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Worth it to buy a piece of jewelry that you love but know you can’t/won’t wear super often?

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AllAboardTheBlingTrain

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Messages
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Again a discussion question as I undergo my monthly pruning of my jewelry wish list. I have an item on there that will be reasonably expensive and I know I won’t get as much wear out of - maybe a few times a year. But I just love the idea of it and I want it. It hasn’t budged from its place of pride on my list in almost two years. I can afford it - it’ll just be a bit of an investment.

How would/have you guys tackle(d) this sort of situation?
 
AllAboardTheBlingTrain said:
Again a discussion question as I undergo my monthly pruning of my jewelry wish list. I have an item on there that will be reasonably expensive and I know I won’t get as much wear out of - maybe a few times a year. But I just love the idea of it and I want it. It hasn’t budged from its place of pride on my list in almost two years. I can afford it - it’ll just be a bit of an investment.

How would/have you guys tackle(d) this sort of situation?
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If I could afford to get it, I would, in that it is better to have it than not, even though I would seldom wear it, as it makes me happy having nice things.

This was the case with my 5cttw bezel set diamond tennis bracelet.

I lusted after a bezel set diamond tennis bracelet for years.

Despite having repurposed a set of carré totalling over 2.8ct into a ID-style bracelet that I love, thinking it would curb my desire for a tennis bracelet, it did not!

I have been wearing a costume version of bezel set bracelet for years, and still wear the Berricle one regularly on a daily basis as I do not have to baby it.

The real thing comes out once in a while when I go to a dressier event.

DK :))
 
Buy it.
So long as you can afford it, and it's not going to put you in any sort of financial distress, just buy it.
Seriously, life is too short, you really want this piece, jewellery is your thing, it's going to make you happy, you can afford it, so just do it.
Can't wait to see what it is!!! :dance:
 
dk168 said:
If I could afford to get it, I would, in that it is better to have it than not, even though I would seldom wear it, as it makes me happy having nice things.

This was the case with my 5cttw bezel set diamond tennis bracelet.

I lusted after a bezel set diamond tennis bracelet for years.

Despite having repurposed a set of carré totalling over 2.8ct into a ID-style bracelet that I love, thinking it would curb my desire for a tennis bracelet, it did not!

I have been wearing a costume version of bezel set bracelet for years, and still wear the Berricle one regularly on a daily basis as I do not have to baby it.

The real thing comes out once in a while when I go to a dressier event.

DK :))
Click to expand...

You know, your idea of buying a costume one just made my ears perk up a bit. I wonder, if I could find one that’s realistic looking enough, would it scratch my itch? And then I could save my money for something else, that’s more wearable long term….

I could afford it, but it would be a huge chunk of my bling fund, so if I buy the real thing I would need to probably save for a few more years. It would probably be one of the most expensive things I own.
 
AllAboardTheBlingTrain said:
Again a discussion question as I undergo my monthly pruning of my jewelry wish list. I have an item on there that will be reasonably expensive and I know I won’t get as much wear out of - maybe a few times a year. But I just love the idea of it and I want it. It hasn’t budged from its place of pride on my list in almost two years. I can afford it - it’ll just be a bit of an investment.

How would/have you guys tackle(d) this sort of situation?
Click to expand...

My personal philosophy is that jewellery is art first and foremost. It’s art that also happens to be wearable - a bonus!!

And we humans appreciate all sorts of art... We don’t expect to use paintings or sculptures or antique rugs. We buy them just because they’re pretty to look at and looking at pretty things makes us happy ::)

If this is a piece that you will enjoy as art - that happens to have the bonus of being wearable, even if it’s just a few times a year - and you can afford it of course - then I don’t feel that it needs any further justification.

Unsurprisingly - I do have a few pieces that are low on the wearability scale. No regrets :))
 
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GeorgieQ said:
Buy it.
So long as you can afford it, and it's not going to put you in any sort of financial distress, just buy it.
Seriously, life is too short, you really want this piece, jewellery is your thing, it's going to make you happy, you can afford it, so just do it.
Can't wait to see what it is!!! :dance:
Click to expand...

Haha well you’ve got my mind racing, but the problem is that my wish list is huge and there’s so many other things I want just as much and I probably can use more!! Besides, I can afford it, but it’s expensive enough that I would have to give up many other things.

dk168 said something that made me wonder… what if I got a costume jewelry version instead? My mind is definitely racing now, haha.

