Referencing {FAQ}

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

J.Crew's Eye Candy {one in each, please!}


It is no secret that I love J.Crew's jewelry collection. Every time I convince myself that I own enough pieces (you don't want to know how many versions of the Bubble necklace I own!), J.Crew offers up another jewel I have to have. Enjoy the eye candy in this post!

The question I always struggle with when it comes to J.Crew's jewelry... is it worth it? I mean, it is just costume jewelry after-all. Would my money be better spent on items that are more classic (in terms of style) and made in better materials (in real gold or silver)?


What are your thoughts on J.Crew's jewelry collection? Are you a fan or foe? Do you think the pieces are worth the price tag? Which piece from the current collection are you lusting (or already own)? Please share! :)

33 comments:

  1. I really like the fan fringe necklaces although I'd never pay J. Crew prices for them. On the other hand, I ordered the color mix statement necklace, and frankly, I am not a fan. Yes, it's bright and colorful, but in the end, it looks and feels like cheap costume jewelry. I don't see it as a timeless piece.

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  2. I love J.Crew's jewelry! Even though it may not be "designer" (i.e. Chanel) costume jewelry, it is still quite beautiful and, I feel, made just as well.

    Being the stingy shopper that I am, I rarely buy anything full price but as soon as a piece is on sale, I spring on it!

    <3
    Sarah

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  3. I'm a huge fan of J. Crew jewelry! Their designs go from the classic / simple (pearls / simple beads) to ornate grandeur and I love every piece. I agree with you though, I think their prices are a bit high for costume jewelry so I tend to wait for a good sale before I buy :)

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  4. I love their pieces bc the colors are so beautiful, and they just design them to stand out. I usually wait for a promo, but I'd rather buy 1 of their pieces then 4 from somewhere else.

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  5. I may be the only odd one on this post but I do not like any of JCrew's jewelry, even though I love JCrew's shoes.

    I thought JCrew's jewelry is too big and overwhelms the entire look of a person. Also, I do not wear any costume jewelry. If I cannot afford a big piece of jewelry, I would buy a smaller piece or do not wear any jewelry at all. I do not see any reason to buy costume jewelry with gold tones that will be fading with each wear.

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  6. I like J Crew's jewelry, in general. I liked absolutely none of the new pieces. Too colorful and sweet. Made my teeth hurt.

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  7. I only buy their jewelry on sale and never too expensive. That's my mum's doing. She sees no value in costume jewelry and insists that I should invest in real pieces, like gold, platinum and diamonds that probably won't depreciate in value too much. I get her point.

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  8. While I love to drool over J. Crew jewelry, their designs don't fit my petite frame well--necklaces too long, bracelets too wide. I was ready to drop a lot of money on the multi-colored flower lattice necklace from last year, but it didn't lay well on me, plus the colors seemed almost garish in their neon brightness against my skin. Still, I live in the hope that one day I'll find a piece from J. Crew that fits me.

    I love collecting vintage costume jewelry, and I like to think about what pieces from today we might value at a later date as vintage pieces. I think if you take care of your costume jewelry, they will be considered treasures later in the future for your children and grandchildren.

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  9. I would never pay full price for JCrew jewelry but own a few pieces, get constant complement on them too. I agree that right now it's too loud, too costumey, too juvenile perhaps? This said, I use the pieces to add a pop of color which I can't do wth the real diamonds or gold. I buy on sale and have fun with this. I prefer my pieces to be colorful but somethat understated and simple, tall order for today's JCrew design. If they will continue the same rode, I might migrate to shopbop.

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  10. OT: Sale extended and indigo floral quilted blazer is a steal at $59 with 30% cardholder promo. I was able to get a price adjustment b/c mine have not shipped yet:)

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  11. I love my old enamel pieces - nautical flag bracelet, anyone? - but I can't get into stuff with prongs and teeth and plastic. I'm waiting for the enamel revival - it may be starting at Madewell.

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  12. I love jcrew's jewelry,but i the prices keep me from buying too much.
    If i could i would get it all:)

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  13. HUGE fan. Buy tons (on sale) but know I'm crazy because it's being made cheaper and cheaper. I am pretty certain that the gold spring lock/"findings" are now plastic. They don't feel like a metal/brass anymore but plastic! I kind of think I am nuts but I am such a fan.

