Hey there, jewelry lover! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the hunt for unique, high-quality pieces to add to your collection. Recently, I discovered GLDN – a handmade jewelry brand that‘s been taking the fashion world by storm. I‘ve spent the last few weeks researching the brand and testing out some of their most popular pieces. Now, I‘m excited to share my honest GLDN jewelry review with you!
In this post, I‘ll give you the full scoop on GLDN – from the brand‘s history and mission to the quality and craftsmanship of their pieces. I‘ll also share some of my favorite GLDN designs, compare the brand to other popular jewelry lines, and give you my verdict on whether GLDN is worth the hype. So grab a coffee, settle in, and let‘s dive into this GLDN jewelry review together!
What is GLDN?
Before we jump into the review, let‘s start with the basics: what exactly is GLDN? GLDN is a handmade jewelry brand founded in 2012 by designer Chrissy Lavdovsky. What started as a one-woman operation based in Chrissy‘s tiny kitchen has since grown into a thriving company with three studios and 85 employees.
GLDN‘s mission is to create meaningful, personalized jewelry that‘s accessible to everyone. The brand is committed to using ethical, sustainable materials and giving back to important causes. In fact, GLDN donates 10% of all profits to non-profit organizations that support education, liberation, and community building.
One of the things that sets GLDN apart is the incredible attention to detail and craftsmanship in each and every piece. The brand uses recycled metals in 90% of their designs and crafts 85% of their pieces to order, reducing waste and ensuring top-notch quality.
GLDN offers a wide range of handmade necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings in 14k gold fill, 14k solid gold, and sterling silver. The majority of their pieces are also customizable with personal engravings, birthstones, and more. Whether you‘re looking for a dainty everyday chain or a bold personalized statement piece, GLDN has you covered.
GLDN‘s Rise in the Demi-Fine Jewelry Market
To really understand the hype around GLDN, it‘s important to look at the larger trends in the jewelry industry. In recent years, there‘s been a major surge in the popularity of demi-fine jewelry – that is, high-quality pieces that are more affordable than traditional fine jewelry.
According to a report by McKinsey & Company, the demi-fine jewelry market is expected to reach $22 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 8-12%. Millennial and Gen Z consumers are driving much of this growth, as they seek out unique, meaningful pieces that reflect their personal style and values.
GLDN has quickly become a standout brand in the demi-fine jewelry space, thanks to their stunning designs, ethical practices, and accessible prices. The brand has been featured in major publications like Vogue, InStyle, and Harper‘s Bazaar, and has a dedicated following of over 250,000 on Instagram.
So what makes GLDN‘s pieces so covetable? Let‘s take a closer look.
GLDN Jewelry Quality & Craftsmanship
As someone who‘s always on the lookout for jewelry that‘s both beautiful and built to last, I was immediately impressed by the quality of GLDN‘s pieces. I had the chance to try out three of the brand‘s bestsellers: the Kaia Custom Name Bracelet, the Willow Coin Necklace, and the Luna Ring.
Right away, I could tell that these pieces were made with incredible care and attention to detail. The gold fill and sterling silver both had a substantial weight and a luminous shine. The hand-stamped lettering on the Kaia Bracelet was crisp and clear, and the dainty coins on the Willow Necklace laid perfectly flat.
I was also struck by how comfortable the pieces were to wear. The chains were smooth and didn‘t catch or pull, and the clasps were secure and easy to use. Even after wearing the Luna Ring all day, I barely noticed it was there – a testament to the high-quality, tarnish-resistant materials.
But of course, the true test of any jewelry is how it holds up over time. I‘ve been wearing my GLDN pieces regularly for a few weeks now, and I‘m happy to report that they still look as good as new. I‘ve gotten countless compliments on my necklace and bracelet, with friends asking where they can get their own personalized pieces.
Based on my experience, I feel confident saying that GLDN‘s jewelry is truly top-notch in terms of both craftsmanship and materials. But don‘t just take my word for it – let‘s see what other customers have to say.
What Do Customers Think of GLDN?
One of the most valuable parts of any jewelry review is hearing directly from real customers about their experiences with the brand. For this GLDN review, I scoured the internet for customer feedback, from the brand‘s own website to major review platforms and social media.
Overall, the vast majority of GLDN reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with customers raving about the quality, design, and sentimental value of their pieces. On GLDN‘s website, the brand has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars across over 8,000 reviews.
Many reviewers comment on the stunning packaging and unboxing experience, as well as the speedy shipping and helpful customer service. Customers also rave about the compliments they receive when wearing their GLDN jewelry. As one happy customer put it, "I have never had so many people stop me to ask about a piece of jewelry before!"
Of course, no brand is perfect, and GLDN is no exception. A small handful of reviews mention issues with chains breaking or tarnishing, or stones falling out of their settings. However, these reviews are few and far between, and GLDN offers a lifetime warranty and repair service for all of their pieces.
