Would you wear diamonds from Argos?
Don’t laugh – its jewellery looks a lot like Tiffany’s . . . at a fraction of the price
REMEMBER the film Breakfast At Tiffany’s? Audrey Hepburn’s character dreamed her mornings away in front of the beautifully decorated windows of New York’s most famous jeweller, Tiffany & Co, longing for the day she could drape herself in its diamonds.
But the modern woman on a budget has no need to waste her days longing for a handsome — and wealthy — benefactor to bring a little sparkle to her life. Instead, she can simply take several large steps down the retail ladder to Argos, where the latest jewellery offerings look startlingly similar to some of the most recognisable items in those elegantly lit Tiffany display cases.
From the signature open heart necklace to the chunky silver ID bracelet, you can find lookalikes for as little as a tenth of the price in Argos. What’s more, many are made of real gold and sterling silver and even set with real diamonds.
‘The trend for classic, refined pieces is filtering down from the jewellery giants such as Tiffany, Dior and Hermes to the High Street,’ says trend expert Emily Seares, of website FashionBite.
‘Many of the lookalikes are so good that, unless you know a piece isn’t high-end, it can be hard to spot.’
To keep prices down, often High Street jewellery is made with lower quality diamonds or a diamond substitute, such as cubic zirconia.
‘Because these are not as rare, and don’t hold their value long-term, they’re much cheaper,’ says jewellery blogger Mellissa Williams.
Of course, a direct knock-off of a designer piece would be illegal.
Instead, High Street brands opt for ‘designer-inspired’ styles, which are not emblazoned with any famous logos (these are trademarked) and which do not reference the more expensive stores in their marketing — Tiffany has trademarked many versions of its name, the Tiffany blue box and the Tiffany shade of blue, for example.
Some very distinctive design elements are also copyrighted as the artist’s personal work, but High Street jewellers can make use of design elements and styles that are in the public domain to create something rather similar — and at a refreshingly cheap price.
So, is there a way to ensure your cheap-as- chips jewellery doesn’t look, well, as if you ordered it from a catalogue?
‘Avoid yellow gold, which can make a piece look cheap if it’s plated or is a low karat,’ says Emily. ‘Instead, go for silver or rose gold — rose gold is a huge trend at the moment, is flattering on all skin tones and looks far less obvious than yellow gold.’
It’s important to know what you’re buying, too. ‘Tiffany has a reputation to uphold, so the quality and workmanship is high,’ says Mellissa.
‘ High Street jewellery often doesn’t have that workmanship, so pick wisely and look for silver and gold hallmarks to ensure quality.’
So, can you spot the difference between a Tiffany trinket and Argos’s best effort?