I used to believe all necklaces were essentially the same. My strategy was simple: buy the cheapest one I could find. If it looked stylish in the product photo, I'd add it to my cart.
That turned out to be a costly mistake. Cheap jewelry is a waste of money. It loses its luster quickly and often leaves an unsightly green mark on your skin.
I finally decided to stop throwing cash away on subpar pieces. I discovered that even a modest upgrade makes a world of difference. This is my personal journey from flimsy, plated metal to a solid 925 Sterling Silver necklace—specifically, the DOTEFFIL 925 Sterling Silver Five Water Droplets/Raindrops Necklace Chain.
If you wear jewelry daily, quality is non-negotiable. You're investing in peace of mind. You want a chain that looks polished every single day, without having to inspect the plating before you leave the house.
Upgrading is a smart move for several key reasons:
My first necklace was a $15 purchase, a classic fast-fashion find. It looked fantastic online but felt disappointingly cheap the moment I took it out of the packaging.
These budget chains are typically made from base metals like zinc or copper, coated with an extremely thin layer of imitation silver or gold—a process called plating. This coating wears off incredibly fast, leaving you with maybe a week of decent shine.
If you browse the reviews for these items, they're consistently one or two stars, with the same complaints: "Broke immediately," or "The color faded fast." They're absolutely right. This type of jewelry is essentially disposable.
Verdict: Skip this tier entirely. You're literally burning your money.