I also appreciated that GLDN responds to each and every review – both positive and negative – in a thoughtful, constructive way. It‘s clear that the brand truly values their customers‘ feedback and is always striving to improve.
To give you a better sense of what real customers are saying, here are a few standout GLDN reviews:
"I recently got the Birth Flower Necklace for my sister‘s birthday, and she absolutely loved it! The quality is amazing, and the packaging was so beautiful. I‘ll definitely be ordering from GLDN again." – Sarah L.
"I was hesitant to order jewelry online, but I‘m so glad I took a chance on GLDN. My personalized ring exceeded my expectations. It‘s become my new everyday staple!" – Rachel M.
"I had an issue with a bracelet clasp breaking, and GLDN‘s customer service team was so helpful and responsive. They immediately sent me a replacement and made the whole process stress-free. I‘m a customer for life!" – Jenna P.
Customer review snapshot via gldn.com
How Does GLDN Compare to Other Jewelry Brands?
When it comes to investing in a piece of jewelry, it‘s natural to want to explore all of your options. As part of my research for this GLDN review, I compared the brand to a few other popular demi-fine jewelry lines to see how they stacked up in terms of quality, price, and overall value.
Mejuri
Mejuri is a well-known player in the demi-fine jewelry space, offering 14k gold and gold vermeil pieces at a slightly lower price point than GLDN. While I love Mejuri‘s chic, minimalist designs, I found that their gold vermeil pieces didn‘t quite match up to GLDN‘s gold fill in terms of durability and longevity.
Aurate
Aurate is another popular demi-fine jewelry brand that offers pieces in 14k and 18k gold, as well as sterling silver. Their prices are similar to GLDN‘s, but I didn‘t find their designs to be quite as unique or customizable. However, Aurate does offer a lifetime warranty on all of their pieces.
Gorjana
Gorjana is a California-based jewelry brand that‘s known for their laid-back, bohemian designs. While I love their aesthetic, I found that many of their pieces were gold-plated rather than gold-filled, which can tarnish and wear down more quickly over time.
Ultimately, while there are pros and cons to each of these brands, I feel that GLDN offers the best overall value when it comes to high-quality, personalized pieces that are made to last.
Frequently Asked Questions About GLDN
Before I wrap up this GLDN review, I wanted to address some of the most common questions and concerns I‘ve seen from customers. If you‘re considering purchasing from GLDN, these FAQs should help you feel more confident and informed.
What is GLDN‘s return policy?
GLDN offers free returns and exchanges within 30 days of delivery for all standard pieces. Custom and personalized items are non-refundable, but the brand will work with you to resolve any quality issues or defects.
How long does GLDN take to ship?
GLDN offers free standard shipping on all U.S. orders over $75, which takes 3-5 business days to arrive after processing. The brand also offers expedited shipping options for an additional fee.
Can you shower or swim in GLDN jewelry?
GLDN recommends removing your jewelry before showering, swimming, or exercising to prolong the life of your pieces. However, their pieces are made with high-quality, tarnish-resistant materials that can withstand some exposure to water and sweat.
Does GLDN offer gift options?
Yes! GLDN has a wide selection of pieces that make perfect gifts, from personalized necklaces to birthstone rings. You can also include a gift message at checkout and choose from a variety of gift packaging options.
Conclusion: Is GLDN Jewelry Worth It?
So, after all of my research and first-hand experience, what‘s my final verdict on GLDN jewelry? In my opinion, GLDN is absolutely worth the investment for anyone looking for high-quality, personalized pieces that are both meaningful and stylish.
GLDN‘s commitment to ethical materials and practices, stunning designs, and attention to detail really sets them apart in the demi-fine jewelry market. I love that the brand offers such a wide range of customization options, from hand-stamped initials to birthstones and engravings. And with accessible price points and a lifetime warranty, you can feel confident that you‘re getting the most bang for your buck.
Of course, GLDN‘s pieces are on the daintier side, so if you‘re looking for bold, chunky jewelry, this may not be the brand for you. And while the vast majority of customer reviews are positive, it‘s worth noting that a small handful of people have had issues with quality control.
However, I feel that GLDN‘s stellar customer service and generous return policy more than makes up for any potential hiccups. And as someone who‘s been wearing GLDN pieces daily for several weeks now, I can confidently say that the craftsmanship and quality are top-notch.
Ultimately, if you‘re in the market for meaningful, stylish jewelry that you‘ll reach for time and time again, I highly recommend checking out GLDN. In my opinion, this is a brand that truly lives up to the hype – and then some!
Ready to shop? Check out GLDN‘s latest collections at gldn.com.
What are your thoughts on GLDN jewelry? Do you have any GLDN pieces in your collection? Let me know in the comments below!