So for context - what I want is a temple jewelry belt. This is a style of traditional South Indian jewelry that was used to adorn deities. It is traditionally made of solid 22kt gold, in carved patterns, depicting motifs of nature and gods/goddesses. I myself am not from a community where these belts are frequently worn, and neither is my SO. So I won’t really have places to wear it more than 2-3 times a year (basically only on some festivals and perhaps weddings of my friends from those communities). On the other hand, since they’re gold, they don’t lose much, if any, value in resale or scrap (since labour cost is a fraction of the price of the piece). But it’s still a huge amount of money, and I could get like 7-8 pieces on my wish list for the price of this one belt.

I think I’ll have to go see what it looks like on me, and compare it to a costume piece. Also perhaps talk to my jeweler and see if there are options. It’s just helpful to see what others think as well so I posted here!

Posted a pic from the internet so you get what I’m lusting over (not this exact one, but in this style)

CAEC3C75-3D34-45E0-8CAE-68E3095942BA.jpeg
 
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yssie said:
My personal philosophy is that jewellery is art first and foremost. It’s art that also happens to be wearable - a bonus!!

And we humans appreciate all sorts of art... We don’t expect to use paintings or sculptures. We buy them because they’re pretty to look at, and looking at pretty things makes us happy!

If this is a piece that you will enjoy as art - that happens to have the bonus of being wearable, even if it’s just a few times a year - and you can afford it of course - then I don’t feel that it needs any further justification ::)

Unsurprisingly - I do have a few pieces that are low on the wearability scale. A couple were/are rather pricey, too, but I have no regrets at all :))
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Yssie I’m so glad you replied because I think you’re in a prime position to help me!

if I remember correctly, you have a South Indian background, right? The piece I want to buy is an oddiyanam/vaddanam… but I’m not from the south.

So now you see my dilemma, it’s a gorgeous piece of jewelry, and I can afford it, but it’ll be at the expense of other pieces I would definitely use more.

So the way I see it, my options are:
- buy a costume version and relax (just a few hundred dollars)
- buy a silver / hollow / less decorative one for significantly less money (only worth it if I find a design I love) and continue to build a well rounded collection
- buy the real McCoy and spend a ton but forego some other pieces I also really want
- win the lottery (wish this could be plan A)

Do you think it’s worth buying a costume one for a few years to see if I reach for it enough / still want a real one? It’ll be a few hundred dollars wasted, but for piece of mind…
 
My Almond Blossom Opal ring and my Opal bracelet are “special occasion” wear only due to them being Opals and me being a klutz. I think Ive worn out my Almond Blossom Opal ring 4 times since I bought her 2 years ago. Likewise my opal bracelet I’ve worn out maybe a dozen times in the past 5 years. However I often just sit outside in the sunshine and “love them”, knowing they are mine and I can love on them anytime is very important to me. Just being their current custodian gives me pleasure whether Im wearing them or not.
 
Bron357 said:
My Almond Blossom Opal ring and my Opal bracelet are “special occasion” wear only due to them being Opals and me being a klutz. I think Ive worn out my Almond Blossom Opal ring 4 times since I bought her 2 years ago. Likewise my opal bracelet I’ve worn out maybe a dozen times in the past 5 years. However I often just sit outside in the sunshine and “love them”, knowing they are mine and I can love on them anytime is very important to me. Just being their current custodian gives me pleasure whether Im wearing them or not.
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That’s a lovely mindset to have. I think what is holding me back from pulling the trigger is that it’ll be at the cost of other pieces I would wear more. That’s why I’m thinking of what I should do. I probably would still wait to pull the trigger (if I buy the more expensive ones) because then I’d like to tie it to a special event. I get that no one can answer these questions for me because it comes down to what I value most. But it’s always nice to hear opinions from people :D
 
It depends on 1. your disposable income budget and 2. Your desire for the item.

Generally I look at PPW (price per wear) before purchasing pricey items.

However, there are exceptions to this rule.

If I just have to have an item that I have fallen madly and deeply in love with and my budget allows me to do so without hurting us financially even if I will not wear the item often I am more likely to get it.

As long as the first two requirements are in effect (financial ease and I've fallen in love) I probably would get it. For the reasons I listed in the thread about splurges.

A real life example. This doesn't really count for me but it did for my parents. My dad bought (with my mom) a Cartier Black Opal that at the time was a huge splurge for them. In 1972. It was not ever intended to be an everyday item. Yet they deemed it a worthy item to buy. It was/is breathtaking and they appreciated the beauty of it so despite the cost (and they were not wealthy) they purchased it. Knowing it would be treasured for decades to come. And it is still being treasured. Now by me because they generously gave it to me. I rarely wear it as my mom rarely wore it but I still love and cherish and appreciate it and am glad they bought it all those decades ago. PPW doesn't account for the reason behind this purchase and in this case is an exception. A worthy (IMO) exception.

