Wow, what a great slew of responses! Running around like crazy today, but can't wait to come back and respond a bit later!

Great funky style Alexandra!
The last two pieces I've bought have come from local artists. One is a silver pendant and another is a set of oxidized copper earrings. I get more expensive jewelry from my mum who deals in antiques and gets a lot of stuff at auction. I buy something for myself maybe once a year.

I wouldn't mind some Bakelite or clearly retro pieces.

I LOSE jewelry so I don't like to wear expensive items, especially heirlooms. I don't even want to be given heirlooms as I cannot be trusted with them.

I've bought quite a few pieces from the Sundance catalog. They are well-made and things you don't see a million of. I always get compliments on my Sundance stuff. My current favorites comes from the Peruvian Connection catalog, and are a pair of earrings with matching ring of lapis set in gold. Other pieces were gifted or purchased to go with a specific outfit (i.e., costume jewelry). I could go hog-wild buying artisanal jewelry! Fortunately, I have a couple of friends engaged in this hobby, and I can pop in on them if I get the urge to pounce on a new bauble.

Fun thread! My jewelry is from all over, although it looks very cohesive in my jewelry box because I have specific preferences: for costume jewelry, I love marquis cluster CZ pieces with rhodium plating that I've found from Samantha Wills, Amazon sellers, and Kenneth Jay Lane, and for professional settings, I like abstract, sculptural silver pieces that I've found at Blue Nile (like the stud earrings I wear almost daily), Robert Lee Morris, and made by local artisans. A few years back, I also found some great cuffs at Ann Taylor and BR that look very luxe, and I also have a beloved Alexis Bittar cuff with clusters of stones in a sculptural black rhodium setting. Like "leave no retail stone unturned," I feel the same with curating a jewelry collection.

My jewelry is from all over, too. My best pieces are items my DH gave me. I don't own any costume jewelry.

Xyabay, yes! The Sundance catalog has some really special pieces.

I did a big 'junk' jewelry purge at some point. Clever arty stuff, 'business jewelry' (think chunky chains), trendy stuff, cheap stuff, fair stuff, department store stuff, boutique pieces, estate sale stuff. I don't know. I got tired of all that. I winnowed right down to one ring and a few pendant necklaces, not gold, by a couple of 'it' designers for everyday wear. I did keep a couple of chunky biz sets, and a crazy plastic Target thing from their designer collection days. I do have el cheapo punky button earrings and the hoochie hoops when a finish is required.

Precious jewelry was all inherited or given to me - that's a separate category for me. Those items were a lot of them custom set.

I should mention Catbird has a lot of great delicate and arty basics and a pretty big price range. I dunno if anyone remembers the 1928 jewelry brand but I have got a lot of vintage pieces of that from my teens and 20s.
Rachylou, I love big plastic rings, lol.
- Oops, somehow i read your big chunky plastic 'thing' as ring. Nevertheless, I'm good with big chunky plastic things too. :p

The few pieces of jewellery I bought myself were usually bought on holiday (and not in big stores).

Still a big favourite - my pearl earrings I bought in Mallorca.
https://www2.majorica.com

But most of my pieces were presents or hand me downs by my mum or my grandmothers. I definitely prefer fewer "special" pieces. I don't see the pieces as something I pick only to complete an outfit, so I pretty much stopped buying fashion jewellery.

I own quite a lot of gifted jewelry, but most of it is from relatives abroad and not all of it is to my taste. Therein lies the dilemma... they have sentimental value so I can't purge them.

I also like to buy quirky pieces, either delicate or medium-statement (I don't like heavy necklaces and my frame is petite, plus I can't wear anything with nickel). I really have too many delicate necklaces, but again, they have sentimental value.

Right now I'm eyeing an Ayala Bar necklace, which would fall into the more fashion-y camp. My fine jewelry tends more towards classic and subtle.

Late to comment but I do buy jewelry - I just don't always wear what I buy more than a few times. I tend to go back to a couple of favorites time after time. I love minimalist and somewhat organic pieces the most. I especially love a mixed metal look where maybe brass and sterling are both used such as a brass hammered shape with a sterling chain. I've purchased from all kinds of places but a few are: etsy, peruvianconnection, nordstrom, chicos, jjill (used to have nice sterling pieces about ten-twelve years ago)

Xtabay, thumbing through Sundance is what started this thread! Somehow I ended up on their mailing list this year, had never even heard of them before. They have some really beautiful stuff!!

Ha, Sundance found you, LaP! Just to warn you -- if you buy something, you'll get a catalog about every other week, and you'll end up addicted, like me!

I just sold a bunch of jewelry at auction (some inherited and some my own from my youth) after having my DD's pick out what they want and only holding on to pieces that I know that I would wear. I have  worked with jewelers to design custom pieces. I have also purchased fine jewelry from online vendors such as Blue Nile.

I have bought costume pieces, but find that I really do not wear them that often and would rather spend my money on fine jewelry as I can always sell/auction later at a profit.

I have a few pieces given to me. So from travels.
Mix of fine and costume.
Right now I'm lusting after a bunch of stuff from Wendy Brandes.

http://www.wendybrandes.com/st.....%252d-Gold

http://www.wendybrandes.com/st.....rring-Trio

And if I ever get engaged... HA!
http://www.wendybrandes.com/st.....ement-Ring

ETA, but currently I need to save for a camera as I dropped and killed my DSLR.

Love those, annagybe! I have a similar but much less grand safety pin earring, lol.

I forgot sample sales from a local designer. This has been fun!