Georgous Ruby Jewelry But Small & Pricey

I've had my eye on these Effy rubies and diamonds in 14k rose gold hoops selling on Macy's website for a while because they're classic and gorgeous! I love the rose gold and baguette-cut rubies sandwiched between 2 lines of small round diamonds. But because of the small size of the earrings (mentioned in the reviews) compared to the relatively high price, I don't think we're getting enough for our money even when they go on sale. It isn't the greed of Macy's or Effy (the vendor) in particular that I fault for being so costly. Universally across different retailers, we are now charged more for less than substantial pieces of jewelry. Why?

Lali Jewels (left) and LeVian (right)

Gem-quality rubies (and red gemstones in general) are rarer in nature, therefore rubies tend to cost more per carat than sapphires or diamonds. (Gem-quality emeralds are even rarer so cost more per carat than rubies, sapphires, and diamonds.)

Le Vian (left) and Effy (right)

To be called a ruby the corundum (stone) must be red. Frankly, some of these ruby stones I'm featuring on the blog look more like pink sapphires online, but perhaps they are darker in the retail store? To recite an industry saying, "It's a pink sapphire if you're the buyer and a ruby if you're the seller." Both can be lovely gemstones, just be sure the price matches its color!

The jewelry featured in today's post is beyond cute and so tempting, especially near Valentine's Day. I just can't believe the steep prices of over $1,000 for such slight pieces!😳

Why has dainty jewelry gotten so expensive? One reason is the price of gold is higher so now we're asked to pay through the nose for flimsy pieces of jewelry!

Is it worth it? People must decide for themselves, but if I saved up weeks of salary in exchange for tiny earrings or a thin ring, I'd be disappointed after opening the box regardless of how pretty the design is. Perhaps I'd feel somewhat taken, and clearly, I'd feel I could do more with the money elsewhere.

Macy's in-house brand (left) and Lali Jewels (right)

One way to lower the cost of fine jewelry is to find pieces in 925 sterling silver instead of 14k or 18k gold, suitable for earrings, necklaces, also rings, and bracelets you don't wear daily, i.e., jewelry you don't bang around. Like gold, silver is a precious metal yet softer than gold. I own 2 pairs of earrings (10'' round freshwater pearls and 4-carat lab-grown white sapphires with silver posts. Each durable pair costs under $100.)

Even freshwater pink pearls with tiny marquise-shaped pink tourmaline earrings (below↓) are pricey! Some people love delicate jewelry, but how much are customers willing to pay for it?

Macy's in-house brand (left) and LeVian (right) - all the jewelry is sold on Macy's website

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Friends, is love ... as in the love of gold jewelry blind? Nowadays are you buying or passing on fine jewelry?🤔

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Aspinal The Alternative to Logo Luxury Bags

Full grain leathers - nappa and cow

Welcome to the world of Aspinal of London, where customers can buy top-notch luxury bags or small leather goods without the hype, games, serial price hikes, or ostentatious logos that are becoming disturbing among a few well-known luxury brands. Merchants who don't value their customers are not our friends. Aspinal of London is!

Aspinal offers high caliber leather(s), expert craftsmanship, and attention to detail with extras for your money; and their bags list for $1000s less than the showy logo brands. 

Furthermore, you are provided with excellent and friendly customer care. Just for signing up for emails, you get an instant 10% savings, and periodically there are sales with up to 70% off. Save your Alexander Hamiltons on fine leather goods. Frankly spending them for exclusiveness is a middle-class illusion according to marketers! Luxury houses design special lines not for public sale for their wealthy clients.

Aspinal's fine leather bags are ultra stylish, sturdy, tasteful, and timeless. Does the quilted black bag with gold hardware on the left remind you of a coveted bag that just announced another price increase (of 15.7%)? The Chanel medium double flap bag now sells for $11,850 (up from $10,200) without offering customers any improvements! In fact, numerous customers claim the quality of the double-flap bag has taken a nose-dive and is no longer worth its asking price.

 Not only is the classic Aspiral bag of superior quality, but it also has a few frills such as 4 golden feet to protect the leather. You get more for less money.

If you are looking for a substantial full-grain leather luxury bag, then look no further than Aspinal of London where you find excellence, a fair shake, and outstanding customer service when you walk in the door, as well as, after you purchase your bag. Take a consumer oath: From now on, support brands who work to be your friends!

