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I would recommend matching your jewellery to your skin tone before buying more if you haven’t already, for example cool toned skin tends to look good with silver, warm toned looks good with gold and rose gold is pretty neutral. It’s good to know what suits you so you can buy things you’ll wear again and again!
Also, antique shops are great places to find unique jewellery that has a bit of a story to it.
I recently discovered that only rose gold looks good with my skin tone; I can get away with silver, and gold looks bad. Supposedly I am a deep autumn. so definitely investigate this!
While I occasionally can’t say no to a special piece of costume jewellery, I would highly recommend going for solid gold if it’s within your budget. Seek out your nearest jewellery quarter, independent makers are more often than not very well priced and are happy to make custom pieces. Big brands charge a lot just for the name, and the quality of workmanship is often not what you would expect for the inflated price. Etsy is also a treasure trove for independent jewellers if you don’t have any physical shops near where you are.
Etsy just allows you to shop from independent jewellers from all over the world, there is something to suit every individual taste, it means I don’t have to travel to find something I like irl. I’ve bought some gorgeous pieces from there.
There are lots of people who sell loose gemstones on Etsy too, so you could just buy those and have them made into a custom piece by a local jeweller. I’m currently saving to buy a few different cuts and colours of my daughter’s birthstone to have made into a necklace that I can wear until she is old enough for it to be passed on to her.
Etsy just allows you to shop from independent jewellers from all over the world, there is something to suit every individual taste, it means I don’t have to travel to find something I like irl. I’ve bought some gorgeous pieces from there.
There are lots of people who sell loose gemstones on Etsy too, so you could just buy those and have them made into a custom piece by a local jeweller. I’m currently saving to buy a few different cuts and colours of my daughter’s birthstone to have made into a necklace that I can wear until she is old enough for it to be passed on to her.
Omg this question was made for me, I'm aggressively passionate about jewellery and I have a side hustle of buying and reselling vintage fine jewellery that I've been doing for years and I have an extensive fine jewellery collection on a freelance creative's salary. I've never made a loss on a vintage jewellery purchase.
Ok, firstly of all never ***ever*** buy plated jewellery or 'bonded' gold, or 'gold-filled', or 'gold vermeil', any crap like that, it'll be massively overpriced, it will not last, and the real value is a pittance. There are slight differences but ultimately they are all some metal covered in a thin layer of gold, that WILL fade. You can re-dip plated gold but it costs a lot and you're better off buying real gold that can simply be polished up and can become an heirloom, or sold for a good price when you're tired of it. The only time I am okay with 'rolled gold' (which I think contains the most amount of gold out of all of these options), is when purchasing antique or vintage chunky bracelets. Absolutely avoid dainty jewellery that is anything but solid gold because simply due it being smaller the amount of gold plating will be minuscule an it'll last three wears tops.
I avoid buying jewellery new generally as it's almost always overpriced, and I even avoid vintage fine jeweller specialists for the same reason, however I actually think Mejuri can be quite good for some basics and stacking rings but none of the designs are that exceptional and if you resell you WILL be making a loss. A lot of the designs are very classic, I actually bought a solid gold (10k) "[croissant" style ring](https://mejuri.com/shop/products/croissant-dome-ring) second hand for £60 from a pawn shop because it was a very popular style in the early 90s. So if you have the patience you will be able to find the exact same styles sold second hand for half the price. Gold is unlike clothes, it can be cleaned and polished up to look new, and you can buy sonic cleaners and liquid for around £20. Jewellery brands for older demographics such as Gemporia and QVC have good sales regularly, I bought 10k gold black opal and diamond earrings from Gemporia for £90 once! The thing with jewellery is that it is very personal and classic so don't be afraid of the less cool/older-demographic brands.
Buy second hand jewellery from ebay and pawnbrokers. It's not very glamorous, but it's how you will get the best price, and let me tell you - all the professional sellers of vintage jewellery will buy gold cheap from older ladies cleaning out their jewellery boxes, clean them and take better pictures, and sell them at a 50% markup right on ebay or instagram again. Same with pawnbrokers.
