Out of curiosity: do you prefer branded/high end jewellery or unbranded - and why?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MagpieInTraining
  • Start date Start date

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#106
brnicutie said:
I have both. It doesn't matter to me as long as I like the piece. I end up mixing and matching my jewelry.
Click to expand...

I have both as well, but more to brand names as i trust the quality and workmanship and the aftersales better.
But i also recognise that the branded ones have a lot of knockoff or can look "common" , eg cartier love and juc stack so i like to mix it up with other less common items e.g. from mikimoto
 
  • Like
Reactions: brnicutie
#107
Joule said:
After Covid's Country-wide Collective Closet Clean-out of early 2020, I kept only the pieces I really love to wear (or those which have real sentimental value), and most of it is unbranded. I held onto only a few of my Mikimoto pieces, my 22k wedding jewelry (saved for the Teen), and one or two pieces of Tiffany gold and VCA. The rest of my collection is lightweight, easy-to-style, and nameless. The unbranded pieces I have are every bit as beautiful as the high-end ones I let go, and I feel much less anxious while wearing them: it's far less expensive to replace an 18k bracelet with no name than it is a Love Cuff from Cartier.
Click to expand...
I know this is super old, but I'd love to see the wedding jewelry! I love 22k gold pieces!
 
  • Love
Reactions: Joule
#108
I prefer to buy branded jewelry. Not just common brands like Cartier or Tiffany, but at least well-known brands like Piaget or Sabbadini. In my experience, pieces that come from a well-known brand retain their value much better than unbranded jewelry. I think this is mainly because you have a reference, you know what the pieces once cost. Therefore, it's much easier to sell used pieces when they have the trademark of a well-known brand, and it allows me to constantly change and expand my collection by buying new things and selling things I no longer like, at a reasonable price. For example, just recently, I sold three Love bracelets for almost the same price I once paid for them. I don't think that would be possible with unbranded bracelets.
 
  • Like
  • Insightful
Reactions: missie1, 880 and muddledmint
#109
I like both, I really like VCA Alhambra pieces and some understated not so common items from other brands like Tiffany or Cartier. I dislike Cartier Love range, find it way too common. Whilst they’re not common everywhere, they are common amongst those that are into jewelry or if in big cities/environments where people have money.

I prefer pairing my well known pieces with other lesser well known brand jewelry or something that is much cheaper and not so common. My most complimented items are pieces from fine unknown brands. Currently I am trying to build a bracelet stack to pair VCA bracelet with less known unique bracelets.

I don’t buy branded jewelry because they hold their value, each piece I buy is with the intention to wear not to sell, either I really just like the look of it.
I am also pretty careful, so only buy after a lot of thought so I don’t need to worry about losing their value or holding their value. I also don’t buy expensive costume jewelry.
 
  • Like
Reactions: darkangel07760 and escamillo
#110
I get the most compliments whenever I wear my paperclip necklace, bracelet and diamond studs from Costco. My designer pieces like VCA and Cartier actually have people ask me which Etsy store or if I got them from Amazon. My cousin actually showed me her Instagram feed and they are all full of look-alike VCA or Cartier (Love & JUC) from online. I still love my pieces but they are no longer unique as my off-brand ones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shando333, LoverField and muddledmint
#111
chaerimk said:
I get the most compliments whenever I wear my paperclip necklace, bracelet and diamond studs from Costco. My designer pieces like VCA and Cartier actually have people ask me which Etsy store or if I got them from Amazon. My cousin actually showed me her Instagram feed and they are all full of look-alike VCA or Cartier (Love & JUC) from online. I still love my pieces but they are no longer unique as my off-brand ones.
Click to expand...
People who aren’t into luxury brands might not know the difference between the real thing and knockoffs. I don’t think I would be bothered by that. Also, there is nothing unique about costco pieces, they’re about as generic as you can get, even if really nice quality. I think generic just appeals to more people, that’s why it gets more compliments.
 
  • Like
Reactions: etudes
#112
The answer for me would be: it depends.

Jewellery that I never remove:
- My 2 Chaumet Bee My Love rings that I stacked and wear them together.
- My Tiffany Soleste wedding band.
- My 1ct diamond eternity ring from Blue Nile
- Inexpensive anklet from Etsy

Jewellery that I remove when I get home:
- Earrings (inexpensive Korean style earrings)

I am more than happy to splurge on rings from Chaumet because I do love the unique design of the Bee My Love line. However, I don’t see myself buying branded earrings because I don’t wear earrings every day. It comes down to cost per wear.
 
#117
JessicaRabbit1 said:
It certainly is a very personal choice, and there is no 'correct' answer. Ive enjoyed reading everyones diverse opinions on the topic and I certainly learnt something.

For me when it comes to jewellery, I look for a design I like and quality of craftsmanship. I also like to know what the after sales service is like (free cleaning, support if there is a problem, if its a watch what kind of servicing etc). I usually lean towards buying 'branded' jewellery for one reason: I bought a local jewellers piece and a few years later I went travelling, when I came back the store was closed down and I needed to get some items repaired. Normally they would have repaired it for free since it was a flaw in their design, but I had to pay else where. It irked me quite a bit.
I have had a problem with a Tiffany & CO piece before and I got a brand new one years after the sale was made (and I mean a number of years it certainly wasn't new). That for me is what is most important.

I still purchase items I like from local jewellers and I have since found a jeweller who does custom pieces for me. However, I would say I go for items which are either massively too expensive from the branded stores, are something unique or I'm having an item repurposed/remade into something else.

Thanks for letting me share xx
Click to expand...
I came to say the same! I purchased my Tacori engagement/wedding set at a small jewelry store that relocated from our mall to a boutique in an affluent area of town and was irked I had to drive further for servicing… only to lose them again a few years later to more rising cost of living and the rent was too much for them to handle. Now if I take it elsewhere, I won’t get the same treatment despite them being an authorized Tacori dealer. Annoying indeed.

I like that I can walk into the mall and easily get my pieces cleaned/serviced at Cartier/Tiffany’s and the brand has been around long enough for me to be confident the service will not falter like a local jewelry store.

This doesn’t mean I don’t shop elsewhere still… I mean, comon! My favorite color is “sparkly” and it does not discriminate if quality shines through.
 
  • Like
Reactions: casiecn and muddledmint
#118
Generally, my tendencies have shifted towards luxury branded fine jewelleries. I dont know whats wrong with my brain, but i grow out of things that start looking tarnished, or abit dull.. and also items that are not branded. I also grow out of branded jewelleries (i am so fickle) but at a slower pace i would say..

I prefer to buy branded luxury jewelleries probably because they hold their value better (so because i am so fickle, i wont lose so much when i end up selling item), quality assured, the craftmanship.

I guess the marketing really gets to me. Even though others may not know the brand, but for me, the feel good factor is there at the personal level. <oh dear, i sound very shallow :(>
 
#120
I just saw this thread and enjoyed reading the responses. I love to mix high end pieces with more affordable pieces of jewelry. I own everything from Tiffany, Cartier, Shy Creation and Jennifer Meyer to plated jewelry from Jane Win and a new favorite Hart Hagerty. If you like Jane Win, check out Hart Studio. A Charleston, SC designer with super cute and durable pieces. I think mixing high end/low end jewelry keeps it interesting and fun!
 
  • Like
  • Insightful
Reactions: 880, foxgal, Penelopepursula and 1 other person
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top