Buying jewelry used to be frustrating. I kept looking for a solid cheap cross necklace mens style. I thought I was saving money. In reality, I was just buying trash that faded in three weeks.
If you are tired of spending money on pieces that turn your neck green, this article is for you. I walked the path from basic plated junk to real, high-quality crystal pendants. This is my journey and the simple rules I learned.
My first pieces cost around $20. I was trying to find the cheapest option possible. I wanted a cool pendant for almost no money. I learned quickly that this does not work.
These pieces are built to last maybe two weeks of daily wear. The metal is usually brass or zinc. They use the thinnest layer of gold or silver plating. The moment you sweat or shower, that plating starts to crack and peel off.
I remember one time I got a popular cheap cross necklace mens style. It felt super light in my hand. It was shiny for about ten days. Then, the color got dull. When I took it off, it left a dark gray ring on my skin. That is a sign of poor quality base metal reacting with your skin.
Common problems with the $20 piece:
Verdict: Do not buy anything if the material is not clearly marked as 316L Stainless Steel. If they only say "gold plated," assume it will fade instantly.
After getting frustrated with the fading, I started spending a little more. I looked for jewelry between $30 and $40. This is the "safe" zone. These pieces usually guarantee stainless steel, which is much better.
I upgraded to $40 necklaces. They were... fine. They did not turn my neck green. The chains lasted six months or more. This was a definite step up in terms of metal quality.
However, the looks were still lacking. The plating was thicker than the cheap stuff, but not perfect. The stones were usually cloudy or had poor cuts. You could tell it wasn't a premium piece, even from across the room. It served its purpose, but it didn't shine. The packaging was boring, too.