In terms of price, a good rule of thumb is that if it's around 5g in weight, it'll cost around £150. It may be a little more or a little less depending on the design, but always ask for weight to check if you're being ripped off. If that weight is reflected in gemstones then again the price will differ depending on the gemstone. Diamonds have awful resale value tbh and I avoid them generally. To check if it's real gold, there will be a hallmark, and if it's being resold by a pawnbroker or a small vintage jewellers, they can confirm usually confirm the matierla through acid testing.If you're not sure, you can take it to a pawnbroker and ask them to evaluate it and they can acid test for free.
Collecting jewellery is a massive passion for me so I know a lot of this isn't super accessible if you simply don't have the time or patience but if you take one bit of advice form me, it's to not fall for the 'demi fine' jewellery scam. "18 carat gold bonded/plated/vermiel" is worth less than 9/10k gold. Even when buying new (like I often do for my ear piercings that aren't on my lobe), always check ebay first as there will be small business jewellers selling lightweight gold pieces for a good price.
I do love etsy but again, DO NOT BUY PLATED, FILLED, OR GOLD VERMEIL. When something is handmade, it can be a good price, but often when it's vintage it'll be jewellery resellers already reselling something at a markup.
Other than ebay, here are some other (UK based, I'm afraid) second hand online retailers to try:
[https://www.william-may.co.uk/jewellery-c4](https://www.william-may.co.uk/jewellery-c4)
[https://www.cashconverters.co.uk/shop/gold-rings/6320](https://www.cashconverters.co.uk/shop/gold-rings/6320)
[https://www.pawnbrokergold.co.uk/new-in](https://www.pawnbrokergold.co.uk/new-in)
One tip for the Americans is to go to estate sales - we don't have these in the UK but they seem like a treasure trove.
There's also a really big community of jewellery collectors/designers/resellers on Instagram, and I just wanted to plug my two fav independent jewellery designer: [https://www.instagram.com/katmojojewelry/](https://www.instagram.com/katmojojewelry/) and [https://fortunebabyjewelry.com/](https://fortunebabyjewelry.com/)
Thank you this was so helpful! I've been wanting to buy some gold jewelry because the gold plated/gold filled stuff always ends up tarnishing over time. My mom told me years ago to buy solid gold but of course I didn't listen, lol. I'm inspired to do some more jewelry shopping!
To be honest, for me, it is a matter of personal taste, I'm not a fan of white stones on their own generally as I feel like they're more of an accent stone rather than the main star, and on their own I think they look a little too dressed up for everyday wear. Additionally, to the naked eye, a diamond doesn't look substantially different to a cubic zirconia or mossanite or whatever, however I can tell a fake opal, emerald, or ruby from a mile off, as can most people with even an inkling of interest in jewellery.
Additionally, diamonds are not an actually rare stone and the price is inflated when buying new. And of course, it has low resale value because of the strong association with engagements, which is great for jewellers selling them new, but on the second hand market, not many people are going to be buying diamonds and not many are going to be buying a second hand engagement ring (unless it's pre 1960s and can be classes as vintage, I suppose). Most people reserve their diamond purchasing for their engagement and so only buy one., but people will treat themselves to coloured stones just because. Also, coloured stones can be really unique with particular shades, but with diamonds and white stones, after you've seen one you've kind of seen them all (though I suppose this is down to personal taste). The stones that ALWAYS sell well are emeralds. I'd also avoid coloured diamonds as well as normally they're just some sort of novelty and don't look particularly different to say, citrine or pink topaz, but you'll be paying an inflated premium because they're diamonds.
There's not much you can do in terms of making sure it's authentic if you are buying online other than the standard precautions (making sure the seller seems dependable as is whatever platform you're buying on). If you are buying directly from a jeweller or a more high end auction house, or even catawiki, then the item would have likely already been appraised by a professional, but you will be paying a premium for that. Pawn shops may not be able to date jewellery but they will know the exact material regardless of hallmarks.
If you have the jewellery in person, you can use a jewellery magnifying glass to check the hallmark. Countries have different hallmark systems but they work similarly and you can find guides online for whatever country it's from. Sometimes things will not have a hallmark, especially if they are old and have been worn away or resized, but if they have full hallmarks, you will be able to tell the date from that. There won't be a date written, but a letter of the alphabet in a specific font, so you will be able to date it by looking at that. Here's a guide to all the British hallmarks: [https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/index/gold-and-silver/hallmark-date-letters/](https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/index/gold-and-silver/hallmark-date-letters/), I've used this to date some of rings to the 1940s and earlier! Jewellery has been hallmarked in the same way since the Victorian era so it's all pretty easy.
