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The 21 best fine jewelry brands with affordable, high-quality pieces
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Is there any better way to ring in the new year than with a new ring? We think not. With a little knowledge on the best affordable fine jewelry brands, you can find genuine, luxury-grade pieces that fit your budget.
The top brands we've tested push past overpriced heritage names and nebulous production practices, and in doing so offer a realistic way to grow your collection. Direct-to-consumer companies like Quince are structured to nix overhead costs, meaning you pay a more palatable price that's closer to the true cost of making that beautiful gold necklace.
We also review Ana Luisa and love how well the pieces hold up, even if you shower and swim in them. Those of us with sensitive skin can attest that Ana Luisa's hoop earrings won't irritate your lobes.
Our guide to the top online jewelry stores show you what each brand does best. We trust these will help you find your next shiny-little-something with ease, without overcharging you in the process.
Our top 3 favorite pieces of affordable fine jewelry:
Staff Pick
Despite their bold design, these lightweight earrings are easy to wear. "Even with somewhat chunky hoops, I can forget that I'm wearing them," writes style editor Samantha Crozier.
"These petite silver earrings strike the perfect balance between elegant and understated," says associate style editor Gabrielle Chase. "If you're shopping for a style minimalist, I'd go with these."
Create an effortlessly layered look with this well-balanced trio of gold chains. The cubic zirconia accents add just the right amount of sparkle.
Ana Luisa makes affordable jewelry that's designed to last. In fact, each piece comes with a two-year warranty so you know you won't be left with a snapped chain or a ring with stones missing. You can expect to spend about $70 a piece at Ana Luisa.
Though their jewelry is mostly dainty, their high-shine finish makes them really stand out. Plus, I have a nickel allergy, which means that low-quality instantly gives me a rash. Every piece I've bought from Ana Luisa is fully hypoallergenic and feels great against my sensitive skin.
Read our full Ana Luisa jewelry review to see more of our favorite pieces.
For minimalist styles at a minimal cost, Quince has a collection of solid gold jewelry that starts as low as $50. Similar to Italic, Quince is a direct-to-consumer brand that's able to offer solid gold, sterling silver, and diamond jewelry for less because they source straight from manufacturers, effectively cutting out the middleman.
In our Quince review, associate style editor Gabrielle Chase chose to try a customer favorite to get an idea of the quality.
"Even though these are really subtle and quite small, the Silver Threader Drop Earrings are a best-seller from Quince's jewelry collection. I gather it's because the style is so easy to put on and forget about — they're extremely lightweight, and made with 925 sterling silver so they won't irritate your skin if you have a nickel allergy," she says.
She also tried on one of its lab-grown diamond rings, which you can read about in our full Quince Engagement Ring review.
If you're looking for a great gift that shows you put a ton of thought into it, Oak and Luna is the perfect place to shop. Almost every piece on their site is completely customizable, with tons of nameplate necklaces, initial pendants, and more. There's even some jewelry that's meant to be a tribute to you and your partner, like this Initial Lock Necklace.
I absolutely love all my Oak and Luna pieces, especially the pearl choker with my middle name on it, pictured above. They ship quickly despite the time it takes to customize and the pieces mange to make personalization cool rather than corny.
Plum Diamonds is a fantastic place to get affordable, lab-grown diamond engagement rings. But if you're not getting engaged anytime soon, you can still find tons of great pieces like diamond studs or hoops.
I tested the Marquise Dewdrop Hoops and was super impressed by the idea of getting real diamond drop hoops for under $700. They came in beautiful packaging, which makes them perfect for gifting. And the earrings themselves are beautifully sparkly, so lightweight that you can wear them all day, and perfect for dressing up any outfit.
The only issue that I have with these is the fact that the diamond dewdrop isn't secured onto the hoop. I was initially very dubious about this, since it makes me nervous that the diamond can slide right off. However, I did recently thread it onto a gold chain and wear the diamond as a tiny pendant — so it can be a plus or a minus, depending on your preferences.
Toronto-based startup Mejuri, founded by a former art director and a former engineer and third-generation jeweler, drops new pieces every week of the year, and without fail, its largely female clientele return again and again to its 14-karat gold, gold vermeil, and sterling silver jewelry that's perfect for everyday wear.
