I used to love jewelry as a kid and teen and explained how I got away from it for years and barely wore any jewelry at all after getting married. It wasn’t until my mom passed away that my love of jewelry found me again. Since then, I’ve been diving in headfirst (and even made a diamond from my mom’s ashes).
But there are certain occasions when you don’t want to wear fine jewelry, such as when you travel. The risk of damaging or losing your most valuable pieces — or even having them stolen — can be really stressful.
To that end, I’d like to share some affordable jewelry brands perfect for travel. I’m talking about more budget-oriented pieces, many under $50 each, that will still have you looking sparkly and put together. I promise they look just as good as the more expensive options and will give you peace of mind when it’s just not the right time to show off your most expensive bling.
What’s affordable jewelry?
The word “affordable” means different things to different people. Even costume jewelry can be majorly expensive. So for the purposes of this post, I’m going to define affordable jewelry as pieces that are under $100 each, with many costing less than $50.
Affordable jewelry shouldn’t just be about the price, though. It should still be well made, not turn your skin green, or be irritating in any way. The good part is that there are so many online affordable jewelry brands that make amazing travel jewelry, both 14k real gold and vermeil.
But to back up even further, why would you even seek out less expensive pieces if fine jewelry is your thing? Well, there are a bunch of reasons why you may want to consider affordable jewelry for travel instead of fine jewelry:
- It’s a stress-free way to accessorize. Leave the stress that goes with wearing expensive pieces behind and wear more affordable options with ease instead. It hurts a lot less if you damage or lose an inexpensive piece.
- It’s a way to stay up with jewelry trends without breaking the bank. A small budget goes a lot further at the online jewelry brands listed below and everyone loves to save money!
- If you’re going to be super active on your trip. Activities like hiking, rock climbing, snorkeling, and so many others are not compatible with high-end jewelry. Between losing the center diamond on your engagement ring to snagging a beloved tennis bracelet on something to losing your diamond earrings in the ocean, a lot can go wrong if you plan on partaking in a lot of activities on vacation. Affordable jewelry is the way to go!
Hey Harper
I am really lazy about taking my jewelry off and this is where Hey Harper comes in. You can leave it on! Hey Harper’s major selling point is that all of their jewelry is waterproof and they encourage you to wear it while swimming, exercising, showering, and living life.
Completely tarnish proof, all of their pieces are made of stainless steel and go through a gold PVD coating process. They’re able to make it 10 times stronger than standard gold and silver plating. No need to baby anything from Hey Harper!
My top picks:
// Liberty Ring ($77): Inspired by NYC with just enough sparkle. Nearly sold out, so move fast if you like this one as much as I do!
// Rachel Silver Bracelet ($68) : This bangle goes with everything and also comes in yellow gold if that’s more your style.
// Nassau Rose Gold Necklace ($67): This shiny beauty is the perfect layering piece.
Quince
Quince has all kinds of amazing high-end essentials well beyond jewelry at an affordable price (I reviewed Quince cashmere here!). But let’s focus on the jewelry. In addition to 14k gold fine jewelry, Quince has an ever-changing selection of beautiful gold vermeil pieces too ranging from earrings, to necklaces, to rings and more. Grab what you have your eye on before it sells out!
// Wide Band ($49): I just bought this ring for myself and have been mixing white and yellow gold and fine jewelry with gold vermeil lately. I love the look.
// Modern U Hoops ($49): No look is complete without some earrings. These gold vermeil beauties are a hoop lover’s dream.
// 14k Gold Lariat Bracelet ($99) This minimalist solid 14k bracelet looks amazing on its own or stacked with some other bling.
P.S. To make the deal even sweeter, use my Quince discount code link for $20 off orders of $50+. 😉
BaubleBar
Another online jewelry store with fine jewelry, plated options and some fun pieces like this colorful customizable friendship bracelet that I just got with “Bonjour,” you can’t go wrong with BaubleBar. They got started in 2011 as a fashion jewelry brand and have majorly expanded since then.
// Small Hera Bracelet ($38 for plated, $62 for 14k): This paperclip design is so trendy and BaubleBar’s bestselling chain link for a reason. Go solo or stack it for more texture.
// Maro Ring set ($58): Two rings are better than one! They look great stacked or worn separately. Your choice.
// Enamel Tile Bracelet ($46): This pleated, beaded bracelet is perfect for warm weather and has just a touch of enamel and some sparkly pavé.
// Tessa 18k Gold Earrings ($44): These dainty stud earrings feature 18k gold plated sterling silver and a row of three Cubic Zirconia stones.
Travel engagement rings
Depending on where you’re traveling to, it’s sometimes a good idea to leave your engagement ring and wedding band home as well. This goes double if it’s not insured and/or your insurance policy doesn’t cover theft or damage while abroad (don’t learn this the hard way!). We never think we’ll fall victim to theft or loss, but it can happen so I go the travel jewelry route.
Here are some travel engagement rings to check out:
SUPER AFFORDABLE PICK #1: This sparkly CZ beauty on Amazon has rave reviews and is just under 20 bucks.
SUPER AFFORDABLE PICK #2: Currently on sale at Macy’s, this Asscher cut CZ ring also has rave reviews. Can’t beat the price!
SUPER AFFORDABLE PICK #3: Moissanite is also a great option and this solitaire ring in sterling silver sparkles like crazy!
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What’s your take on vacation jewelry? Do you focus on fun fashion jewelry for travel instead?
P.S. If you need some tips on what to wear in France, check out my no-BS guide to how to dress in France.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
PIN my vacation travel jewelry post:
I always prefer minimalist jwellery. Can you suggest few options for that as well?
Hi Bonnie, you’ll find minimalist pieces at the stores I mentioned, but here’s the whole post you might find of interest: https://www.ouiinfrance.com/minimalist-jewelry-brands/