These 9 jewelry brands make quality pieces that only look expensive
As a long-time fashion editor, I've worn everything from fine jewelry to cheap, trendy pieces that wear out in no time, so I know how tricky it is to find well-made accessories without overspending. If you're on the hunt for stylish, budget-friendly jewelry that lasts, you're not alone — and I can help. Over the years, I've discovered some fantastic jewelry brands that strike a tricky balance between quality and affordability.
These wallet-friendly brands use innovative materials and clever techniques to create high-quality pieces you'll cherish for years without emptying your wallet. Imagine beautifully crafted items made with gold vermeil (that's sterling silver covered in a lovely thick layer of 18-karat gold) instead of solid gold. Or lab-grown stones that are just as stunning as traditionally mined diamonds and gems but a fraction of the cost — we're talking about savings in the thousands!
Whether you're after everyday favorites like classic gold hoops and stackable rings or something a bit more attention-grabbing, keep scrolling to check out stylish, well-crafted jewelry that looks way more expensive than it is. Many styles are under $250, so there's something for everyone.
Celebrities including Taylor Swift, Meghan Markle, Selena Gomez and even Oprah have been spotted wearing Mejuri's effortlessly elegant styles. Because of that, you might expect sky-high prices. Not so: Its direct-to-consumer model cuts out the middleman, keeping prices surprisingly affordable. While some stunning diamond pieces can set you back a bit, many of the brand's bestsellers are under $100.
This Brooklyn-based brand is known for dainty designs like ultra-thin stacking rings and barely there chain necklaces and bracelets that can be made into permanent jewelry at one of their signature zapping stations. But if you can't make it to a store or don't love the idea of jewelry you can't easily take off, you can shop their traditional styles online.
Every piece from Missoma is handcrafted, responsibly sourced, and designed in Notting Hill, London. The brand's goal is to create timeless pieces that you'll want to wear over and over. A-list celebs like Cynthia Erivo, Margot Robbie and even Kate Middleton have sported the brand. Missoma's website even has a hidden section that shows exactly which pieces stars have worn. Shop their exact styles below.
Lightbox is all about sustainability. Its lab-grown diamonds are created in the U.S. using 100% wind power, which is pretty cool if you ask me. Some pieces, like this stunning 2-carat diamond necklace, have a higher price tag (hey, they are diamonds after all), but most are much more affordable than traditionally mined diamonds. Plus, if you love getting creative, you can buy loose lab-grown diamonds to design your own unique jewelry.
California-based Gorjana has been crafting dainty, durable jewelry for over 20 years. Its collection features everything from delicate necklaces just right for layering to stackable rings and cute huggie earrings that you can wear every day. Most pieces are priced between $50 and $300, making it easy to find something special without overspending. But if you're ever in the mood to treat yourself, Gorjana also offers a stunning fine jewelry collection.
You might have come across Dorsey, which makes trendy lab-grown jewelry, after its Rivière necklaces took social media by storm last year. These gorgeous tennis necklaces look nearly identical to options that cost over $10,000, but they start at just $635 thanks to the brand's use of lab-grown gemstones and diamonds. The matching bracelets are even more affordable. Oh, and there are tons of stylish rings, earrings and even anklets, starting at just $80.
Celebs are usually dripping in expensive jewels on the red carpet, but in their downtime, many of them reach for the same affordable brand: Baublebar. Everyone from Julia Roberts to Kate Hudson and Drew Barrymore has been spotted in the budget-friendly line. It offers chic, on-trend, well-made pieces that will help you elevate your jewelry collection to A-list status without spending a fortune.
We already love Quince for its timeless apparel, crafted in some of the same factories as those designer labels you find in department stores. But here's a little secret: The direct-to-consumer brand also offers beautiful, affordable fine jewelry! Most of its pieces are made with 14-karat gold, but if you're looking for something a bit more budget-friendly, check out their lovely 18-karat gold vermeil options. Whether you're on the hunt for classic everyday pieces, trendy styles or even wedding bands, Quince has you covered.
Monica Vinader offers a range of jewelry ideal for buyers with high-end tastes without the budgets to match. Some of its most popular pieces include pendant necklaces, birthstone bracelets and freshwater pearl earrings. Even better, the sustainable brand uses 100% recycled gold and sterling silver. Plus, it offers a lifetime repair service and a jewelry recycling program.
