My favourite affordable jewellery brands
Because crazy-expensive bling is simply not for the likes of me.
The year was 2010, I think, and it was another frantic day in London. I gave up on trying to get onto an overcrowded tube and ran to get a taxi. The driver was chatty and friendly which is fine, but the traffic was hell and what should have been a ten-minute drive ended up costing close to £50. Somewhere in the commuter crush of it all, the vintage bracelet I’d put on that morning had fallen off my wrist. All in all, it was a morning that managed to piss me right off.
About six months later, the same kind of morning: the tube was suspended so I joined the endless queue at London Bridge station to yet again have a rip-off journey to get to work.
After telling the driver where I needed to go, he said, ‘Are you Australian? ‘Yeah,’ I said. I am very used to cabbies picking up on my accent as a conversation starter, so I thought nothing of it. But then he said, ‘Hold out your hand.’
‘Sorry?’
‘Go on, give me your hand.’
‘…..silent puzzled pause….’
‘Hold out your hand! It’s not a rat, I promise.’
It was my lost bracelet.
It had fallen out in the cab, another passenger handed it to the driver and he had kept hold of it in case he ever saw me again. That was all mind-blowing enough, before we get to the fact that he remembered me.
He wouldn’t even let me give him a fiver to buy himself a drink. A true story of kindness and destiny. I got the faulty clasp fixed on my beloved vintage bracelet and I think of this story every time I wear it.
It gave me some small hope that something similar would happen with my grandmother’s blue diamond engagement ring. She’d given it to me for my 18th birthday. I think I lost that one in the back of a black taxi too.
I still haven’t had the courage to tell my mother. (On that note, no one tell my mother about Substack).
So, the point is I’m bloody useless and cannot be trusted with jewellery. But I love it. So herewith are some of my favourite brands that manage to bring the pretty at a reasonable price, which means I am not absolutely terrified to wear it.
Loel
Founder Andrea Flamini loves jewellery and her Italian roots and she’s brought them together gorgeously. You get quality, ethically-made pieces that are inspired by Andrea’s mother’s jewellery collection and it’s all handmade in Italy. Recently I was powerless to resist this chunky bracelet and these blingy earrings.
Pdpaola
Spanish siblings Paola and Humbert Sasplugas launched this brand online in 2015. If first discovered it in those lost lockdown days of 2020, my endless, mindless scrolling of Instagram. You’ll see a theme here: I’m drawn to colour and fun in jewellery and Pdpaola has really burrowed deep into my magpie brain. I. Want. It. All. Recently I’ve gone for this astronaut charm.
Rachel Jackson London
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Rachel a little bit more this year and she’s wonderful. Her creativity and passion for her work is endless. Her pieces are bold, glamorous and a little bit rebellious - see her collaboration with Dawn O’Porter and you’ll know what I mean. She has a collection that’s raised a ton of money for the wonderful charity, Choose Love too.
Vilavi
There’s a playful spirit in the designs from this up and coming brand; riffing on childhood games and rhymes and creating something really stand-out and pretty.
Zoe Sherwood
I had the pleasure of meeting Zoe at the She’s Electric series of events I was recently involved with. I also got to interview her for our audience and hear all about her passion for merging beauty with sustainability. Favourites of mine include her delicate ‘me’ and ‘hope’ rings - I want one for my pinkie - and the flower hoop earrings that are made, on a 3D printer, from marine filament. Zoe has a unique vision and it’s really lovely to see someone bring a bit of joy to the conversation around ethical consumption.
Helix and Conch
Founder Abby wanted affordable ways to dress her own multiple piercings and the result is a website teeming with relentlessly wantable ear candy. I’m not brave enough to pierce anything but my lobe (I’ve heard such horror stories!) but I still find plenty on there to make sure I get to mix it up with my wimpy six holes. I’m forever being complimented on my Helix and Conch ‘huggies’ and they are SO affordable.
Any recommendations you think I’ve missed? Hopefully this gives you some wish list ideas for ol’ Santy Claus.
Thank you so much! X0X0
Jo, I have been looking everywhere for white top you wore on palace confidential a few weeks ago. It has a pick-a-boo kinda neckline with a very pointed collar and ostrich feathers on the sleeve. Can you please tell me what brand it is and where I can buy it? Forever grateful!