Where, and how, do you like to buy your jewelry? - YouLookFab Forum

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Where, and how, do you like to buy your jewelry?

LaPed

Veteran

Confession: I've never actually bought jewelry. Every single piece in my possession is a gift, a hand-me-down, or an inheritance. Even the jewelry box.

I like jewelry, but I don't love the idea of mass-produced pieces and straight-up costume jewelry. I've grown accustomed to wearing only pieces that have some personal significance. At the same time, I wouldn't mind a little more variety/novelty. Just from cruising around Etsy (and local farmers markets and craft fairs) I know there's a huge amount of cool stuff out there, like, to the point of being overwhelming.

So, what are your jewelry shopping preferences? Local artisans and boutiques, the big-name stuff, vintage/thrift? Do you buy bling just for fun, or do you mainly think of jewelry as something commemorative, tied to a special occasion, a souvenir from an adventure, etc? Anyone make their own?? Or do you just wait for other people to give you pretty things?

Links to your favorite designers, handcrafters, metalsmiths, etc highly encouraged. Not looking for advice so much as inspiration.

46 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara Diane

bj1111

Veteran

I buy vintage or one of pieces. I like beladora and weirdly ROSS-Simons estate section.

Nordstrom for costume jewelry. Etsy takes too much time to sift through. I also buy pieces when I travel. Even duty free--I have drooled over h stern between flights.

I hear you about pieces that are personally meaningful. I love wearing my grandmother's ring or my aunt's earrings. Or the earrings hubs got me for our wedding day.

Echo

Veteran

I prefer mostly fine jewelry, and I try to purchase one nice piece per year. DH also knows I favour fine jewelry. I also enjoy purchasing a piece of fine jewelry while on holiday, if possible.

If not fine jewelry, I prefer stand-out paste - as in thumbnail sized crystals in a holiday necklace or giant enameled insect pieces. I tend toward insect themed pieces - specifically beetles and bumble bees.

JAileen

Veteran

Nearly everything I have was a gift or handmade by me. My husband usually gives me jewelry for our anniversary, and sometimes my birthday. They are usually handmade in Southwestern style. I love that style and also I love that my husband picked out something for me.

Recently, though, I bought a silver necklace and earrings from Etsy. They were handmade and nickel free. I wanted an everyday sort of necklace. I can't wear anything with nickel anymore, so pretty much no costume jewelry.

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Aziraphale

Veteran

I own relatively little jewelry, and it's roughly divided half-and-half between pieces I bought myself and pieces that were given/inherited. Some of my favourite pieces were in fact gifts. All jewelry purchased by me -- that I still wear (so this doesn't count the hundreds of pairs of plastic earrings I wore as a teenager!) -- was purchased directly from the artist, either at their studio or a collective, and all of it is silver or gold (although one ring has a stone too). I tend to wear the same pieces for years and years. I view jewelry a little differently than clothing. It's not exactly that I'm sentimental about it; it's more that my jewelry is an extension of me, kind of. In the same way that my hair is kind of an extension of me. I can change it, but it's more a part of me than the clothes I take on and off every day. Does that make sense?

Sal

Veteran

A real mix:

I have very little real jewelry - mostly what I have was gifted/inherited.

Costume jewelry - purchased on impulse, often on holiday, and quite a few gifts. I have purchased a few earrings to go with specific evening looks.

Artisan jewelry - mostly gifts or bought on holiday.

There is a Trade Aid shop locally that I buy from mostly, and a specialist hat/jewelry/handbag store where I have added a couple of pieces.

I struggle to spend money on jewelry for myself.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

My collection is also a mix. I love pearls of all kinds and colors. I also like statement necklaces. My favorites, however, are handmade pieces I have picked up at artisan craft fairs.

kerlyn

Veteran

I love jewelry and wear it everyday. That said, I own very little that is valuable or "fine." I guess what I consider "valuable" wouldn't probably be worth very much, but it's special to me. I have a mix of costume jewelry (purchased inexpensively at places like World Market, Kohls, Target, etc.), some artisan made pieces found at craft fairs and such, and pieces my husband has brought me from deployments overseas in the Middle East and Europe. I really love pieces with an earthy, and/or bohemian feel, and lately, an edgier, modern feel. So I don't tend to have much interest in fine jewelry. Better for my budget, I guess!

Gaylene

Veteran

Aziraphale expressed my feelings perfectly. Like hers, my jewelry is a mix of inherited, gifted, and artisan, and, like her, I wear my favorites for years and years. Mass-produced pieces from chain stores don't hold any appeal for me. I like to know the person who crafted the pieces I'm wearing, but I'm very picky about the materials and workmanship so I'm more likely to buy from galleries or juried shows than craft fairs. I actually think of my pieces as art, not decoration.

viva

Veteran

I'm very picky about what I wear and I tend to wear only a few favorite pieces. I will buy occasionally when I travel. I don't buy "real jewelry" and have only a very few pieces of this (inherited and gifts from DH).