Mejuri's mission is to have women "embrace a daily dose of luxury." With plenty of under-$150 options, it makes fulfilling this mission very achievable. Read our editor's review of Mejuri's pearl hoops, and check out our full review of Mejuri jewelry.
If you've ever admired the sparkling diamond necklaces worn by celebs on the red carpet but felt like the look was entirely out of reach, then consider Dorsey. The online jewelry brand makes statement pieces that would fit right in at an awards show, yet because they're mostly made from lab-grown white sapphires and plated sterling silver, the prices average around $200-$500.
Dorsey also has the option to splurge on lab-grown diamonds that fall in the $2,500-$4,500 range – not quite spare change, but still far less than red carpet jewels that regularly run $1 million or more. The brand's signature collar necklaces and tennis bracelets are standouts you can wear with everything from a T-shirt to an evening gown.
I tried their White Sapphire Rivière necklace and felt incredibly bougie with a dazzling tennis necklace around my neck. For less than $700, it's a beautiful investment piece that is guaranteed to make jaws drop. The clasp is secure, the sapphires sparkle, and the gold feels great against my ultra-sensitive skin.
Awe Inspired makes some of the most unique and meaningful pieces we've found, and is beloved by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Halle Berry, and Meghan Markle. Awe's signature line is its collection of goddess-inspired necklaces ranging from mythical goddesses like Athena, the Greek goddess of heroic endeavor, to real-life "goddesses" such as Harriet Tubman.
If you don't know which goddess suits you best, Awe has a quiz you can take. And while the goddess collection offers plenty of swoon-worthy pieces, it's just the tip of Awe's offerings — you'll also find meaningful pieces inspired by amulets, affirmations, the zodiac, and more. Not only do all the pieces feel unique and personalized, but they're surprisingly affordable, with most necklaces coming in at under $200.
Annele offers fruit-inspired earrings look like bushels of juicy berries and are made from shimmering glass that beautifully catches the light. I have their iconic Candy Currant Jelly Earrings and they are the absolute perfect piece to wear in the summer with a breezy white dress and a rattan purse. You can get the same piece in a necklace to wear front and center and I guarantee you'll be drowning in compliments.
If you're up on trends, then you know that chunky statement earrings inspired by the '80s Art Deco revival are everywhere right now. However, chunky doesn't have to mean heavy. My earlobes are sensitive to everything — nickel, weightiness, uncomfortable posts. But Heaven Mayhem manages to strike the balance between bold style, lightweight feeling, and high-quality materials.
The brand counts Hailey Bieber among their devotees. I wear the earrings with workwear to spice up a blazer look or on the weekends to add a statement piece to a simple outfit. These are the pairs that I keep reaching for over and over — and I'm looking forward to collecting even more of these standout pieces.
Heaven Mayhem also made our list of the best hoop earrings.
Gemma Azzurro is a great place to shop if you're tired of the tiny gold hoops and minimalistic pieces that are the staples of many other brands. Instead, you'll find jewelry with colorful gemstones, pave chains, and bold motifs. The jewelry looks like it was inherited from a wealthy aunt (with a modern twist), but most pieces cost under $300. They're famous for their eye jewelry, but I'm a particularly big fan of their butterfly necklaces.
We love Zynnia Collective for well-priced, on-trend jewelry. Their sterling silver collection is at a great price point, and I can say with confidence that the quality is absolutely there. My incredibly sensitive skin didn't react once, and the pieces have held up through showers and handwashing. I'm completely obsessed with the Spring Dangles (pictured above), which make the perfect accessory for summer dresses.
If you love the "I-just-threw-this-on" jewelry look, you're going to want to check out Gorjana. If you haven't heard of it already, this Laguna Beach-based brand is well-loved for its range of affordable, gold-plated pieces that range from simple and dainty to funky and trendy, which pretty much all cost under $100. If you want something a little more luxe and have extra room in your budget, Gorjana recently introduced a line of fine jewelry that's made up of solid 14-karat gold and diamonds.
Read more in our full Gorjana jewelry review.