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(RNS) — When he was a teenager in the 1990s, Jordan Morris was always up for a bit of mischief — as long as it didn't involve sex or drugs, two things he was sure would kill him. So he went to a megachurch youth group, which promised teenage shenanigans without much danger. The 'sanitized mischief,' as he describes it, was perfect for Morris, who grew up as a nerdy, nervous kid. 'Youth group was great for me,' Morris said. 'We can put on a show, we can sing little songs, we can do little skits. We can toilet paper the pastor's house and clean it up later. And I just don't have to worry that someone is going to try and pressure me into something that I'm scared of.' Now a Los Angeles-based comedy writer and podcaster, Morris has fond memories of his time in youth group. 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Published last year by New York-based First Second Books, 'Youth Group' tells the story of Kay Radford, a theater kid who winds up joining the Stone Mission megachurch youth group after her parents split up. Her mom is a true believer but lonely. Kay is more skeptical but lonely as well and angry at her dad. 'Church might help with all this,' Kay's mom tells her early on. 'I think we both could use some community.' At the youth group, Kay is met by youth leader Meg Parks, a kind but sometimes over-the-top youth leader in pink; a bearded, hippy pastor who turns the 'Pina Colada song' — the Rupert Holmes hit 'Escape' — into a metaphor for spiritual seeking; and a band that churns out parodies like 'I Saw the Christ' sung to the melody of Ace of Base's 'The Sign.' Though fictional, the songs fit the kind of pop culture reference — sometimes known as a 'Jesus juke' — that youth groups can be known for. 'I always think there's something funny about that move, where you take a secular piece of entertainment, like a song that's in the zeitgeist, or a popular movie and try and give the hidden religious message,' Morris said. Kay eventually discovers the youth pastor and some of the older Stone Mission kids also fight demons. That fight becomes personal after one of the demons goes after her dad, and Kay decides to join the battle. Along the way, the Stone Mission kids team up with youth groups from other faiths — Temple Beth Israel, Immaculate Heart parish and the Polaris Coven — to fight off a demon invasion with the help of some training by an order of nuns. Morris said he and illustrator Bowen McCurdy wanted to tell a story that was more than just satire. And while he no longer embraces the faith of his youth, Morris still sees value in the lessons he learned, like the importance of loving your neighbor. 'We wanted to tell a story of people from a lot of different religions coming together with a common goal,' he said. Matthew Cressler, a religion scholar and creator of the webcomic series 'Bad Catholics, Good Trouble,' said comics with evangelical or denominational settings like 'Youth Group' are uncommon. Religion in comics, he said, is often seen as 'a marker of difference': for example, Kamala Khan, the Muslim-American hero known as Ms. Marvel, or Matt Murdock, better known as Daredevil, who is Irish-Catholic. In the 1960s, when Daredevil was created, Catholics were still seen as outsiders to the American mainstream, and many of the most popular heroes, like Batman, were seen as Mainline Protestants. While there were comics for evangelicals, they were often evangelistic, like the controversial Jack Chick tracts or the Christianized adventures of Archie and his friends, published by Spire Comics starting in the 1970s. And evangelicals have often downplayed the kind of sacramental imagery and architecture found in mainline or Catholic settings and try to avoid the kind of visuals needed for comics, said Cressler. Matthew Brake, founder and editor of online publication Pop Culture and Theology, said non-denominational churches often have a 'let's go to the mall aesthetic' and lack the visual clout of Catholicism. 'Nondenominational churches are sort of a cultural underdog,' he said. That may change, Brake said, as creators like Morris, who grew up in non-denominational settings, come of age. And those settings often contain surprises. Although they are most known for things like worship music and purity culture, megachurches also provide space to talk about things like social justice. Still, he wonders if many nondenominational Christians would be the kinds of fans that would enjoy a book like 'Youth Group' or 'Preacher,' a late-1990s comic about an evangelical pastor who ends up possessed by a supernatural being. David Canham, who reviews comics for the secular pop-culture website AIPT — short for 'Adventures in Poor Taste' — had mixed feelings about 'Youth Group.' 'First off, there's plenty of '90s nostalgia — a good-natured tongue-in-cheek look back at many of the silly and absurd things about '90s culture, with a focus on evangelical Christian culture,' he wrote when the book came out. ''Youth Group' delivers on this point.' But the book's take on pluralism — the idea that all religion is on the same side — turned him off as an evangelical Christian. 'I don't want to recommend a book that promotes a worldview that so strongly disagrees with my own beliefs,' he wrote. At first, Morris said he was worried the book might offend Christians and atheists alike. Some evangelicals might feel the book mocks their faith, while atheists might think the book overlooks the shortcomings of religious groups. Both those criticisms would be fair, he said. Religious groups get a lot of things wrong, and yet churches and other faith groups remain important to their members. Morris said he tried to walk a fine line of gently poking fun at faith while showing why it still has an impact on people's lives, and how the friendships made in youth groups may long endure. 'I didn't want the humor to be like, church is stupid, or say, 'look at this dumb church stuff,'' he said. 'I wanted it to be funny and familiar.' Morris said he wanted to capture the mixed feelings people have about the faiths in which they grew up. While he appreciated Bible teachings like caring for the needy, some of the politics and social messages, especially about LGBTQ+ folks, were a turnoff, he said. Religion, he said, is complicated. 'There are a lot of wonderful memories, and there's a lot of stuff that gives me the ick,' he said. 'I hope that's in the book. I hope you can see how a religious upbringing can be upsetting and wonderful — comforting but also makes you mad.'
