An Unsponsored Review of Affordable Fine Jewelry From Quince

A close up of Alyssa's ear wearing a diamond earring and a gold hoop in black and white

Sharing an unsponsored review of fine jewelry from Quince.

On Instagram last month (or was it last year? What even is time?) I asked what Quince review you’d like to see next, and the results were overwhelmingly this: Fine jewelry.

So, as requested, I’m opening up my jewelry box and sharing my thoughts on the tidy assortment of solid gold jewelry I’ve collected from Quince over the past couple of years.

Note: this post is not sponsored and I purchased these items myself, however, this post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links (at no additional cost to you!). Thank you for your support—it allows me to continue bringing you reviews, ad-free!

I have to admit, I’m still somewhat new to the world of fine jewelry, largely only investing in long-lasting, timeless pieces within the past four or five years. I spent a good part of my teens and early twenties with cheap picks from mall stores: rings that would turn my finger green, earrings that would leave me itchy and red, and necklaces that would drop stones in a trail behind me. Helpful if my name was Gretel, but otherwise, disappointing and quickly discarded.

Then I moved on to gold-filled jewelry in my late twenties, spending a little more on each piece, but reaping the benefits of longer-lasting jewelry. But even that doesn’t last forever and now a decade later, I’ve seen some of those earlier purchases meet their end.

Now, firmly in my thirties, I’ve taken what is probably a well-trodden path into the world of fine jewelry by buying less and spending more on pieces that will certainly outlast me. One way I’ve been able to do so without busting my budget is by purchasing my jewelry from Quince, a brand with lower mark-ups (and a frequent subject here on this site).

But before we look at each piece:

WHAT IS FINE JEWELRY, ANYWAY?

At its core, fine jewelry is jewelry made from premium materials: think solid gold, silver, platinum, or gemstones. But even if you are new to the world of fine jewelry, you probably gathered that much already.

I’m not a scientist or metalsmith (though my good friend Ellen is, and she’s given everything here the green light!), so what I’d really love to talk about today is why and when you might choose fine jewelry over costume or demi-fine jewelry. In those categories, you’ll find materials like brass, stainless steel, synthetic gems, and precious metals overlaid or alloyed with other base metals. The result is a material that at first glance may be indistinguishable from its fine jewelry counterpart in all senses except the price tag.

Looking for more honest style reviews? Check out my index of reviews, sorted by brand

It’s why when you’re shopping for a ring, a gold vermeil ring might be one-tenth of the price of a nearly identical solid gold one. They both look the same, so why not save a little money, right?

Well, the reality is, that the vermeil (which is really just a fancy way of saying plated—though vermeil is gold that has been plated over silver rather than say, brass) ring might only last you a year, while the solid gold version should last you a lifetime. And if you have to replace your favorite ring every year, well, maybe you’d have been better off buying the version that will last in the first place.

This is not to say that I recommend completely avoiding these categories of jewelry—it makes sense to spend less on trendier jewelry that you won’t wear as frequently. And for travel, the bulk of the jewelry I pack is gold-filled. Things get lost easily when you’re bopping from one destination to another, and my general rule is to never travel with anything that would be too painful to replace.

That said, I do recommend splurging on the good stuff whenever you find a piece that you plan to wear as your daily jewelry or one that you intend to pass on as an heirloom. Classic designs are a great match in particular, as a simple pair of hoops or a gemstone-studded ring will never go out of style. Not to mention, fine jewelry can be considered an investment as gold generally holds its value.

With that in mind, I’ve ordered several solid gold jewelry pieces from Quince over the years, and look forward to using my favorites for a lifetime.

QUINCE EARRING REVIEWS

Bold Hoops

A pair of Quince gold hoop earrings in a jewelry box

I got my lobes pierced twice as a kid—once around age seven, and again a few years later to reopen the holes I’d let close. Even decades later, I felt like they never really healed. I’d wear a pair of earrings, take them out for the night, and then struggle to put a new pair in the following day as my earring holes had already begun to close again. My lobes were often itchy and red, seemingly no matter what material earrings I was wearing.

When these hoops arrived, I popped them in, and at first, my ears felt a little agitated as expected. But I persisted, and my ears calmed down overnight. And then I just… left them in for a few weeks out of comfort and laziness (kind of like when you accidentally stay in your pajamas all day, but more beautiful).