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Lalage Beaumont Is An Impressive Brand

Although I don't own Hermès, Chanel, or Dior handbags or apparel, I often come into contact with them by living in Manhattan. I see the bags and clothes on the streets, and I touch and examine the items in the stores. Pursuing is fun! If I were to spend the princely sum I'd be most tempted by a black medium Lady Dior bag with black or gold hardware, and I lean towards Dior's clothing style. I suppose as much as I love playing with couture merchandise, I don't value it enough to buy it. The markup is tremendous and I'm a value shopper.

Unlike its inspiration, the Hermès' Kelly, this bag comes with a crossover strap.

If you don't wish to withdraw multiple Alexander Hamiltons for certain designer labels, yet admire fine textiles and top craftsmanship, there are many comparable brands to consider for less. Lalage Beaumont, a UK fashion and accessory studio, launched in 2004, is one of them. The quality and style of the brand are impeccable. The vibe is "classical elegance" combined with modern sophistication, and there is great attention paid to details.

Before striking out under her own name, Lalage, the company's founder and namesake, designed for famous English fashion houses in the 1980s and 1990s. Today her boutiques and stockists are located in the fashion centers of London and cities around the globe. Collections include business suits, evening wear, and special event attire, as well as, measure to wear tailoring. 

Lalage's pieces are expensive though not outlandish. They are timeless and made with top-notch fabrics, skill, and experience to last a lifetime. The retailer believes in sustainability and offers full-service repairs on handbags and clothing over the lifetime of its wear. You'll have your Lalage forever!

The brand is refined luxury at its best without the flashy logos or hype, contrived exclusivity, or inflated profit margins. Savvy Shoppers never support merchants who mistreat their customers!

In short, Lalage is a quality brand! But ... if you don't require this price point of luxury, I recommend being super selective. Plus, there is nothing wrong with mixing high-end pieces like a tailored blazer, trousers, or coat with lower-end pieces, i.e., everything else! 

Hermès, Chanel, and Dior who? Nowadays we have plenty of choices. Nobody has to go broke to dress well!

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Trendy Rapunzel Hair 2024

 

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Golden Hair

Have you noticed how long celebrities are wearing their hair lately? I've noticed the trend for several months on actresses of all ages. Sunday's Golden Globes showcased both beautiful gowns and extremely long locks. The hair of some attendees is so thick and long they must be wearing hair extensions and/or hair pieces. Call me naive but it was only after the death of Michael Jackson in 2009 that I caught on to the fact that show biz people wear hair extensions and pieces, as well as, false eyelases, and their lush hair and eyelashes are often not natural. Before my epiphany, I never really thought about it.

Recent photos of Brooke Shields, Rosamund Pike, Amy Adams, and Rihanna. Globe photos: Top - Jennifer Lawrance, Bottom - Taylor Swift and Margot Robbie

Occasionally I've sported long locks myself, and I know longer hair tends to be easy to style, but you spend more time conditioning it to maintain its health and luster. I also kept it trimmed for a clean line free of split ends.

Although I've had long hair, it's never been Rapunzel length which I think is rarely possible without the help of hair extensions, not to mention stylists and a slew of hair products and accessories.

Soon after this (not the greatest quality) photo was taken, I cut my hair to shoulder length. Shoulder-length hair isn't necessarily easier to maintain, but it is lighter, bouncer, and you don't find long strands of hair all over your home -- the annoyance and reason I usually cut it shorter. Argh, I've never had hair any longer than in this photo.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Elle magazine

What do you think of the trendy very long Rapunzel hair length in the media? Stylish or too much of a good thing?

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Diamond Accent Flower Studs

A YouTube luxury influencer, Sophie Shohet, whom I sometimes watch, showed a pair of diamond accent flower stud earrings on her channel that looks familiar. I also own a pair in the same style. Her diamond accent flower studs are ruby stones and likely 18K gold. My studs are sapphires in 14K gold. Hers were designed by her jeweler. I got my earrings at Macy's Herald Square in the mid-1980s. In fact, I'm wearing the earrings in the small blogger photo over on the sidebar.👉

I bought sapphire diamond accent flower studs on an entry-level salary and over the years, I have really gotten my money's worth wearing the classic style of earrings (sometimes daily). IMHO they are as beautiful and elegant as diamond stud earrings, with an ample effect for less moola. ↖Over to the right is a similar pair sold by Macy's today.

I'm glad I bought my earrings years ago as they cost 4 times more now (because the price of gold went up) and as much as I love them the price is (arguably too?) steep now! I'd wait for one of Macy's best sales to lower the cost, or I'd consider buying the earrings in sterling silver (still a precious metal) with the choice of ruby or sapphire stones.

