I feel stupid when I think about how much money I wasted on cheap jewelry. I bought three different necklaces online over two years. They all promised to be "real silver" or "platinum plated." None of them lasted.
I spent about $150 in total. That money bought me green necks, faded plating, and broken clasps. I spent hours trying to find a good one. Every time, I just felt frustrated. I wish I'd found a reliable jeweler earlier. It would've saved so much time and cash. I want to show you the mistakes I made so you do not repeat them.
The biggest mistake I made was believing the price tag. I thought $40 was a good deal for a thick chain. It wasn't. If the price is super cheap, the quality is trash. These necklaces were only covered with a tiny layer of silver. This is called thin plating.
The cheap metal underneath reacts with your skin and sweat. That's why my skin turned green. The thin plating wears off in one week, maybe two. I threw away one necklace because it looked black and patchy after a month.
When buying mens necklace real silver, you need to know what to look for. Always check the core material.
Online stores love to use trick photography. They make a chain look massive and heavy in the photos. I bought a chain that looked like it would feel solid. When it arrived, it felt light and cheap.
It was supposed to be a masculine, strong chain. Instead, it was tiny. It was barely visible when I wore it. This is because they advertise based on feeling, not facts.
You cannot trust the words "Heavy Duty" or "Big Look." You must look at the measurements. The most important measurement for a chain is the millimetre (mm) width.
The three bad necklaces I bought came from three different unknown websites. If I had a problem, there was no one to call. I tried emailing once when a clasp broke. I never got a reply. The company just disappeared after they took my money.