Only you can decide if a certain purchase is worth it for you. We all have different priorities, finances and desires. It is 100% an individual (or individual couple) decision. I will add I would never calculate resale value or include that in my decision making process. I always assume whatever I am purchasing jewelry wise is a financial loss. But an artistic gain. And IMO one cannot put a price on art. If it makes you feel joy it is worth the cost. To me.
 
missy said:
It depends on 1. your disposable income budget and 2. Your desire for the item.

Generally I look at PPW (price per wear) before purchasing pricey items.

However, there are exceptions to this rule.

If I just have to have an item that I have fallen madly and deeply in love with and my budget allows me to do so without hurting us financially even if I will not wear the item often I am more likely to get it.

As long as the first two requirements are in effect (financial ease and I've fallen in love) I probably would get it. For the reasons I listed in the thread about splurges.

A real life example. This doesn't really count for me but it did for my parents. My dad bought (with my mom) a Cartier Black Opal that at the time was a huge splurge for them. In 1972. It was not ever intended to be an everyday item. Yet they deemed it a worthy item to buy. It was/is breathtaking and they appreciated the beauty of it so despite the cost (and they were not wealthy) they purchased it. Knowing it would be treasured for decades to come. And it is still being treasured. Now by me because they generously gave it to me. I rarely wear it as my mom rarely wore it but I still love and cherish and appreciate it and am glad they bought it all those decades ago. PPW doesn't account for the reason behind this purchase and in this case is an exception. A worthy (IMO) exception.

Only you can decide if a certain purchase is worth it for you. We all have different priorities, finances and desires. It is 100% an individual (or individual couple) decision. I will add I would never calculate resale value or include that in my decision making process. I always assume whatever I am purchasing jewelry wise is a financial loss. But an artistic gain. And IMO one cannot put a price on art. If it makes you feel joy it is worth the cost. To me.
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Really great points made, missy! I love your Cartier black Opal ring, it is absolutely stunning. I can well imagine that your parents fell in love with that ring!!

I think what holds me back is that though I love it, I don’t know if I love it enough to forego other things on my list that I love (at least for a long time, possibly ever). As a piece it is expensive but not unreasonably so, I definitely could swing it (though maybe I would defer it until gold prices go down a bit) The thing that is actually attracting me most is the resale value part, I know that if I liquidate that piece I could get 90ish percent of my money back. But if I start buying things from the POV that I’ll get my money back if I sell… why buy? But neither can I just tell myself to forget about it, so it’s survived several purges on my list.

It would almost be easier if what I fell in love with was out of budget, because then it’s just not even in consideration. I remember, a few years ago, I was at an Indian bridal expo with a friend and saw (and tried on) a piece of jewelry that made my heart hurt because of how stunning it was; and in a style that I would probably get to wear more often (in a style traditionally belonging to my community). But it was, if memory serves, around $110k or so, so it didn’t hurt (much) to wave goodbye to that piece.

Luckily, what I love is a style more than a specific piece at a specific jeweler, so I probably could just browse until I find one that is pretty and at a lower price (and compromise in some ways - like by getting a hollow piece vs a solid piece; silver vs gold; or lower karat gold (but that might be hard to find, most jewelers won’t make it in less than 22kt). Or just buy a costume piece and see if that’s “good enough”.

More to think about! Thanks for weighing in :)
 
AllAboardTheBlingTrain said:
I think what holds me back is that though I love it, I don’t know if I love it enough to forego other things on my list that I love (at least for a long time, possibly ever).
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That is definitely a very important consideration and perhaps this is your answer. Good luck and I know whatever decision you make will be the best one for you at the time. Don't second guess yourself once you decide. Go with it and know you made the right choice for you.
 
Now I know what it is (Indian here too!) - I say go for it as the gold will retain its value (well, in line with gold prices). So as long as you are careful with it, you can think of it as a wearable savings account. The "cost" will only be the difference between the gold scrap value and the item.

Well, that's how I would justify it :devil:

Edit: as to why buy if you have half an eye on selling - for the years of enjoyment it will give you in between!
 
MillieLou said:
Now I know what it is (Indian here too!) - I say go for it as the gold will retain its value (well, in line with gold prices). So as long as you are careful with it, you can think of it as a wearable savings account. The "cost" will only be the difference between the gold scrap value and the item.