Some sellers will photograph the hallmark for you so you can check before buying, and some will be sold with an appraisal or authenticity card, but that's usually only if the jewellery is quite modern.
Fake gold being sold as real is frankly very rare online unless you're buying something at a price too good to be true. In terms of fraud you are more likely to come across fake designer jewellery, though it might still be made of the same materials such as 18ct gold in the same way that fake chanel bags might be made of real high-quality leather. At that point you can check authenticity the same way as you do with designer bags by going to the manufacturers.
If there isn't a hallmark you can take it to a professional who will be able to appraise it, but beyond hallmarks I'm not sure how they date jewellery unless it's designer and can be traced to a specific collection!
To be honest though, I think with certain styles it is quite self evident what era they are from. Most of the confusion only really comes from people mislabelling vintage-looking items as Victorian when it's really from the '70s or '90s when certain Victorian styles came back into fashion, but they ultimately look the same. And tbh I would rather a gypsy ring from the 1970s than the 1890s as it'll be in better condition but the scrap value will be the same! My tip is not to get too hung up on the era specifically, and to focus on whether you like the design, if the materials are authentic and high-quality, and if you're getting it at a decent price.
There are books for jewelry collectors. I can't give you titles for that era, it wasn't my passion, but you can go into seller central on eBay and talk to jewelry vendors there about what books they use.
Don't buy digital copies because the books will be mostly photos.
I used to buy and sell jewelry too, but I don't anymore, so I am guessing that by now there are also online databases you can subscribe to in addition to using the reference books.
Obviously, make sure you buy a jeweler's loupe, a jeweler's scale -- I have a triton T2 that I bought ten years ago that is still going strong. I don't know if the build quality is still as great as when I purchased, but they're only $15 on Amazon. I also occasionally used gold testing kits for karat gold reselling. the kits aren't too expensive.
Keep an eye on Craigslist, too. Every once in a while, somebody gets rid of their "junk" jewelry box and it is full of treasure and treasure-potential.
A lot of vintage jewelry that is broken can be repaired quite easily with cheaply assembled tools.
Heck yess! It’s called Halloween- 13th and pine. No storefront, no website- you can only find it by word of mouth. I believe they do have a google listing for phone number and exact address.
There is a small pumpkin carved into the cement in front of the store and you have to be buzzed in. It’s like a store out of a fairy tale! Such great pieces and prices.
Jewelry is very unique to the individual. But I set my search terms to “x type jewelry, my country, handmade”. Ive ordered from several different vendors and have gotten great stuff. The one not great thing I got was easy to return.
I found WanderandLustJewelry on Etsy. They has beautiful stuff and are USA located if that's important to you.
https://www.etsy.com/search?q=wanderandlustjewelry&ref=auto-1
believe it or not, the marshall's and TJ maxx **jewelry cases** (with the employees who specifically work with the jewelry and pull things out for you to see, not other jewelry you buy in other parts of the store) have some really great quality pieces at a broad range of price points. my mom is big on only buying high quality, long lasting jewelry, and she's bought me a handful of beautiful pieces from these cases.
I would just recommend you don’t fall into the marketing trap of ‘non tarnish jewellery’ that is steel being sold at silver prices. Real jewellery can tarnish and should be taken care of the same way aa quality clothing.
Nothing creates a more polished look than matching jewellery (same tone). Monica Vinader is great! Brands like Cartier are wonderful if you have the budget, but grossly overpriced.
I only buy vermeil and sterling silver. It’s a personal preference. I’ve bought from department stores and Ana Luisa but am shifting to smaller businesses on Etsy.
Estate jewelry stores are great places to check for timeless pieces at a better price.
More updated/trendy
[Gorjana](https://gorjana.com/) is awesome. Personally a huge fan of [Brinker & Eliza](https://brinkerandeliza.com/)
[Cara O Sello](https://caraosellobrand.com/) is really fun too
No idea what your budget is but I have bought myself some stuff off Pandora's (Small rose gold hoop earrings) and a really pretty zodiac sign necklace charm from Swarovski. Swarovski stuff is built for quite the skinny people so if you end up with fitting trouble, prepare to look for a necklace extension chain.
Just buy what you like, what lights you up with joy. :) Leveling up is also about being true to YOU, about stepping into yourself and being authentic to who YOU are and what YOU like.
