Shopping for affordable jewellery can feel like a gamble, particularly if you haven’t purchased from the brand you’ve set your sights on before.
There’s nothing worse than splashing your cash on a stunning new ring or necklace only to have it turn your skin green, fall apart or tarnish after just a few wears.
Finding affordable jewellery brands that will last a lifetime—including your daily shower, because no one wants to de-jewel every wash—is possible, you just have to know what to look for.
The Best Affordable Jewellery Brands To Shop In Australia
Sarah & Sebastian
Known for: high-quality, soldered, designer and dainty pieces crafted from fine silver and solid golid.
Price point: from $80
Available at: Sarah & Sebastian
Mejuri
Known for: Everyday staples and on-trend pieces crafted from sterling silver, gold vermeil, recycled 14K gold and 14K yellow gold.
Price point: from $45
Available at: Mejuri
Michael Kors
Known for: Staples and keep-forever pieces elevated with touches of glitz and glamour.
Price point: from$249
Available at: Michael Kors
Love Isabelle
Known for: long-lasting, delicate staples perfect for everyday wear, crafted from 14K gold fill.
Price point: from $29
Available at:
S-kin Studio
Known for: stunning ear-stacks, dainty pieces and tarot-inspired collections crafted from gold fill or solid gold.
Price point: from $8 for single charms
Available at: S-kin Studio
Reliquia
Known for: vintage and Art Deco-inspires staples, crafted from sterling silver and gold fill.
Price point: from $109
Available at:
Brie Leon
Known for: elevated everyday staples you’ll want to live in, crafted from 925 sterling silver and gold plated.
Price point: from $89
Available at:
Monica Vinader
Known for: stylish sustainable pieces, layering essentials and fine details crafted from 18K gold vermeil.
Price point: from $40
Available at:
Avant Studio
Known for: staple pieces with a unique twist and coloured gems, crafted from 18K electroplated gold on 925 sterling silver
Price point: from $65
Available at:
Arms of Eve
Known for: stunning pieces that crosses culture, defies trends and spans seasons, crafted from 18k gold plated.
Price point: from $35
Available at:
How To Determine If Silver Jewellery Is Good Quality
The quality of a piece of silver jewellery is determined by a scale of 1 to 1000. However, it’s not actually possible to produce an item with 100 percent silver, meaning the highest grade you can find is 925 silver, meaning its make-up is 92.5% of the metal.
How To Determine If Gold Jewellery Is Good Quality
There are four terms to know when shopping for affordable gold jewellery that relate the piece’s quality and finish: solid gold, gold filled, gold vermeil and gold plated.
Solid gold is typically the highest quality jewellery you can get. Coming in various grades described as karats—14K, 18K and the highest, 24K—solid gold won’t tarnish.
Gold filled, gold vermeil and gold plated jewellery involves a layer of gold being applied to a cheaper base metal.
What Is The Difference Between Gold Filled, Gold Vermeil And Gold Plated?
Gold Filled Jewellery
Can be either a 925 silver or brass base, gold is pressure and heat bonded (melted or fused) on to the base metal, has a minimum thickness of 3 microns of gold and is water-resistant.
Gold Vermeil Jewellery
Has a 925 silver base, uses electroplating to fuse the gold to the base metal, can be a thickness of 0.1 to 3 microns and is more likely to tarnish over time.
Gold Plated Jewellery
Can be a base layer of nickel, zinc, alloy or brass, uses electroplating to fuse the gold to the base metal, has a micron thickness of less than 0.1 and is quick to tarnish.