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  14. I don't mind costume jewelry, but I do have an aversion to plastic (with bakelite as an exception). The pieces with glass look OK to me. Generally speaking, I gravitate towards vintage costume jewelry if I'm not wearing something made of silver, gold, and gems.

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  15. Not a fan. Too large in scale for the most part. The pieces I had in the past had stones or pieces fall off and do not seem well made for the money. I do have some of their real silver pieces from years ago that I still like and wear.

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  16. I don't buy JCrew jewelry, mainly because I have a hard time swallowing the price on something I feel is made so cheaply. I usually buy handmade jewelry, either online from artists or at local shops/fairs. I also like vintage jewelry, I love having something with history behind it.

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    1. Me too. I love handmade jewelry I can buy locally. Also many of the local Hallmark stores in my area carry a line from Vermont that battered women made and the profits go to them. The pieces are well made and nice, smaller size scale. For earrings they will send you a replacement as well if you lose one and your 5th pair of earrings is free.

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    2. That's great that Hallmark carries that line of jewelry, I'd love to support that too. Festival season is getting close and I love getting jewelry and trinkets from local artisans. I try to buy local when I can, jewelry and art seems like an easy way to do that.

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  17. I don't care for their jewelry, too big and bold for me. The recent catalog spread with the black background only highlighted to me the garishness of many of their items.

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  18. Most of my J.Crew jewelry is from several years ago, except for the Pavé link bracelet that I purchased last year and wear on a continuous basis. Even though a lot of the newer pieces are quite pretty, they are just too big for my personal preference.

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  19. I love looking at the jewelry J. Crew comes out with but like others have mentioned before the price tag is too high and/or they are not practical pieces that I would get enough wear out of to justify the price tag. I do still love some of my older J. Crew pieces like my grasshopper pendant necklace. I get compliments on that piece almost every time I wear it.

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  20. At full price, the over $100 pieces are out of my budget. I do love the jewelry though and am currently drooling over the fan fringe necklace. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that it goes on sale. I'm not a subtle diamond studs kind of person at the moment; I like to incorporate trends into my work wardrobe and right now bold jewelry is an easy and work-appropriate way to do that.

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  21. I am not a huge fan of the J Crew 'gold' jewelry but have made some purchases on EBay of some of the older silver and black/grey metal items. I did pick up a Lulu Frost tortoiseshell bracelet in store at a great price recently. But my all time favorite is the Martha bracelet, purchased for myself with a Valentine's Day discount.

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  22. For those that want the fan fringe necklace but are priced out, there are exact replicas on etsy.

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  23. I love their jewelry, and the "big, bold" look of it suits me well.

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  24. I love JC jewelry but no way is it worth what they (initially) charge. It is just plastic costume jewelry, and while I own a few pieces, every one was bought on super sale. I am perfectly happy with my Etsy replicas... and btw Canadian JCAs, have you noticed that The Bay is selling bubble necklaces AND cupcake necklaces this spring (see their colour magazine-flyer from last weekend), and Joe Fresh has been doing bubbles for months? Just sayin'..

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    1. Winners ( in Canada ) and TJMaxx (U.S) all have been getting J Crew look alikes in the past weeks /mths. and at about one third of the cost. Carolyn from Vancouver

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    2. BaubleBar also seems to have some dupes of J.Crew pieces. They're are definitely worth a look.

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  25. The Etsy knockoff sellers really irk me--they sell the items at high prices and the spirit of Etsy is that it's a handmade marketplace: not a place to sell knockoffs made by low-paid workers in China.

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  26. I own and love the double tassel necklace. It is well made, timeless, has lovely rhinestones details, and the size it's just right,IMO.I think it is worth the price, especially with the discount.
    It is substantial and noticeable without being too big like many of the other necklaces are. The big ones, with a gazillion colors will look dated in a couple of months. My two cents.

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  27. I have quite a few j.crew pieces. I love their jewelry. I think quality is good. I bought a couple of pieces at Banana Republic and they usually fall apart quickly. The j.crew factory has some nice pieces now and then. The prices are much lower. I bought a 14.99 necklace with a giraffe on it and I get so many compliments on it, more so than the pricey pieces.

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Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

And now back to J.Crew! :)