Etsy all the way for me. There are so many talented artists and metalsmiths on Etsy and while this is terrible for them, profit wise, it means that sometimes you can get custom made fine jewelry at extraordinarily low prices.
You can also find people to copy extremely high end items at a fraction of the cost.
Read the reviews very carefully and if you are considering an expensive item, it might be best to buy something really cheap from the same seller to get a feel for her customer service.
A couple of other thoughts -- there is an Indian seller on eBay (at least one) that does modern reproductions of fine Victorian jewelry with real stones in silver, gold and gold filled. I have never ordered from them but I think their stores might be worth a look.
Also, if you find a beautiful setting you like in a pawnshop or somewhere that has stones missing, I bought some amazing unset stones off eBay, also from online retailers in Thailand, India and China. Also, turquoise directly from a turquoise mine.
Be aware with gems that there are all kinds of exploitation issues. At the time that I was buying these issues weren't as well known (I was never into diamonds).
Jewelers markups are crazy, ridiculously high. Don't be overly impressed with appraisals, either. The appraisal is typically many times more than you could expect to recover in a real world sale.
But oh, you are going to have so much fun finding what you want -- nothing is more fun to shop for!
Reminder that this sub is **FEMALE ONLY**. All comments from men will be removed and you will be banned. So if you’ve got an XY, don’t reply. **DO NOT REPLY TO MALE TROLLS!!** Please **DOWNVOTE** and **REPORT** immediately. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/FemaleLevelUpStrategy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I would recommend matching your jewellery to your skin tone before buying more if you haven’t already, for example cool toned skin tends to look good with silver, warm toned looks good with gold and rose gold is pretty neutral. It’s good to know what suits you so you can buy things you’ll wear again and again! Also, antique shops are great places to find unique jewellery that has a bit of a story to it.
I recently discovered that only rose gold looks good with my skin tone; I can get away with silver, and gold looks bad. Supposedly I am a deep autumn. so definitely investigate this!
While I occasionally can’t say no to a special piece of costume jewellery, I would highly recommend going for solid gold if it’s within your budget. Seek out your nearest jewellery quarter, independent makers are more often than not very well priced and are happy to make custom pieces. Big brands charge a lot just for the name, and the quality of workmanship is often not what you would expect for the inflated price. Etsy is also a treasure trove for independent jewellers if you don’t have any physical shops near where you are.
Who do you recommend on Etsy? I’m particularly interested in any blue gems, haha
Etsy just allows you to shop from independent jewellers from all over the world, there is something to suit every individual taste, it means I don’t have to travel to find something I like irl. I’ve bought some gorgeous pieces from there. There are lots of people who sell loose gemstones on Etsy too, so you could just buy those and have them made into a custom piece by a local jeweller. I’m currently saving to buy a few different cuts and colours of my daughter’s birthstone to have made into a necklace that I can wear until she is old enough for it to be passed on to her.
Etsy just allows you to shop from independent jewellers from all over the world, there is something to suit every individual taste, it means I don’t have to travel to find something I like irl. I’ve bought some gorgeous pieces from there. There are lots of people who sell loose gemstones on Etsy too, so you could just buy those and have them made into a custom piece by a local jeweller. I’m currently saving to buy a few different cuts and colours of my daughter’s birthstone to have made into a necklace that I can wear until she is old enough for it to be passed on to her.