Well, that's how I would justify it :devil:

Edit: as to why buy if you have half an eye on selling - for the years of enjoyment it will give you in between!
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Oh cool, so you get my dilemma!! I think it’s because oddiyanam is so ubiquitous with the South I feel like my money is far better served being invested in a rani haar or something that is more in line with Northie traditions. And that is something I can wear for my wedding too, plus I adore jadau. But I find the whole look with a kanjivaram and oddiyanam/jhumkis so beautiful.

Im not sure what part of India are you from, but do you/your friends have one? And do you personally see value in getting one if I’m not a Southie??
 
I am a Southie, but I don't have one, nor does anyone in my family. We are quite Westernised and no-one I know even wears them at weddings or temple functions. I only really see them on bharatha natyam dancers these days. Wearing one would be seen as a fashion choice (in a positive way - it would be a talking point and get lots of admiring comments!) So it would do equally as well for a north Indian IYSWIM - it would be assumed you were wearing it because you thought it was beautiful and liked the look, no different to any other piece of jewellery.

It is easy enough to get an inexpensive costume one so that may be a good first step to try it out. If you love it, you can get the real thing. As long as you keep it close to the gold price I think you can't go wrong.
 
MillieLou said:
I am a Southie, but I don't have one, nor does anyone in my family. We are quite Westernised and no-one I know even wears them at weddings or temple functions. I only really see them on bharatha natyam dancers these days. Wearing one would be seen as a fashion choice (in a positive way - it would be a talking point and get lots of admiring comments!) So it would do equally as well for a north Indian IYSWIM - it would be assumed you were wearing it because you thought it was beautiful and liked the look, no different to any other piece of jewellery.

It is easy enough to get an inexpensive costume one so that may be a good first step to try it out. If you love it, you can get the real thing. As long as you keep it close to the gold price I think you can't go wrong.
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Thank you for that perspective! Honestly I never see one around in my social circle either (but I feel like you won’t expect to see that on Northies anyway). It is sort of relieving to think that you think no one would look at me weirdly for choosing to wear a style that isn’t synonymous with my community/culture. It’s funny because no one thinks this much about saris. Like I don’t think it’s weird when I see northies wear kanjivaram or Southies wearing benarasi. Tbh I don’t think it’s weird with jewelry either, but I think it’s because a belt is so much of a “choice”, like you said, that I’m afraid of being side-eyed.

Yeah when costume jewelry was first mentioned upthread it really made me sit up, like that might be the best way forward. I don’t know if I’m also romanticising the idea of oddiyanam and once I have one I’ll end up not wearing it at all.

I don’t plan to buy a real one until gold prices come down a bit anyway, so perhaps till then I should pick up an inexpensive fake to wear for a year or so while figuring out what to do! Thank you for the help!!
 
Like others I have also gotten some pieces I don’t wear often, but sparks joy. My carved jadeite pieces for example. Too traditional and old fashioned to wear, but I marvel at their carving. My opals that are really too fragile to wear often, but so pretty to look at. I think if your financial situation allows it, you love it and it’s not some impulse buy, go for it.

Re: costume pieces, my personal experience is that they don’t scratch the itch. So go for the real thing. Anyway for Indian pieces it’s really more of the gold value right? Just make sure you get from a reliable jeweller who won’t cheat on the gold content.
 
AllAboardTheBlingTrain said:
You know, your idea of buying a costume one just made my ears perk up a bit. I wonder, if I could find one that’s realistic looking enough, would it scratch my itch? And then I could save my money for something else, that’s more wearable long term….

I could afford it, but it would be a huge chunk of my bling fund, so if I buy the real thing I would need to probably save for a few more years. It would probably be one of the most expensive things I own.
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That's the issue I had - wearing a costume version made me want to get the real thing even more!

I considered lab/MMDs and decided against them as the cost difference was minimal (not like for like in terms of clarity and colour).

DK :))
 
The belt look beautiful and like a piece of art. Can you buy it and put it out to admire daily or will it stay safe in a safe?

I think it is a great idea to wait until you have an event scheduled that you would like to wear it to, then re-evaluate the purchase.
 
Yes, especially because from what you’ve described you have wanted this piece for a while now. If it sold then you might have regret and that is no fun to live with. I say, buy that piece!

I have my Fancy Pants ring I hardly ever wear but I couldn’t imagine her not being in my jewelry box.
 
You mentioned that if you bought the belt, you'd "forego some other pieces I also really want." Do you want the belt or the other pieces more?

If you want those pieces as much and would get more wear out of them, I'd buy those first!
 
