Gorjana Reviews: What are The Pros and Cons of Gorjana Jewelry?
Disclosure: ICONIC is not partnered with or endorsed by Gorjana in any capacity. This review is entirely independent and solely intended for customer education.
Gorjana is a well-known jewelry brand that offers both high-quality and affordable accessories that you can wear every day. If you’re wondering whether this statement is true then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we cover all the specifics as well as the pros and cons of Gorjana jewelry to help you determine whether you should make your own purchase.
About Gorjana
In 2004, Gorjana and Jason Reidel founded Gorjana Jewelry as a family business in Laguna Beach, California. The brand is mainly focused on everyday women’s jewelry, and its designs are inspired by Southern California’s natural beauty.
The Gorjana jewelry line blends sophisticated elegance with casual style that you can wear daily or on special occasions. However, the word that is most often used to describe their pieces is ‘layering’. Layering their jewelry allows you to create an endless array of unique combinations, letting you change up your look whenever you feel like it.
The brand offers both dainty and bold statement pieces, appealing to every sense of style. Each piece is designed in-house and comes in several different options for metals: sterling silver, rose gold, and gold-plated brass. They also have a fine jewelry range with pieces in 14k and 18k yellow and white gold.
Now that you’re more familiar with what Gorjana jewelry is about, let’s go over what they have to offer in more detail.
Types of Gorjana Jewelry
Gorjana Earrings
Comfortable and lightweight, Gorjana’s earrings are designed to be worn every day. They also come in all kinds of styles, from studs, hoop earrings, and huggies to climbers and more. All of their earrings are available in gold-plated brass. But if you suffer from metal allergies or sensitive skin, check out Gorjana’s fine jewelry collection. There, you can find all their earrings in 14k yellow gold – a pricier but more hypoallergenic option.
Gorjana Necklaces
As with most yellow and rose gold jewelry, Gorjana’s necklaces successfully tread the line between vintage and contemporary styles. Design-wise, some are casual and dainty and would pair just as well with jeans as they would with a pencil skirt. Others come across as elegant statement pieces that are perfect for a formal night out.
Gorjana’s necklace collection includes layering sets, chain links, gem necklaces, and astrology coin necklaces, among other unique styles.
Gorjana Bracelets
Most of the bracelets in Gorjana’s catalog are link bracelets, but you can also find some solid bangle bracelet designs along with a few gemstone and pearl options.
Just like their necklaces, Gorjana bracelets can be layered. Some are even sold in sets. Though good quality, you may find that gold-plated bracelets are more prone to wear and tear than other types of gold-plated jewelry. This is because bracelets are easier to knock about, especially if you work with your hands.
Gorjana Rings
You can find both metal-only and gemstone rings in the Gorjana ring collection. While some of the designs are minimal, others are unexpectedly stylish and unique. Bespoke Gorjana rings are also available, and engraving is another option for those who want to personalize their purchase even more.
Although Gorjana doesn’t have their own engagement ring line, some of their designs could pass for engagement rings if that’s what you’re after.
Pros and Cons of Gorjana Jewelry
Despite being a multi-million dollar company selling products in over 1,000 retail stores, and 18 locations of their own, Gorjana still has its flaws. Below, we’ve listed the main pros and cons of this jewelry brand to help you make an informed buyer’s decision.
Pros:
- Affordable mid-range prices
- Free returns
- Free domestic shipping in the US
- Good warranty policy covering the replacement or repair of broken jewelry
- Superior quality gold plating with an anti-tarnish barrier makes Gorjana jewelry fairly durable and long-lasting, which is more than can be said for other brands within the same price range
Cons:
- Gold-plated jewelry is often viewed as less prestigious than solid gold jewelry, which may put some people off from buying it
- Gorjana doesn’t have an engagement ring line, though you could wear some of their rings as engagement rings
- Despite being marketed as durable, some of Gorjana’s jewelry pieces are too delicate for everyday wear
Gorjana vs Other Popular Jewelry Brands
If you’re in two minds about purchasing from Gorjana, here is a comparison with two other popular jewelry brands: Mejuri and Baublebar.
Brand Philosophy
- Gorjana focuses on creating timeless, versatile jewelry that combines classic styles with modern trends, offering pieces for various occasions.
- Mejuri positions itself as a direct-to-consumer brand, prioritizing high-quality craftsmanship and sustainability while eliminating traditional retail markups to provide affordable luxury.
- BaubleBar emphasizes fun, trendy designs with an emphasis on personalization. It caters to a broad range of fashion preferences and offers pieces that reflect individual style.
Design
- Gorjana offers contemporary, understated pieces that blend the relaxed West Coast lifestyle with East Coast sophistication. Their collection features necklaces, bracelets, cuffs, and earrings in gold, silver, and bronze.
- Mejuri focuses on minimalist, everyday fine jewelry with designs that are often dainty and ideal for layering. They place an emphasis on gold and vermeil pieces, creating simple yet elegant looks.
- BaubleBar is known for bold, modern styles with a focus on statement and personalized pieces. Their designs cater to a playful aesthetic, offering fun and eye-catching jewelry.
Materials
- Gorjana primarily uses gold, silver, and bronze, creating simple yet elegant designs that reflect a timeless aesthetic.