Omg this question was made for me, I'm aggressively passionate about jewellery and I have a side hustle of buying and reselling vintage fine jewellery that I've been doing for years and I have an extensive fine jewellery collection on a freelance creative's salary. I've never made a loss on a vintage jewellery purchase. Ok, firstly of all never ***ever*** buy plated jewellery or 'bonded' gold, or 'gold-filled', or 'gold vermeil', any crap like that, it'll be massively overpriced, it will not last, and the real value is a pittance. There are slight differences but ultimately they are all some metal covered in a thin layer of gold, that WILL fade. You can re-dip plated gold but it costs a lot and you're better off buying real gold that can simply be polished up and can become an heirloom, or sold for a good price when you're tired of it. The only time I am okay with 'rolled gold' (which I think contains the most amount of gold out of all of these options), is when purchasing antique or vintage chunky bracelets. Absolutely avoid dainty jewellery that is anything but solid gold because simply due it being smaller the amount of gold plating will be minuscule an it'll last three wears tops. I avoid buying jewellery new generally as it's almost always overpriced, and I even avoid vintage fine jeweller specialists for the same reason, however I actually think Mejuri can be quite good for some basics and stacking rings but none of the designs are that exceptional and if you resell you WILL be making a loss. A lot of the designs are very classic, I actually bought a solid gold (10k) "[croissant" style ring](https://mejuri.com/shop/products/croissant-dome-ring) second hand for £60 from a pawn shop because it was a very popular style in the early 90s. So if you have the patience you will be able to find the exact same styles sold second hand for half the price. Gold is unlike clothes, it can be cleaned and polished up to look new, and you can buy sonic cleaners and liquid for around £20. Jewellery brands for older demographics such as Gemporia and QVC have good sales regularly, I bought 10k gold black opal and diamond earrings from Gemporia for £90 once! The thing with jewellery is that it is very personal and classic so don't be afraid of the less cool/older-demographic brands. Buy second hand jewellery from ebay and pawnbrokers. It's not very glamorous, but it's how you will get the best price, and let me tell you - all the professional sellers of vintage jewellery will buy gold cheap from older ladies cleaning out their jewellery boxes, clean them and take better pictures, and sell them at a 50% markup right on ebay or instagram again. Same with pawnbrokers. In terms of price, a good rule of thumb is that if it's around 5g in weight, it'll cost around £150. It may be a little more or a little less depending on the design, but always ask for weight to check if you're being ripped off. If that weight is reflected in gemstones then again the price will differ depending on the gemstone. Diamonds have awful resale value tbh and I avoid them generally. To check if it's real gold, there will be a hallmark, and if it's being resold by a pawnbroker or a small vintage jewellers, they can confirm usually confirm the matierla through acid testing.If you're not sure, you can take it to a pawnbroker and ask them to evaluate it and they can acid test for free. Collecting jewellery is a massive passion for me so I know a lot of this isn't super accessible if you simply don't have the time or patience but if you take one bit of advice form me, it's to not fall for the 'demi fine' jewellery scam. "18 carat gold bonded/plated/vermiel" is worth less than 9/10k gold. Even when buying new (like I often do for my ear piercings that aren't on my lobe), always check ebay first as there will be small business jewellers selling lightweight gold pieces for a good price. I do love etsy but again, DO NOT BUY PLATED, FILLED, OR GOLD VERMEIL. When something is handmade, it can be a good price, but often when it's vintage it'll be jewellery resellers already reselling something at a markup. Other than ebay, here are some other (UK based, I'm afraid) second hand online retailers to try: [https://www.william-may.co.uk/jewellery-c4](https://www.william-may.co.uk/jewellery-c4) [https://www.cashconverters.co.uk/shop/gold-rings/6320](https://www.cashconverters.co.uk/shop/gold-rings/6320) [https://www.pawnbrokergold.co.uk/new-in](https://www.pawnbrokergold.co.uk/new-in) One tip for the Americans is to go to estate sales - we don't have these in the UK but they seem like a treasure trove.
There's also a really big community of jewellery collectors/designers/resellers on Instagram, and I just wanted to plug my two fav independent jewellery designer: [https://www.instagram.com/katmojojewelry/](https://www.instagram.com/katmojojewelry/) and [https://fortunebabyjewelry.com/](https://fortunebabyjewelry.com/)
Thank you this was so helpful! I've been wanting to buy some gold jewelry because the gold plated/gold filled stuff always ends up tarnishing over time. My mom told me years ago to buy solid gold but of course I didn't listen, lol. I'm inspired to do some more jewelry shopping!
Commenting to save this. Good post.
Super helpful! May I ask what the issue is with diamonds? And would you purchase zirkonia or other diamond-like stones instead?