Don't let the name fool you — in addition to the gorgeous custom engagement rings you'll spot on its Instagram page, Ring Concierge has a full line of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets to own and wear for a lifetime.
As true fine jewelry pieces, RC requires a larger budget than many brands on this list, but if you're looking to splurge on a tennis bracelet or a simple diamond stacking ring, you can find it for lower markups than many big-name jewelers. Many of the top sellers fall under $1000, including stacking rings and diamond ear cuffs for less than $200 that are a perfect entry point to building your collection.
BaubleBar is a great place to find both quirky pieces and classics that will last you many years. The pieces range from trendy jelly slider bracelets that you can customize with your name to elegant, gold-plated pieces. Bauble Bar also has partnerships with places like Disney and the NFL to produce pieces like Mickey Mouse earrings or football helmet pendants that make great gifts for the super fan in your life.
For more of our favorite pieces, see our review of BaubleBar.
Aurate offers both minimal, everyday pieces as well as bold statement pieces, so you can create a well-rounded jewelry collection. Everything is crafted in New York City, which also means that NYC dwellers can enjoy same-day delivery of 14- and 18-karat gold, AAA pearls, and ethically sourced diamonds (the rest of the country gets free shipping).
Read more in our full Aurate jewelry review.
Known for its delicate rings and transparent sourcing, Catbird is the epitome of cool jewelry. At Catbird you can find delicate $50 stacking rings alongside sparkly engagement rings. It's fully transparent about the source of its materials and donates 1% of all sales to non-profits including the ACLU and Planned Parenthood.
In addition to jewelry that's crafted in-house, Catbird is home to other designers and beauty and home goods. Catbird is also famous for its "permanent bracelets," which you have to go into the store to have welded onto your wrist. While they do have brick-and-mortar locations in New York, we've found that it's more reliable as an online jewelry store because there are more options.
Ink + Alloy is the perfect place to get beaded pieces with tons of color. Their beaded word bracelets evoke a touch of camp nostalgia, which runs through many of their offerings. You can also get lots of pieces with bohemian touches, like their fringe earrings or their necklaces made our of mixed beads and stones. And while I love all their jewelry, a surprise hit for me was their beaded claw clip, which both functions as a statement piece and a highly functional hair accessory. There are spikes on the inside, so it really holds your hair.
Italic is an online retailer where you can find clothing, handbags, home goods, and more that are made in the same factories as designers like Miu Miu and Prada — just without the label and for a fraction of the price. Recently, it added fine jewelry to the mix. You can now pick up timeless additions like diamond necklaces and solid gold huggie hoops for as little as $225 and $150, respectively. For more info on how Italic works, read our full Italic review.
When earrings are all you're after, Studs has a wide assortment to create your perfect earscape, making it atop pick as one of the best online jewelry stores for delicate earrings. It's here you'll find hoops of all sizes, simple studs, and huggies with cute charms that range from cowboy boots to lava lamps. What they all have in common is a dainty size and aesthetic that makes them easy to layer on your lobes. (If you're looking for large statement earrings, your time is best spent elsewhere.)
If you need another piercing to accommodate your new pieces, Studs can do so at its brick-and-mortar locations. Former associate news editor Ellen Cranley visited one and called it a "doctor's office-meets-Glossier aesthetic." 14-karat gold plating keeps the prices low, with starting prices at $14 for a single earring.
Sequin makes jewelry that's stylishly eclectic. You can find necklaces made of baroque pearls, chokers adorned with star symbols, and gemstone earrings made to ward off the evil eye. Their selection of semi-precious pieces are beautifully designed to stand out. Plus, you can even make your own necklace by choosing from an array of ornate charms and gold chains.
Stone and Strand produces its own high-end jewelry and curates other like-minded brands on its site, creating an online space where shoppers aren't intimidated to explore fine jewelry. Most pieces are made of 14-karat solid gold — though you can also find more affordable gold-plated options — and the diamonds and gemstones used are ethically sourced and conflict-free. It's one of the best online jewelry stores for everyday pieces, including an exceptional collection of layering rings and necklaces.
Read more in our full Stone and Strand jewelry review.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.