Jewelry was always a splurge but sadly it's getting harder to find substantial gold pieces worthy of the much higher price tag of today.

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Macy's Black Friday Sales: 5 Lab Grown Gemstones

Macy's Black Friday Sales: 5 Lab Grown Gemstones

The last of my Macy's Black Friday gift guides will also discuss whether or not, you should buy lab-grown precious gemstones as jewelry. Regular readers of THE SAVVY SHOPPER already know my answer. Yes! Absolutely and without a doubt, if the price is right. When priced fairly (meaning not inflated) you'll get a lot for your money! 

Lab-grown diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are as real as natural-grown diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Lab-grown gemstones are physically, chemically, and optically the same as gemstones that form over billions of years in the earth's mental or crust. 

Natural gemstones are more expensive than lab-grown gemstones and tend to fetch a higher price on the resale market primarily because they are in higher demand by the public, but as lab-grown gemstones gain more acceptance ... and now as more retailers are entering the market plus manufacturing methods are getting better and cheaper, this is changing. In fact, the greater acceptance and availability of quality lab-grown diamonds are already lowering the prices of mined diamonds produced in nature.

Under a loupe gemologists and jewelers can tell the difference between natural-grown and lab-grown gemstones, yet both are genuine, authentic, real gemstones because chemically and optically they are the same. Both mined and lab-grown stones are the same chemical elements transformed into various gemstones by enormous heat and pressure. Gemologists can also determine where on earth natural sapphires, rubies, and emeralds were formed, as there are tell-tell signs informing them of a gemstone's origins, so it makes sense they can also tell when a  gemstone is lab-grown.

I sound like a broken record in saying, never think of jewelry as an investment but only as a luxury good with huge markups, things of beauty we love but do not need. Except for high jewelry (the apex of rarity and perfection of cut, carat, color, and clarity) or the estate jewelry of a celebrity, you'll rarely get what you pay for your pieces on the resale market.

The great benefit of buying lab-grown gemstones is customers can get bigger gemstones with higher color grades and few inclusions for far less money. They cost at least 1/3 less than natural stones. Short of a cartel forming, I predict prices will continue to drop.

Whether buying lab-grown or natural gemstones, we still need to ensure we're getting value for a good stone based on cut, carat, color, and clarity. 

For this reason, I'm a big fan of Macy's for mid-priced jewelry that ordinary people can afford, and I'd be over the moon to have any (or all😍) of the five 14k gold large sapphires, rubies, emeralds, or diamond sparklers featured here today. OMG, I live at the right time when huge gemstones can be grown in a lab! Dear Fairy Godmother, gimme!!!!!

Final thought: Black Friday sales come and go. If you miss this one, wait for another promotion to come around. They'll run all season and several times of the year!

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Style Republic

I'm biased: Macy's is my favorite department store in New York City. It's where I go first and where I score the best bargains for designer and quality goods. I'm in heaven when browsing inside Macy's. There's always a wide selection of whatever merchandise I need. Apparel, shoes, home goods, jewelry, you name it, nobody offers better sales than Macy's. To boot, there are Last Act racks on many floors where among other articles, I got fully lined cashmere blazers for only $14!

Macy's Black Friday Specials are on. If you want to buy exceptional holiday gifts for family and friends at a fraction of the usual cost, be sure to start your shopping for big savings now. The following are 8 Black Friday Specials to Beat the Cold for under $50: (available in several colors)

1) Style Republic - 100% Pure Cashmere Women's Ribbed Cuff Beanie - Why settle for acrylic, nylon, or rayon when for the same moola you can get super soft and warm cashmere hats and scarfs? Cashmere feels so fine against the skin, it's the warmest fabric, and it lasts years longer than manmade materials.

2) Club Room Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater, Created for Macy's - Classic and practical menswear. They'll last for decades.

3) On 34th Women's Sweater Blazer, Created for Macy's - It's polyester so you can mindlessly machine wash and cool dry it. As an alternative to a sweater, a blazer is a versatile piece that can be casual or dressy while keeping you warm. At times I like to wear a blazer for its pockets especially if not wearing a jacket. 

