’t buy things that aren’t sized to your body. Nothing looks worse than an oversized bracelet or mismatched bracelets of different sizes.

3. Envision what your ideal jewelry collection looks like and work toward that. I like to keep wishlists and I also keep in mind that my pieces need to work together cohesively. I buy only a couple of fine jewelry pieces a year but over time, you will have a good collection.

4. Don’t wear fine jewelry to bed or in the shower. If you take care of your pieces, they will last much longer. If you wear them 24/7, just be mindful that you will have to do repairs and that will cost you to maintain the item.

5. Better save to buy what you truly want, what makes you happy, than to settle for a cheaper version. You’ll still want the expensive one.

 

[Onebagtoomany]

Buy what you actually want rather than what you feel you can afford - even if that means taking longer to save for it. I’ve lost count of how many times I settled for something because I didn’t want to spend the extra money, then ended buying what I actually wanted anyway and ultimately spending a lot more in total!

 

[foxgal]

Hi! I'm a starting professional and I'm looking into dipping my feet into jewelry. I have noticed that some designer pieces depreciate so much. I'm looking at Hermes jewelry in the secondary market here in Canada and they don't hold much value. That said, I'd like to buy pieces that do have the potential of increasing in value, even if I have to spend more. Would you care to give some examples?

Not many things actually increase in value when it comes to jewelry. Perhaps the only examples being real 24k gold which has its own intrinsic metal value, and of course is all dependent on the price of gold per ounce when you buy and when you sell. Mene is a jewelry company based on the premise of “wearable investments”. And certain long-standing popular pieces from heritage brands, like the Cartier Love or the Tiffany Bone cuff or a Rolex watch, that are subject to regular price increases. So theoretically you could sell 10 years in the future for more than you paid. I don’t think you can count on diamonds to increase in value unless you’re getting a rare stone.

Really, jewelry shouldn’t be thought of as an investment in the same way as financial instruments like the stock market or bonds. Hopefully you buy jewelry because you love it and it brings you joy. As you’ve pointed out, many pieces depreciate exactly like a car - it’s worth less as soon as you drive it off the lot - so it can be worth it to be a smart shopper and buy preloved items.

To start out, I’d focus on everyday wearable pieces in solid precious metals. Don’t worry about brand so much as quality construction, good materials, a solid warranty, and that you love it!

 

[foxgal]

Many here have said “buy what you really want rather than settling for a cheaper version”….which I totally agree with. But for me I’ve learned that in certain cases wearing a cheapie version first helps me decide if I really like something enough to spend on the higher price item and what sizing I should get.

Also, I’ve learned that if you don’t absolutely LOVE something when you put it on, it’s not right. Don’t talk yourself into something that you feel at all ambivalent about just because it’s popular or you’ve been dreaming about it for a long time.

 

[Vintage Leather]

One is amazing. Two is nice. Three is a terrible idea.


I would buy something because I’d fall in love with it. And then, because I loved it, I’d get another one. And another. And eventually I ended up with too much and I didn’t like it at all. I did this with John Hardy earrings and pendants, Hermes bracelets, Australian acrylic brooches…


Make a list. It doesn’t have to be specific - it can be “very sparkly chandelier earrings.” Make sure something is on the list for at least a month before you buy it.

Shop vintage. There are some amazing stones out there. But make sure it’s checked by a jeweler before heavy wear

 

[MinimalStyle]

Less is more.
The reason is I amassed a collection that now overwhelms me. I want to wear everything at the same time because I like all my beautiful jewellery but obviously can’t - wouldn’t want to look like a Christmas tree. Definitely have some ‘more loved’ pieces which I wear daily but then I think why spent all the money if I only wear a handful?
From perspective now I wish I really took time to buy only things that I would wear daily and perhaps get a set for more formal occasions…I think I’m more practical now than when I started purchasing jewellery.

 

[Diamondbirdie]

Buy classic pieces to start with, the kinds of things you’ll still be wearing when you’re 70. Good diamond studs. A nice diamond pendant. A diamond bangle. Save up to buy things and don’t settle for less than excellent quality. Don’t go with trends. Above all, don’t buy branded stuff if you can help it. I think VCA is ok as it will maintain its value if you need to resell, less so Cartier and Tiffany. Buying preloved is a good option if you find a trusted seller.

 

[EmilyKristina]

One of the best jewelry decisions I've ever made was purchasing a classic Madrid ring. I believe in the principle of quality over quantity, and this timeless piece perfectly aligns with my personal style while offering versatility for various occasions. The craftsmanship and attention to detail in the Madrid ring are exceptional, making it a lasting and valuable addition to my collection. Its elegant design and the sentimental value I attach to it have truly made it a cherished jewelry choice for me.