Ok, if it were me, I would buy a costume piece and see how much I enjoy it. Then, if you really felt like I needed the real thing, you can buy it when the price of gold dips (if ever). Just my two cents.

I'm at an age where I'm more pragmatic about my bling spend. I want to get as many wears as possible. I am probably reacting to my mother's situation. She has a gorgeous collection and it just kills me that she doesn't wear any of it...
 
icy_jade said:
Like others I have also gotten some pieces I don’t wear often, but sparks joy. My carved jadeite pieces for example. Too traditional and old fashioned to wear, but I marvel at their carving. My opals that are really too fragile to wear often, but so pretty to look at. I think if your financial situation allows it, you love it and it’s not some impulse buy, go for it.

Re: costume pieces, my personal experience is that they don’t scratch the itch. So go for the real thing. Anyway for Indian pieces it’s really more of the gold value right? Just make sure you get from a reliable jeweller who won’t cheat on the gold content.
Click to expand...

Yeah I’m not afraid the jeweler will rip me off, I’m mostly just in two minds whether I will get enough wear out of it. What I’m afraid of is that I’ll buy the super expensive belt and then regret that I didn’t get the other things I want.

I feel like the best solution is to just get a lighter belt instead of the huge heavy 400g ones. Something in the range of 80-100g, made with hollow motifs, still very rich but more affordable. But perhaps test drive my desire with a costume one first. A few hundred dollars is a drop in the bucket compared to the price of the real thing!!
 
oceanblue said:
The belt look beautiful and like a piece of art. Can you buy it and put it out to admire daily or will it stay safe in a safe?

I think it is a great idea to wait until you have an event scheduled that you would like to wear it to, then re-evaluate the purchase.
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I would probably keep it in the safe for most of its life because it also takes up a lot of space. So it won’t see the light of day very often, unfortunately.

I think I might buy a costume version to “test drive”, and then buy the real thing when I intend to wear it or when gold prices go down!!
 
YadaYadaYada said:
Yes, especially because from what you’ve described you have wanted this piece for a while now. If it sold then you might have regret and that is no fun to live with. I say, buy that piece!

I have my Fancy Pants ring I hardly ever wear but I couldn’t imagine her not being in my jewelry box.
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Luckily I’m lusting after a very “typical” style, not a specific piece, so there’s no time limit to the time I have to make a decision!


MRBXXXFVVS1 said:
You mentioned that if you bought the belt, you'd "forego some other pieces I also really want." Do you want the belt or the other pieces more?

If you want those pieces as much and would get more wear out of them, I'd buy those first!
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that’s a great question. I think that’s one I really need to figure out. One of those pieces is something I could also wear to my wedding, which I can’t do with this belt. And it will almost be either/or, because otherwise that’s way too much money too soon. But I’m not engaged yet, so I don’t actually know how much time I have to save up for both. But putting it this way, it seems almost like a no brainer that I need to defer the belt for a while until the other piece is bought. Perhaps in the mean time I can get the costume piece and that will help me decide whether: a) I want a real gold one, and b) how heavy of a gold one do I want.


lulu_ma said:
Ok, if it were me, I would buy a costume piece and see how much I enjoy it. Then, if you really felt like I needed the real thing, you can buy it when the price of gold dips (if ever). Just my two cents.

I'm at an age where I'm more pragmatic about my bling spend. I want to get as many wears as possible. I am probably reacting to my mother's situation. She has a gorgeous collection and it just kills me that she doesn't wear any of it...
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I think you’re right. I’m leaning that way myself as well. I actually never even thought about costume unril dk168 mentioned it. And now I feel like that’s the best solution!! What holds me back is feeling like “will I really wear it??” And if I buy a costume one I’ll have time to come to terms with my feelings about it; and I can defer the purchase till I’m financially in a good place.
 
I personally wouldn't buy a piece of jewelry that I couldn't wear everyday. Why buy a piece of jewelry that will be sitting in the safety deposit box ? :confused:
 
AllAboardTheBlingTrain said:
You know, your idea of buying a costume one just made my ears perk up a bit. I wonder, if I could find one that’s realistic looking enough, would it scratch my itch? And then I could save my money for something else, that’s more wearable long term….

I could afford it, but it would be a huge chunk of my bling fund, so if I buy the real thing I would need to probably save for a few more years. It would probably be one of the most expensive things I own.
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You could buy the coustume one to try it out - to see if you can justify buying the real one
i think life is too short
if you can afford it and it will make you happy buy it
perhaps you may only wear it a few times a year but maybe you will look at it every day and feel the joy
 
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