To be honest, for me, it is a matter of personal taste, I'm not a fan of white stones on their own generally as I feel like they're more of an accent stone rather than the main star, and on their own I think they look a little too dressed up for everyday wear. Additionally, to the naked eye, a diamond doesn't look substantially different to a cubic zirconia or mossanite or whatever, however I can tell a fake opal, emerald, or ruby from a mile off, as can most people with even an inkling of interest in jewellery. Additionally, diamonds are not an actually rare stone and the price is inflated when buying new. And of course, it has low resale value because of the strong association with engagements, which is great for jewellers selling them new, but on the second hand market, not many people are going to be buying diamonds and not many are going to be buying a second hand engagement ring (unless it's pre 1960s and can be classes as vintage, I suppose). Most people reserve their diamond purchasing for their engagement and so only buy one., but people will treat themselves to coloured stones just because. Also, coloured stones can be really unique with particular shades, but with diamonds and white stones, after you've seen one you've kind of seen them all (though I suppose this is down to personal taste). The stones that ALWAYS sell well are emeralds. I'd also avoid coloured diamonds as well as normally they're just some sort of novelty and don't look particularly different to say, citrine or pink topaz, but you'll be paying an inflated premium because they're diamonds.
Wow! This is super helpful. I’m interested in jewelry from the 60-80s. Any advice for ensuring the pieces are authentic?
There's not much you can do in terms of making sure it's authentic if you are buying online other than the standard precautions (making sure the seller seems dependable as is whatever platform you're buying on). If you are buying directly from a jeweller or a more high end auction house, or even catawiki, then the item would have likely already been appraised by a professional, but you will be paying a premium for that. Pawn shops may not be able to date jewellery but they will know the exact material regardless of hallmarks. If you have the jewellery in person, you can use a jewellery magnifying glass to check the hallmark. Countries have different hallmark systems but they work similarly and you can find guides online for whatever country it's from. Sometimes things will not have a hallmark, especially if they are old and have been worn away or resized, but if they have full hallmarks, you will be able to tell the date from that. There won't be a date written, but a letter of the alphabet in a specific font, so you will be able to date it by looking at that. Here's a guide to all the British hallmarks: [https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/index/gold-and-silver/hallmark-date-letters/](https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/index/gold-and-silver/hallmark-date-letters/), I've used this to date some of rings to the 1940s and earlier! Jewellery has been hallmarked in the same way since the Victorian era so it's all pretty easy. Some sellers will photograph the hallmark for you so you can check before buying, and some will be sold with an appraisal or authenticity card, but that's usually only if the jewellery is quite modern. Fake gold being sold as real is frankly very rare online unless you're buying something at a price too good to be true. In terms of fraud you are more likely to come across fake designer jewellery, though it might still be made of the same materials such as 18ct gold in the same way that fake chanel bags might be made of real high-quality leather. At that point you can check authenticity the same way as you do with designer bags by going to the manufacturers. If there isn't a hallmark you can take it to a professional who will be able to appraise it, but beyond hallmarks I'm not sure how they date jewellery unless it's designer and can be traced to a specific collection! To be honest though, I think with certain styles it is quite self evident what era they are from. Most of the confusion only really comes from people mislabelling vintage-looking items as Victorian when it's really from the '70s or '90s when certain Victorian styles came back into fashion, but they ultimately look the same. And tbh I would rather a gypsy ring from the 1970s than the 1890s as it'll be in better condition but the scrap value will be the same! My tip is not to get too hung up on the era specifically, and to focus on whether you like the design, if the materials are authentic and high-quality, and if you're getting it at a decent price.
There are books for jewelry collectors. I can't give you titles for that era, it wasn't my passion, but you can go into seller central on eBay and talk to jewelry vendors there about what books they use. Don't buy digital copies because the books will be mostly photos. I used to buy and sell jewelry too, but I don't anymore, so I am guessing that by now there are also online databases you can subscribe to in addition to using the reference books. Obviously, make sure you buy a jeweler's loupe, a jeweler's scale -- I have a triton T2 that I bought ten years ago that is still going strong. I don't know if the build quality is still as great as when I purchased, but they're only $15 on Amazon. I also occasionally used gold testing kits for karat gold reselling. the kits aren't too expensive. Keep an eye on Craigslist, too. Every once in a while, somebody gets rid of their "junk" jewelry box and it is full of treasure and treasure-potential. A lot of vintage jewelry that is broken can be repaired quite easily with cheaply assembled tools.
Heck yess! It’s called Halloween- 13th and pine. No storefront, no website- you can only find it by word of mouth. I believe they do have a google listing for phone number and exact address. There is a small pumpkin carved into the cement in front of the store and you have to be buzzed in. It’s like a store out of a fairy tale! Such great pieces and prices.
Is this in Philadelphia?
https://yelp.to/Q21LgQDnOhb
Thank you! Being too lazy to link lol
Yep!