All these months later, my ear piercings are happy and healed, and I think it all boils down to buying solid gold earrings. I can get by for a couple of days in gold-fill earrings, but eventually, they’ll start to flare again. I guess my ears have expensive taste!

Okay, so the quality is good, but how do they wear? Honestly, these hoops wear like a dream. They’re super lightweight, and the hinge and closure feel incredibly snug and sturdy. I have zero worries about them falling out of my ear. Best of all, they’re just the right size for me—big enough that they have presence, but small enough for everyday wear. Prefer something even bolder? They also come in 15mm, 18mm, and 22mm diameters.

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14K Gold Single Huggie

A pair of Quince slim gold hoop earrings in a jewelry box

14K Gold Single Huggie
Color | Yellow Gold
Diameter | 10mm
Material | 14K Gold

Soon after my ears started to feel more healed, I went and got a third lobe piercing. Perhaps I was too confident in my body’s healing powers, but even a year later, that new piercing never quite healed (yes, Mom, I did leave the piercing earring in and followed the care instructions). At some point during that process, I ambitiously ordered a 14K Gold Single Huggie to wear in my new piercing once it healed.

Well, I ended up letting that piercing close up, so I caved and bought a second one of these tiny hoops (they’re sold individually) to wear in my second piercings. While everyone’s lobe sizes are a little different, I suspect these earrings would be a bit too snug for most lower lobe piercings and would recommend them only for higher lobe or cartilage piercings.

Just like the Bold Hoops, the closures on this pair feel nice and snug—and they’ve never agitated my lobes. I don’t reach for them quite as often as the studs below, but they’re a lovely and inexpensive addition to my jewelry box.

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14K Gold Opal Cabochon Studs

A pair of Quince opal earrings in a jewelry box

If you see these opal studs in stock, I highly recommend snapping them up, because who knows when they’ll be back again. I waffled way too long the first time and wound up waiting months for them to return. But I was smitten from the start with these vibrant studs, each one seemingly lit from within.

The long stud length makes them a good fit for any piercing where you’d typically wear a stud, but personally, I can’t comfortably sleep in this pair as they poke into my neck. That’s okay because this mineral is a little more delicate than others and probably shouldn’t be worn to bed anyway. Opals don’t like getting grimy or dealing with temperature changes (I can relate!), so you should also avoid doing anything too dirty or bathing while wearing these beauties. Opals are tenderhearted, soft stones, and handling with care will keep them from scratching.

If you’re looking for statement studs, these are a little on the small side for that. But they’re a nice compliment to a curated ear stack, adding a little light and color to your look.

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14k Gold Lab Grown Diamond Pear Solitaire Studs

A pair of Quince pear shaped diamond earrings in a jewelry box with an IGI card

A pair of Quince pear cut diamond earrings in a jewelry box

14k Gold Lab Grown Diamond Pear Solitaire Studs (no longer available, similar carat weight options in Round, Emerald, and Oval cuts, or smaller Pear cut)
Color | Yellow Gold
Total Carat Weight | 1.00
Stone Count | 2 x 0.50ct
Color | FG
Clarity | VS2+
Cut | Excellent
Materials | 14K Recycled Gold and Lab Grown Diamonds

Well, I guess I waited too long to publish this review because the 14k Gold Lab Grown Diamond Pear Solitaire Studs shown here are no longer available. But I still wanted to include my review of this pair today, as there are very similar Round, Emerald, and Oval cuts still available in the same carat weight, as well as a petite size of Pear cut diamonds.

I know people have ~opinions~ about lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, and mine is this: since both are identical in every way except their origin, I’m going to choose the option that is not only better for my budget but better for the people sourcing/producing them when given the choice. That’s not to say a lab grown diamond is ethically perfect, but it’s the clear choice to me when purchasing new diamonds.

Now—about these earrings. They’re simply stunning, and just the right size for my understated tastes. They read as “Ooo, sparkly” rather than “Why are you flying Spirit Airlines if you have this kind of money?” and that’s perfectly fine with me.

Though the setting feels secure, I will say it does seem like Quince used the minimum amount of gold necessary for these earrings to help keep materials costs down. I like the way this allows the diamonds to shine, but it isn’t necessarily a creative feeling design, apart from the cut.

