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September 13, 2024

10 Best Jewelry Brands: Tips and Top Picks

Source: Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash

The best jewelry elevates an outfit. And with so many brands to choose from, you can definitely find a style that suits your unique look.

Your choices go far beyond classic fine jewelry brands like Cartier and Bulgari. Modern companies like Mejuri offer trendy and timeless pieces, and affordable stores like Ana Luisa promote sustainable practices.

Explore our guide to the 10 best jewelry brands and discover stunning necklaces, earrings, and engagement rings for every occasion and budget.

Top 10 jewelry brand picks 

While there are thousands of good jewelry brands, here are 10 picks to help you find something that suits your unique style.

Affordable jewelry

Affordable jewelry provides a stylish look without emptying your wallet. Most pieces range from $30 to a maximum of $300. Check out some affordable brands we’ve been loving lately.

Pavoi

Pavoi offers a high-end look at undeniably low prices. Earrings, rings, and necklaces range from around $10 to $15.

For these price tags, the brand can’t sell solid gold but many pieces are pure sterling silver with 14k gold plating. These carry the same luxurious look but require a little more care, so take them off before showering or working out to protect the plating.

This brand also prides itself on sustainability: It’s 100% carbon neutral, uses recycled metal to make its jewelry, and packages items in recycled boxes. 

Ana Luisa

Ana Luisa caters to shoppers with sensitive skin, making its pieces from hypoallergenic materials like stainless steel and sterling silver. Prices start at only $35, so this brand is a smart choice for your bank account.

We particularly love its extensive collection of fashionable bracelets, ranging from delicate golden chains to chunky watch straps. And if sustainability is your priority, Ana Luisa is a great choice, as the brand is carbon neutral and uses recycled materials.

Fashion jewelry

Fashion jewelry is bold, atypical, and sometimes a little campy. Here are a few companies that fit this style.

Completedworks

Completedworks sells crumpled, abstract pieces that look like bold works of art. Each asymmetric accessory has a distinct purpose: This brand wants to challenge conventional jewelry trends and create something that stands out from the crowd.

Completedworks’s values also include sustainability. It melts down and refines recycled silver and gold for its metal, and for any piece that requires glass details, it uses window scraps and bottles.

Crystal Haze

Crystal Haze is a nice jewelry brand that combines elegance, nostalgia, and color. Fun 2000s-inspired designs include gummy candy bracelets and a grown-up take on best friend bracelets.

These quirky accessories won’t empty your wallet, with average prices from $40 to $200.

Demi-fine jewelry

Demi-fine jewelry is high-quality and versatile, intended for a wide variety of occasions. Below are our favorite brands that focus on this style.

Mejuri

Mejuri aims to “redefine luxury” and make beautiful accessories a part of daily life. So the brand sells modern jewelry with plenty of options under $100.

These minimalist pieces complement looks for various events, from elegant evening parties to casual, classy dates. We love Mejuri’s earrings—the company offers a massive variety, from small golden hoops to pearl studs.

Mejuri creates jewelry primarily from 14k solid gold, 18k gold vermeil, and sterling silver. It also uses responsibly sourced, lab-grown diamonds, which gets our stamp of approval.

Aurate

Aurate balances style, durability, and sustainability, offering chic designs for a reasonable price. 

Its jewelers make accessories from recycled gold—pre-existing metal that doesn’t come from a mine. Aurate also uses ethically sourced pearls, diamonds, and gemstones.

Another way to score ethical diamond jewelry is through ThredUp. We keep beautiful diamonds in circulation, lengthening their life and reducing the demand for new gems.

Fine jewelry

Fine jewelry is high-end and reserved for special occasions—think engagement rings and genuine gemstones. When you’re shopping for your next important moment, check out these brands.

Kinn

Kinn is a fine jewelry brand with a vast collection of necklaces, including charms, pendants, and herringbones. Our favorite style is the customizable Nameplate Necklace, which spells out your name on a delicate gold chain in one of several languages.

We love its business practices, too, as it uses responsibly sourced gemstones and encourages customers to recycle their old jewelry with the KinnCycle Program. 

James Allen

James Allen is well-known for custom-made diamond jewelry, but it also offers plenty of ready-to-wear options that are just as luxurious but more affordable. 

This brand is a great choice for wedding and engagement rings, selling high-quality metals like rose gold and platinum. It also offers an interactive platform called The Ring Studio, where buyers design a ring from scratch using a 3D model.

James Allen certifies that every diamond is conflict free and that its providers comply with strict regulations, including the Kimberley Process.

Luxury jewelry

Luxury jewelry is the most expensive, high-quality option available, and each of these brands offers iconic statement pieces.

David Yurman

David Yurman is one of the most exclusive brands of jewelry on our list. Many of its pieces have a distinct twisted cable design, giving the accessories a classic appeal.

This brand uses certified conflict-free gemstones and also offers a few collections made from recycled metals.

At ThredUp, you can find like-new David Yurman pieces, including cuff bracelets and elegant pendant necklaces, for up to 60% off retail price.

Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. is one of the most famous luxury jewelry brands, known for its engagement rings and elegant gifts. 

You can find Tiffany pieces on ThredUp for a fraction of the original price. If you recently sold a clothing haul, this is the perfect time to treat yourself to a stunning ring with your store credit.

Although this iconic brand has been around for over one hundred years, it has modern values. Every diamond Tiffany uses adheres to the Kimberley Process, meaning these gems are conflict free.

6 tips for shopping for jewelry online

Choosing jewelry that suits your style and budget can be difficult, so let’s review a few tips to help you find the best fit:

  1. Affordable jewelry: When shopping on a budget, look for pieces made from materials like stainless steel, sterling silver, or gold-plated metals. In addition to being durable, these metals also won’t leave you with green skin stains.
  2. Fashion jewelry: Fashion jewelry is bold, so understand what style you’re shopping for before buying a statement piece. Consider planning a few specific looks to pair with your new accessories.
  3. Demi-fine jewelry: Since demi-fine jewelry tends to be on the more affordable side of luxury, research the quality of the materials and brand names before you buy. The point of demi-fine shopping is to get premium accessories at a reasonable price, but some retailers may try to trick you into getting low-quality work for an elevated cost.
  4. Fine jewelry: These elegant pieces are best-suited for special occasions, making proper care even more important. To prevent damage, remove jewelry before activities like exercise, and store accessories in soft pouches.
  5. Luxury jewelry: Luxury jewelry is an investment, so verify its authenticity so you know what you're buying. Often, luxury brands provide verification services and paperwork, but you can also take your accessories to an outside appraiser.
  6. All categories: Buy secondhand when possible. Websites like ThredUp offer preloved jewelry for a fraction of its retail cost. Plus, thrifting for accessories keeps them in circulation and ensures they don’t end up in landfills. Just like our mended designer brands, these items deserve a second life.

Choose the best jewelry and shine with ThredUp

Jewelry provides the finishing touch to any outfit, from a fun festival look to a stunning formal gown. Whether you’re looking for diamonds, pearls, or a simple gold chain, you can find the perfect item on ThredUp.

Our AI Style Chat feature is the best way to search for glamorous accessories. Simply explain a trend or event you’re styling for, and we’ll show you options for your new look. And with over 6,000 new arrivals daily and a massive range of styles, you’ll discover affordable jewelry that fits your aesthetic and budget.