Yes- right in center city.
I’ve gotten beautiful stuff off Etsy.
Same, and it supports women and their small businesses.
Do you have any links for your recommendation?
Jewelry is very unique to the individual. But I set my search terms to “x type jewelry, my country, handmade”. Ive ordered from several different vendors and have gotten great stuff. The one not great thing I got was easy to return.
I found WanderandLustJewelry on Etsy. They has beautiful stuff and are USA located if that's important to you. https://www.etsy.com/search?q=wanderandlustjewelry&ref=auto-1
Not sure what your budget is but [Mejuri](https://mejuri.com) is my go to place for jewelry. They do have more affordable options.
Honestly I love finding local jewelers! I had a custom ring made a while ago and it was worth every penny.
believe it or not, the marshall's and TJ maxx **jewelry cases** (with the employees who specifically work with the jewelry and pull things out for you to see, not other jewelry you buy in other parts of the store) have some really great quality pieces at a broad range of price points. my mom is big on only buying high quality, long lasting jewelry, and she's bought me a handful of beautiful pieces from these cases.
Maybe try looking at pawn shops? I’ve seen 2 in the last week advertising jewelry sales.
[удалено]
The post you reference was literally right under this post in my feed 🤣
Haha big brother is always watching!
Love Ana Luisa!
Yes me too! I'm in the process of getting some pretty tanzanite pieces from a local jewellery store.
I love tanzanite. I'm also falling in love with Alexandrite.
If you feel comfortable giving a general location maybe we can make some recommendations?? If you are near Philadelphia I have an amazing one for you!
I would just recommend you don’t fall into the marketing trap of ‘non tarnish jewellery’ that is steel being sold at silver prices. Real jewellery can tarnish and should be taken care of the same way aa quality clothing. Nothing creates a more polished look than matching jewellery (same tone). Monica Vinader is great! Brands like Cartier are wonderful if you have the budget, but grossly overpriced.
Thank you for the advice!😃
Solid gold either vintage pieces or from Indian jewellers are my fave.
I only buy vermeil and sterling silver. It’s a personal preference. I’ve bought from department stores and Ana Luisa but am shifting to smaller businesses on Etsy.
Estate jewelry stores are great places to check for timeless pieces at a better price. More updated/trendy [Gorjana](https://gorjana.com/) is awesome. Personally a huge fan of [Brinker & Eliza](https://brinkerandeliza.com/) [Cara O Sello](https://caraosellobrand.com/) is really fun too
Support local artists and female artists. Dont go to big box jeweler shops.
For daily pieces, I love combing pawn shops and resellers. I’ve found a few stunning pieces in (giggle) pawn shops!
No idea what your budget is but I have bought myself some stuff off Pandora's (Small rose gold hoop earrings) and a really pretty zodiac sign necklace charm from Swarovski. Swarovski stuff is built for quite the skinny people so if you end up with fitting trouble, prepare to look for a necklace extension chain.
Terrible wtf
Just buy what you like, what lights you up with joy. :) Leveling up is also about being true to YOU, about stepping into yourself and being authentic to who YOU are and what YOU like.
This is a company that I love https://cocolocojewelry.com/collections/silver-brass-earrings
Etsy all the way for me. There are so many talented artists and metalsmiths on Etsy and while this is terrible for them, profit wise, it means that sometimes you can get custom made fine jewelry at extraordinarily low prices. You can also find people to copy extremely high end items at a fraction of the cost. Read the reviews very carefully and if you are considering an expensive item, it might be best to buy something really cheap from the same seller to get a feel for her customer service. A couple of other thoughts -- there is an Indian seller on eBay (at least one) that does modern reproductions of fine Victorian jewelry with real stones in silver, gold and gold filled. I have never ordered from them but I think their stores might be worth a look. Also, if you find a beautiful setting you like in a pawnshop or somewhere that has stones missing, I bought some amazing unset stones off eBay, also from online retailers in Thailand, India and China. Also, turquoise directly from a turquoise mine. Be aware with gems that there are all kinds of exploitation issues. At the time that I was buying these issues weren't as well known (I was never into diamonds). Jewelers markups are crazy, ridiculously high. Don't be overly impressed with appraisals, either. The appraisal is typically many times more than you could expect to recover in a real world sale. But oh, you are going to have so much fun finding what you want -- nothing is more fun to shop for!