- Mejuri focuses on solid gold, gold vermeil, and occasionally diamonds, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Much of their gold is traceable and recycled, aligning with their eco-conscious approach.
- BaubleBar incorporates a wide variety of materials, including metals and synthetic stones, to craft vibrant and eclectic pieces that cater to a more playful, bold style.
Price Range
- Gorjana offers pieces starting around $40, making it an accessible option for everyday wear with a focus on timeless elegance.
- Mejuri is priced in the mid-range, with rings and hoops starting at $50, and necklaces at $65, offering a balance between quality and affordability.
- BaubleBar provides highly affordable options, with prices starting as low as $12, catering to fashion-forward individuals on a budget who enjoy trendy, bold designs.
Gorjana Jewelry Care Guide
If you’ve already purchased from Gorjana, or plan to in the future, here are some tips on how to maximize the life of your jewelry pieces and keep them looking as good as the day you bought them.
Looking After Your Fashion Jewelry
Gorjana’s fashion jewelry range is plated with 18k gold and protected by an anti-tarnish barrier.
- Keep your jewelry’s plating intact by keeping it away from water, cleaning products, cosmetics, and anything that contains alcohol. Also, be sure to remove your jewelry before exercising, washing your hands, or swimming.
- To restore its shine, carefully wipe your jewelry with a soft, dry cotton cloth.
- Store your pieces with the anti-tarnish strip included inside your Gorjana jewelry pouch.
Looking After Your Fine Jewelry
Gorjana’s fine jewelry collection is made from 14k or 18k gold. With proper care, these pieces will not discolor or oxidize.
- Be cautious with your jewelry during workouts. Rings, in particular, can bend or lose stones when using weights, pulleys, or other exercise equipment.
- You can gently clean your fine jewelry with warm water and mild soap. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry it completely with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid exposing it to chlorine or cleaning products. While it won’t tarnish, this can reduce its luster or damage delicate gemstones.
- Gorjana’s fine jewelry is delicate and requires proper storage to prevent tangling, bending, or breaking. Keep each piece in its own pouch, separate from others, with clasps fastened, laid flat, or hung.
FAQs About Gorjana
1. What is Gorjana’s stance on sustainability?
Gorjana has made it a priority to reduce their carbon footprint with their Happiness Guarantee. This initiative aims to ensure that customers are completely happy with their initial purchase, thereby reducing the need for shipping products back and forth for returns.
They are also partnered with several local and international charities. Their team actively supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Baby2Baby, Dress For Success, Toys For Tots, and A Lending Paw.
2. Is Gorjana nickel-free?
While the brass bases for most of Gorjana’s jewelry do contain nickel, their yellow gold, rose gold, and silver platings are completely free of nickel. In other words, the nickel should never come into contact with your skin. This makes their jewelry safe to wear for people with skin irritations and nickel allergies.
Gorjana’s platings are durable and will last for years with proper care. However, the plating may begin to come off some of their more delicate pieces with regular wear. If this happens, you can always send your jewelry in for them to repair, keeping the brass core away from your skin.
3. Does Gorjana use 100% gold or is their jewelry gold-plated?
With the exception of their fine jewelry collection, all of Gorjana’s jewelry pieces are either silver or gold-plated.
4. Does Gorjana jewelry tarnish easily?
Gold does not tarnish, so all the pieces from Gorjana’s fine jewelry collection are tarnish-proof. All their other jewelry is made from gold-plated brass. These pieces won’t easily tarnish either since Gorjana uses 14k and 18k gold for their platings, which forms an anti-tarnish barrier around the brass core.
This means that you can only expect to see some tarnish if your jewelry’s gold plating starts to wear off, exposing the brass underneath. To prevent this from happening, simply take your jewelry back to the jewelry store for replating when it starts to show wear.
Fortunately, Gorjana’s gold-plated jewelry is well-made and quite durable, so it’ll be years before you’ll need to do this (provided you follow the proper care instructions).
5. What are Gorjana’s shipping and return policies?
Gorjana offers free standard shipping on all orders within the US, including Puerto Rico, and the transit time is 3 to 7 business days. The brand also ships internationally for a fee.
Perhaps their biggest perk is their 30-day money-back guarantee for any unworn jewelry.
Verdict: Should You Buy Gorjana Jewelry?
If you’re on the hunt for good-looking gold jewelry that won’t break the bank, then Gorjana could be just what you’re looking for. The quality of the craftsmanship, unique array of designs, and affordable prices all make the brand worthy of its reputation as a top jewelry store.
For all its highs, Gorjana also has its low points. Some of its pieces are too delicate for daily wear (despite being advertised as such) and its gold-plated jewelry will never be as valuable as jewelry made from precious metals. However, these drawbacks are largely outweighed by their reasonably priced products and excellent return and repair policies.
Overall, Gorjana is well worth checking out if you’re looking for a reputable brand that sells good quality gold-plated jewelry that you can wear every day.
Key Takeaways
- Gorjana offers a variety of jewelry made primarily from gold-plated brass, sterling silver, and rose gold, with a fine jewelry collection featuring 14k and 18k gold options.
- The brand provides affordable, mid-range jewelry with free returns, domestic shipping, and a strong warranty policy.
- Their gold-plating process uses an anti-tarnish barrier, ensuring durability for most pieces.
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