4) Charter Club Women's Packable Hooded Puffer Coat, Created for Macy's - Puffer coats are very popular nowadays. Lightweight and machine washable, I own a jacket-length puffer coat for fall and early winter before it gets super cold, and a goose-down long puffer coat for January and February. Last year I bought a long puffer coat for my mother too. Although puffer coats weigh next to nothing, they are as toasty warm as animal furs and by far more budget-friendly. A jacket-length puffer coat is perfect to keep the chill at bay without layers before the temperatures drop to freezing. 

5) Hawke & Co. Men's Quilted Fleece-Lined Hooded Puffer Jacket - Wow a puffer jacket for men for under $40 … cheaper than the women's and boys! Once you get to Macy's you'll have choices galore to get the right price, fillings, and style for you!

6) Karen Scott Women's Zip-Up Zeroproof Fleece Jacket, Created for Macy's, 7) Karen Scott Petite Princess Seam Zeroproof Zip Front Jacket, Created for Macy's 8) Tommy Hilfiger Women's Faux Sherpa Full-Zip Hoodie - To be honest, I don't have fleece in my wardrobe, but fleece hoodies and jackets are in vogue right now. Fleece is soft, cozy, inexpensive, and easy to machine wash and dry which might explain its frenzy. Suitable for kids to wear in school or keep in a locker, or adults to take to a gym without worrying about babying it. At $15 - $18 you couldn't buy the fabric and zippers to make it yourself any cheaper!

As long as Macy's is running these amazing sales, I might do a few more of these holiday gift guide blogs! Macy's could be your one-stop retailer as it often is mine!

This blog is not sponsored. How could a Savvy Shopper, not adore Macy's! It's good I don't live next door or I might float in too often for retail therapy. When you actually need something, the telephone associates give you great advice too.♥♥♥

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Is Jewelry A Waste Of Money?

Photo: Graff - High Jewelry can hold its value if one is rich enough to buy (and insure) it.

Jewelry is an over-priced luxury item I can appreciate. I like leather bags, shoes, and clothes, but I love jewelry😍. Yet due to the great expense, I'm more of a browser than a buyer. First a dreamer then a realist I like to say! I can't afford the big flawless stones that cost 5 or 6 zeros. They're gorgeous and frankly, the cut, carat, color, and clarity I really want! Suffice it to say, I understand the appeal and the temptation, so I may be the perfect person to answer the question: Is jewelry a waste of money?

Photo: Brilliant Earth

In purely a practical sense, the answer is yes! Absolutely! 100%!! Waste. Of. Money!!! Jewelry is always a luxury item and never (or rarely) an investment. We don't need it, we buy it because we want it, but aside from aesthetics, it really serves no pragmatic purpose.

By limiting the supply of diamonds and clever marketing to create high demand {with its famous "A diamond is forever" 1947 slogan), DeBeers, the then monopoly diamond seller, was able to hike up the price of diamonds even though the stones are not rare, but quite common in nature. The high demand and high prices for diamonds are still with us today. Lab-grown diamonds will likely continue to lower their costs in the future.

Photo: Macy's

But it's not just diamonds, the markup on all fine jewelry is significant, however as soon as it leaves the jewelry store, and you own it, the jewelry loses its value. If you try to resale a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or ring, you'll rarely get what you paid for the jewelry. At best, the same jeweler who sold you the piece may offer you its wholesale price. What's more, to recoup a decent percentage of your money, you better be re-selling high-quality jewelry, i.e., flawless stones with substantial, perhaps 18k gold. There's no guarantee you'll walk away with a profit, and certainly not enough of a profit to rebuy the jewelry again. The rare exception is high jewelry (↑top image), as opposed to mid-priced jewelry. There are always high rollers with excessive disposable income looking for top-of-the-line high jewelry. High jewelry (including celebrity-auctioned estate jewelry) is its own niche. Average earners can't afford it.

 

Reselling expensive watches such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, or Tudor Pelagos can also exceed their original value if kept in like new condition (minus scratches) because enough people with deep pockets like to wear these luxury watch brands. 

Photo: Baby Gold

As it turns out, the skimpy a/k/a dainty or light chains, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings are harder to resale at a profit due to less precious metal, demand, and their averageness. To boot, shoppers of 2nd hand markets expect to score bargains.

The true value of jewelry is its beauty along with its sentimental value. A little glitter can complete or add pizzazz to an outfit. Sparkle can make us happy or remind us of the person who gave us a lovely gift out of love ... which is not a waste of money. 

I'd never discourage anyone from buying fine jewelry ... a few curated pieces (within your budget) as things of beauty. Adding some flash to your life should make you feel happy. Just don't tell yourself it's an investment.

Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels 

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