I recently bought a necklace online from Melissa Joy Manning, and now I want a pair of her earrings too. Usually I buy in person from a boutique, and I like to support a local artist/designer when I can.

I don't buy a lot of jewelry because I don't tend to change what I wear. Since i bought that necklace, it's been what I've worn about 90% of the time (since June). On my hands, I have worn the same set of rings for at least 5 years, although I added one new ring (from a local boutique) within the last year. I like bracelets so might play there from time to time. And I pick up earrings occasionally because I will trade those in and out depending on mood (more or less sparkly, small or big).

I tend to purge jewelry every year or so if I've let too many junky pieces creep in (cheaper travel souvenirs or from places like JCrew Factory).

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I like jewelry that is simple but not plain, often in bright colors combined with white and/or black. For years I didn't wear much because I couldn't find what I wanted. Last year I started working with polymer clay and now I make my own jewelry. I wear a scarf just about every day and I like to make bangle bracelets to go with my scarves (pics 1 and 4). But sometimes I want a matched set (pics 2 and 3) even though I may not wear all the pieces at the same time.

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deb

Veteran

I have my fine jewelry made. like you, I do not care for mass produced pieces.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I don't really purposely go out and buy jewelry, but do collect interesting pieces when I stumble on them in a thrift store. Exception was when I stumbled on an artisan jewelry maker in Paris and bought two large colorful hoop earrings. Apparently I feel jewelry requires stumbling.

Staysfit

Veteran

Most of mine is from someone, either as a gift or inheritance. However, I like art fairs, and the occasional piece of junky costume jewelry as a stand in when I haven't yet found the right piece at a fair.

peacechick

Veteran

The topic of jewelry summons up complicated feelings sometimes. I would have inherited some nice gold jewelry pieces, including some gifted to me as a child by grandparents. That is, if my mother hadn't pawned them all. I have only my grandmother's bracelet, which I guard as a keepsake and don't wear as it is delicate.

Looking on the bright side though, it is good for me to separate feelings from my jewelry since I can easily get rid of what I dont wear. I love vintage and artisanal fine jewelry but as it's expensive these days, I just pick up costume jewelry and there's no hassle when you're done, you just give it away.

tulle

Veteran

I have a box of jewelry, mostly vintage costume from thrift shops, rummage sales, auctions and hand-me-downs, and a few better pieces given to me as gifts. But here's my confession: I almost never wear jewelry, except for a ring and occasionally a brooch. I see friends, and many members of this forum, in necklaces and earrings that really make their outfits, and that inspires me to keep trying. I'll lay out some clothes on the bed and think, "ooh, that Venetian glass-flower necklace would be perfect with this pink," so I'll add it, and indeed, the necklace will look great--on the bed. I'll dress, add the necklace, and it will look...OK. Then I'll remove the necklace, and the whole outfit looks better. This happens nine times out of ten, but why? I was reading up about Gamine style recently, and noticed a line suggesting that Gamines should mostly avoid jewelry and concentrate on clothing with interesting details instead. This rang absolutely true: a jacket with contrasting piping or odd buttons, or a sweater with sequins makes me feel free, uncluttered and in-focus, but add some jewelry--even interesting, unusual pieces--and I just look boring. Funny how these things work!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have an embarrassingly large collection of jewelry. I have very few "fine" pieces -- those are mostly inherited pieces or gifts from my husband.

My jewelry is from a huge mix of sources -- I particularly love unique pieces from independent or local artisans, or from artists I discover in my travels, but if a mass-market item appeals to me, I will not turn my nose up. In fact, I've surprised many people by admitting that some favorite pieces came from TJMaxx or somewhere like that.

I also have a lot of vintage costume jewelry that was my mom's. Some of it I wear, and some of it I just keep out of sentiment. I tend to be quite sentimental about jewelry and have a hard time purging it.

Gigi

Veteran

I haven't read others' replies yet. I own very little jewelry. I like fewer pieces that are higher quality. I want my jewelry to say something about me as much as possible. I try to be a geniune person, so that is maybe why I like higher-quality jewelry: it feels like "me." (But I don't judge those who like costume jewelry; whatever floats your boat!)

I am very religious and often look for religious-themed jewelry. I do enjoy some "fun" stuff, however--I have a pair of honeybee stud earrings from Anthro, a pair of very large hoops (they feel kind of seventies to me), a pair of dangly star earrings, and a very large heart locket. These items feel to me like something the "little girl" in me would have picked out. All of these but the honeybee earrings are sterling silver, so still not "cheap."