The diamonds aren’t flawless (and you can’t really expect them to be at this price), but they are pretty darn close. Unless you’re with someone who’s wearing a jeweler’s loupe, I think it’s safe to say everyone around you will be dazzled by this pair.

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14k Gold Ball Studs

A pair of Quince gold ball stud earrings in a jewelry box

14k Gold Ball Studs (no longer available in this size, however a larger version is still available)
Color | Yellow Gold
Stud Diameter | 2.5mm
Material | 14K Gold

Well, phooey: these 14k Gold Ball Studs were pulled from the site before I could get this review to you. That said, a larger option is still available (for now, at least!), and I would expect the quality to be similar, if not identical.

There’s really not much to say about this style of earring—it’s perhaps the most basic of all studs. But this simple stud is a favorite leave-in earring for my second piercing. A slightly shorter post makes this pair comfortable for sleeping, and since it’s made from durable solid gold at an accessible price, I wear them while traveling without worry.

While I really can’t think of another perfect daily pair of studs for the price, I wouldn’t say they’re without fault. To me, the gold in these studs reads just a touch brassy. They could definitely stand to be a bit brighter, but who’s looking that closely?

QUINCE RING REVIEWS

14K Gold Diamond Line Ring

A diamond ring from Quince in a jewelry box

Call me paranoid, but I don’t travel with my engagement ring. But since I wear it regularly, my hand feels strange without it. After several ringless trips, I decided it was time to buy a travel ring.

I had a few requirements: it needed to be durable and made from solid gold, any stones needed to be flush so it wouldn’t snag while getting ready or loading my luggage into the overhead bin, and it needed to be gently priced in case of loss or theft.

My search led me to the 14K Gold Diamond Line Ring, a delicate band with six teeny tiny diamonds for a little sparkle. I waffled on size, but after using a ring sizer throughout the day, I landed on a size 5.5: loose enough to remove without much effort, but snug enough to stay secure on chilly winter days.

My first impressions were that the diamonds are tiny—to me, they appear smaller in person than in the photographs—and that the ring is incredibly lightweight. But if I wanted a more substantial ring, with more or larger diamonds, I’d be looking at another 70+ dollars. While I’m not opposed to spending more on something I’d wear at home, I’d rather spend a little less on a ring for travel.

But as these things go, I find that when I return from a trip, I don’t stash this ring away. Instead, I slip it from my left ring finger to my right one—it makes for a lovely little stacking ring, too.

WHAT I’M EYEING NEXT FROM QUINCE’S JEWELRY SELECTION

One of my favorite things about buying jewelry from Quince is that when you purchase two pieces of jewelry in the same transaction, you receive $10 in credit for your next order (or $15 when you purchase three pieces). I mean, sure, twist my arm.

While I would love to add a diamond tennis bracelet or a big, gorgeous diamond band to my jewelry box in theory, the reality is that those products are quite out of my jewelry budget. Not to worry—I’ve set my sights on a few more realistic picks for next time:

FINAL THOUGHTS ON FINE JEWELRY FROM QUINCE

While I try to keep an eye on what goes into my wardrobe by shopping consciously and culling what is no longer working for me, I don’t necessarily exercise the same restraint with my jewelry box. Jewelry always fits and it takes up very little space, so when I find a piece I like enough to justify the price, I go for it. That’s not to say my jewelry box overfloweth. Budget helps keep things in check (I’m always comparing the cost of a new piece to the price of a plane ticket), as does my taste.

But Quince definitely knows how to tempt me, with timeless fine jewelry at (mostly!) accessible prices. While a $10k ring is definitely out of my price range (imagine all the trips you could take…), it’s proven to be a great place to purchase durable jewelry for daily wear without busting the travel budget.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to reopen my third piercing…

If you found this review helpful, please consider shopping through my Quince link. There's no additional cost to you, but any commission received goes directly toward bringing you more free content like this without ads. Thank you so much for your support!

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Questions for you

What other Quince reviews would you like to see here (no promises, but I’ll try my best!)?

When did you start purchasing fine jewelry?

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Is Quince Fine Jewelry Worth It? My Honest Thoughts