In 2018, the national average spent on jewelry (including watches) was $615 with approximately half of that figure being dedicated solely to diamond jewelry. The trend I found most interesting in this article was the correlation between living in poverty and spending disposable (or arguably non-disposable) income on fine jewelry. The neediest households who made a maximum of $15,000 annually spent approximately the national average of over $600.
We all like to look good. In a way, dressing and accessorizing is akin to storytelling because we are showing the world who we are through our corresponding costumes. But who says that buying jewelry has to be phenomenally expensive?
In our current culture where we like to wear a different outfit each time we post on social media, it’s simply not sustainable to buy a new piece of jewelry every time you feel like posting on IG. And that’s especially true if you’re paying the full retail price for every piece of jewelry that you buy.
With that being said, ‘fast fashion’ (the trend where runway fashion looks are very quickly replicated and sold for a fraction of the cost) is leaking into the jewelry industry. With new emerging technologies and a shorter attention span from customers, there is a clear drive to get jewelry on the market drastically faster and cheaper than was previously done.
Recently, it came to my attention from a “Patriot Act” episode that fast fashion is actually bad for the environment because of the inevitable waste it produces.
Jewelry is generally seen as an investment because of its longevity and durability. With the expense, you are also supposed to get quality. The trade-off, of course, is that you have fewer jewelry pieces to pair with outfits.
Contrastingly, if you get a multitude of jewelry crafted with ‘fast fashion’ techniques, you will have more jewelry but a higher likelihood of cheap materials or crappy craftsmanship.
So at this point, you might be asking: well, what am I supposed to do? I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.
A more pocket-friendly and sustainable way of acquiring jewelry is actually getting it secondhand. Before you recoil in disgust, there are actually some pretty cool websites where you can get jewelry that has been double-checked for quality before it’s even posted. A brand that I have had my eye on is Oscar De La Renta. I really love their floral jewelry but I’m not in love with their prices. Here are two examples of their jewelry that are heavily discounted.
Oscar De La Renta Crystal Bow Collar Necklace
The cool thing about TheRealReal is that their jewelry comes with a valuation report where you can view the condition of the item and the estimated retail cost. This Oscar De La Renta necklace was valued at $950 but is being sold for $138. I love the antiqued floral look of this necklace and I think it’s versatile enough to pair with many outfits while still being a statement necklace.
Oscar De La Renta Gold Toned Necklace
ThredUP is another site where you can find luxury consignment jewelry. They also offer interest-free payments with Affirm, if you would prefer to buy a piece gradually. This Oscar De La Renta necklace was valued at $650 but is being sold for $108. I love the gold color of this necklace as well as the corkscrew detail in the front. I feel this would be lovely paired with a nice navy blue blazer for an office-appropriate and stylish look.
Oscar De La Renta Signed Earrings
Poshmark is my final suggestion as a marketplace for finding beautiful secondhand jewelry. You can contact the sellers personally and sometimes they are even open to bartering or sending you additional photos of the item. These earrings were originally $500 but are being sold for just $85. I love the pave crystal touches on the moon and stars and I like the contrast between the roundness of the pearls and the angularity of the stars.
These are 3 of my favorite picks for second-hand jewelry that can complement just about any fashion-forward wardrobe. Let me know what you think in the comments, would you buy pre-owned jewelry?