I do have several sterling silver rings, mostly with religious symbols on them and some cuter decorations, like hearts and butterflies.

I picked all of these pieces out in person. I found a kiosk in our local mall that has a lot of nicer jewelry. That jeweler sells pendants and chains separately, so you can buy a couple of high-quality chains and just change out the pendants as you like. I like this jeweler not just because of the selection but because she can help me select items that would look good with my facial structure and overall body frame.

I have not bought any jewelry online because I really like to see how I look in the pieces first, before buying.

Gigi

Veteran

Tulle, that is interesting about gamine style. I am very short and gamine-ish, and I don't wear much jewelry. I normally wear a necklace only if my top is a solid block of color that needs some kind of accent to break up the block. Another time I wear jewelry is to fill in a space on my chest, like if I'm wearing a low-cut neckline. In that case I will wear a dainty chain with a small charm on it, or maybe a Y-necklace if the neckline is exceptionally deep. If my outfit is incredibly boring, I may spice it up by wearing rings. But this doesn't happen too often, since I generally try to buy individual clothing items with a lot of small details.

Style Fan

Veteran

I love jewellery. I go through different phases about where my jewellery. Lately I have been pretty minimalistic.
I have some inherited jewellery from my grandmothers and mother, gifts from friends, family and DHs and jewellery that I have bought.
I prefer jewellery that is from art galleries or juried shows but I have bought jewellery from many places. I like amber.

Anonymous

I love paste to platinum. High to low. I like unusual pieces, boho pieces, whimsical pieces, retro pieces and traditional pieces.
I make jewelry, have designed fine pieces to have made by a bench jeweler. I shop museum gift stores, Anthro, Target, TjMaxx, craft fairs, Etsy, antique stores, Blue Nile, Ross-Simons, Haute-Look, Pearl Paradise, American Pearl, B Johnson, Jcrew ...
I have pieces handed down, pieces from my Husband, pieces from my Parents, many pieces I bought myself and a pretty vast collection of both gold, sterling, pearl, precious stone and costume jewelry.
And I have a soft spot for vintage styles.
With boxes in my closet, under my bed and two jewelry armoires full, it has always been my weakness/indulgence/delight from around age 4 to my 40s! I forgot that I created a few higher end really special rings for anniversary gifts, over at Gemvara!

RobinF

Veteran

Another jewelry lover here! I don't have much "real" jewelry but I love to buy it on vacations or at art fairs, things a little unusual. I also like to make jewelry, mostly beads but some day would love to take a metal working class. I do like it pretty simple though, no big blingy stuff for me.

Sara L.

Veteran

I love jewelry too and don't feel like an outfit is complete without at least a small piece of jewelry, even it's just a pair of stud earrings. I have very few pieces of fine jewelry - most of mine is from craft fairs, mass-produced, or from Etsy. Some I bought myself, but the majority was given as gifts as my friends and family know how much I enjoy and wear my jewelry. My parents are retired and travel extensively and my mom usually brings me back pieces from her travels.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I have a very small collection of fine jewelry. I used to have quite a bit more, and they were stolen and never recovered a few years ago when our apartment was burglarized. Still a lump in my throat because in addition to pieces of material value, there were some highly sentimental pieces that can never be replaced, like the necklace my parents gave me for my wedding, my grandmother's spiral diamond ring, my husband's grandmother's present to me for my wedding, etc.
Since then, I have only bought a handful of pieces, and I try to wear them as frequently as possible.

On the other hand, I have a very large collection of costume jewelry. Mostly big statement necklaces, some earrings, and only a few bracelets that I hardly ever wear. My statement necklaces get a lot of wear, and I usually combine them with studs, small, usually geometric pieces in various shapes of CZ that I constantly buy, lose, and replenish.

My statement necklaces come mostly from fast fashion retailers.
I love the idea of one of a kind, artistic jewelry, but they never work with my contemporary classic aesthetic. I have a few pieces that either I bought or received as gifts, but they remain mostly wardrobe orphans.

Just like with my clothes, I evaluate my fashion jewelry from time to time as well, and get rid of anything that is broken, missing gems, clasps, looks tarnished, or out of date. Also, if I really like a piece, I will not shy away from spending a bit more money on it, even if it's costume jewelry.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I like jewelry.

I have a lot of jewelry, mostly at low price points, some of it from as far back as middle school. In fact, I had a sentimental watch from back then that I just had fixed and am wearing again.

I knew my husband was going to ask me to marry him. A woman came to work, her fiance had a ring custom made for her. And she HATED IT! I went home and told my husband that story, and that if I were to get engaged, I wanted to help pick the ring. After he asked me it took me months to decide. I ended up picking a simple, traditional ring.
That turned him off shopping for me.

