Brands and Designer Jewelry
Why (and why not) to buy designer jewelry
Status, style, and quality are the three attributes that luxury jewelry brands are known for. Jewelry brands or designers have a high standard to live up to or they are abandoned. There is no excuse for poor execution, and most deliver the style and quality their followers expect.
Style
Jewelry styles must look good and be wearable. A particular piece may be very well made and last for years, but if it goes out of fashion, people won’t generally want to wear it. It is important that a jewelry brand changes to avoid becoming dated.
Some jewelry designers can adapt, others cannot. When a designer brand cannot keep up with the times, they simply fade away and become less relevant. What makes a top jewelry designer is staying in style from year to year and decade to decade.
Quality
Luxury brand jewelry must keep its promise to the customer to deliver a superior product. This is a no compromise area. The jewelry must meet the most stringent of quality standards. Jewelry brands must use quality metals (like high-karat gold and platinum), first-rate gems, and highly skilled jewelers to meet their obligation.
Status
When a jewelry brand reaches a level of excellence in style and quality of workmanship it attains a level of status. Brands like Tiffany & Co., Rolex, Cartier, and the like grant status to the wearer. The benefits from status symbols are hard to put a price on. That is why these brands command a high premium for their jewelry, and their customers are happy to pay the price.
These designers foster a loyalty that goes beyond image. It becomes the identity of the person. Personas’ are formed by what we wear, and top jewelry brands provide value that goes beyond jewelry for many people.
Is Designer Jewelry for Me?
Ultimately, this is a question that only you can answer. You can find un-branded, high quality, in-fashion jewelry from quality jewelers all over. You can also find un-branded jewelry that looks great on day one, but turns out to be very cheaply made. Some designers can become complacent and let their designs fall out of fashion.
Sadly, there are no guarantees. But, in general, buying from a respected brand will mean you pay a premium price for a premium piece of jewelry. In the end, the most important thing is that you choose a piece of jewelry that you love, and that you trust to be a quality piece.
I have been told that because I’ve worn my jewelry it is devalued? I also have a diamond ring, which my father bought at Halls Jewelry in Pasadena years ago, and that is also devalued because it was worn? I was told that a jeweler must tell a buyer that this is not new, and the price is less? Is this true?
Hi Charlotte, thanks for commenting. It is true and pre-owned or estate jewelry is typically worth less than similar jewelry that is brand new. There are a number of factors that play into this including: style, wear and tear, customer perception, and so on. It is also true that responsible jewelers like us disclose if a piece of jewelry is new or not to potential buyers.
That said, most jewelry can be fully refurbished to like new condition and how much the price difference is can vary significantly. Without knowing more particulars, I can’t really offer more concrete advice. If you would like to discuss your questions in more detail, please feel free to contact us.