I have a few inherited pieces, and a few gifts. I love finding bargains at garage sales and thrift stores. I love Alexis Bittar skinny tapered bangles.

The shape and luminescence appeal to me.

They used to be sold at Nordstrom but they can be found online and in their stores. I have a few very simple necklaces from Nordstrom. I don't own, but I like, Anna Beck, which is also at Nordstrom. I have jewelry from craft and art shows. I have pieces from travels. I have pieces I made, and pieces I have yet to make. I also remake items. There used to be a liquidation store close to me that sold returned items, usually monogramed poorly, or with some other flaw. The chains became chains, or earrings, or I removed the monogram and textured the item.

Something I remember was someone told me that women spend a lot on clothes that eventually wear out and not on jewelry that will last a lifetime. That makes sense to me, although I can't seem to put the money down.

Personally, I love the experience of taking a class and learning a new technique, of shopping, or making components, of being exposed to new materials or ideas, and making a piece of jewelry. Although I do occasionally drool over a piece or a new to me designer's work. And sometimes I drool for years over the same designer's work.

I was just saying recently that I don't purge many of my scarves or my jewelry. Even if I am not wearing something now, I often end up wearing it again.

I don't end up buying the less expensive statement jewelry often sold in mid level stores today as I don't like the quality. I do see nicely made indie designer jewelry in small, unique boutiques.

I always have jewelry on when I leave the house.

I am glad this topic came up. I have always felt like the opposite of a lot of the women here. I love jewelry and clothes are ok and a bit (or more) frustrating.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Clothes are wonderful when they are special and work, but they are much more work to me.

I also think that since I have boys, I am less inclined to think that I can spend more on jewelry since I will pass it down.

Thinking about this is interesting. I might go ahead and buy something I have been drooling after.

Aziraphale

Veteran

What an interesting discussion.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a great thread. Thank you, La Ped.

My relationship to jewellery is complicated. Mostly, like you, I just don't know what to do with it! I think that some of this is because, like Tulle and maybe Gigi, I have a gamine-influenced style. Too much feminine adornment just does not work.

On the other hand, I am almost never without certain articles of jewellery. But the jewellrey I do wear, I tend to wear as "extensions of self" as Aziriphale put it.

For example, I'm almost never without earrings, and this has been true of me since I was 16 years old. Partly because I have short hair, I suppose, and pierced ears. I usually wear small but chunky silver studs that don't call a lot of attention to themselves yet don't fade disappear entirely, but I also love statement earrings, especially in the summer.

Earrings, of all jewellery, are the things I can wear the most easily and naturally, it seems. And despite what I said above, I have quite a collection of them! I don't wear most, to be honest -- I tend to have favourites. They are almost all silver or semi-precious stones in silver, or leather, but I also have a few "blingy" costume pieces for evening wear.

I also wear a big watch. (Or a cuff if not wearing a watch). Finally, I have a large ring that I bought a few months ago and now put on as a matter of course.

Necklaces are my most difficult item. I have approximately 4 that I wear with any kind of regularity at all (as in, I might wear each one about 5 times a year). One silver choker, one blingy costume statement necklace, and two pendants of different lengths.

Brooches are fun and I sometimes experiment with those as well, but not with much confidence.

What I don't do is layer jewellery, or buy a lot of it. Or use it to change my outfits. And I don't really wear fine jewellery at all. Mostly artisanal with a sprinkling of costume.

Alexandra, your jewellery is perfect for your style and a lovely expression of your creativity!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Coming back to this, I look at Lisa P as someone who has a real gift for selecting the right jewellery for herself and using it to change the mood of her outfits. She also has a knack with bags. These are two areas that it took me ages to get a grip on (and I'm not entirely sure I am there yet). I think in some ways they are the "final frontier" of style for some of us. It takes really understanding yourself and your style (whether intuitively or more analytically) to figure out which pieces are going to work for you.

For example -- as a small person, I sort of defy the recommendations with my jewellery choices. Less so with my earrings (which are pretty much in scale for me, although I will wear a big statement earring too -- but then, I have a big head) -- but certainly with my oversized watch and huge ring. I just find the bigger, chunkier pieces feel and look better on me than tiny delicate jewellery would.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA again, I realized I didn't say where I got the jewellery I love most. My stud earrings came from a local artisanal jeweller (as did most of my other earrings, apart from the ones from Nickel and Suede). My watch is same as Angie's -- DKNY. My ring came from Victoria -- an artisanal co-op. My choker necklace came from a jeweller in Jerusalem -- anniversary gift from my husband.

Speaking of which -- he really likes jewellery and would like to buy me more. In fact he has bought me a number of earrings that I sadly do not wear. His first wife loved layering on the jewellery so he could always please her with that type of gift. I am a disappointment in that regard, although thankfully not in others.

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