Is this worth $2.5K?

[Syilop]

Hi, I am really new to the world of buying jewelry. I am in search of an everyday necklace to treasure and wear alone, with no other topper necklaces. As diamond has no color, I was considering purchasing a diamond necklace, since it would match any colored outfit I would wear.

If you have any cheaper suggestions for a diamond or other type of gemstone necklace for everyday wear (preferably 14 or 18k solid gold chain), please let me know. I am quite slim, have slightly tan skin, and am in college. Because of my skin tone, I'd prefer gold jewelry.

As for this necklace, I have been in love with Kataoka jewelry for a while, but had never had the guts to buy such expensive jewelry. Please let me know on your thoughts of the price, if the karat weight and designer is worth $2.5K?

https://www.kataoka-jewelry.com/en/categories/en-necklaces/diamond-snowflake-necklace-victorian/


Thanks so much!

 

[PreRaphaelite]

Tagging @JPie since she is familiar with the brand.

 

[Bron357]

It is very beautiful and for many a Kataoka piece is a dream come true.
For others, like me, I prefer better value for my money rather than a fancy designer name.
The diamonds are wee, the chain is fine so the “value” of the components is a fraction of the retail price.
Is it worth it?
Only you can answer that for yourself.
Other options to consider might be a Diamond by the yard necklace or a solitaire diamond. Both these options will give you more diamond carat for your money but such styles are more “common” so you don’t get the exclusivity you get with a Kataoka piece.

 

[Bron357]

Have a look at @yennyfire listing under PS Pre Loved jewels.
It’s a gorgeous platinum vintage link chain set with diamonds. Currently priced at $2,000. Now that is a good price for such a beautiful piece.

 

[Syilop]

It is very beautiful and for many a Kataoka piece is a dream come true.
For others, like me, I prefer better value for my money rather than a fancy designer name.
The diamonds are wee, the chain is fine so the “value” of the components is a fraction of the retail price.
Is it worth it?
Only you can answer that for yourself.
Other options to consider might be a Diamond by the yard necklace or a solitaire diamond. Both these options will give you more diamond carat for your money but such styles are more “common” so you don’t get the exclusivity you get with a Kataoka piece.

Thank you so much for your input! I didn’t know that Kataoka was praised so much!

Do you have any trustworthy jewelry brands you could recommend for the solitaire or diamond by the yard necklace? I am scared to spend so much money on a questionable website?

Thank you!

 

[Syilop]

It is very beautiful and for many a Kataoka piece is a dream come true.
For others, like me, I prefer better value for my money rather than a fancy designer name.
The diamonds are wee, the chain is fine so the “value” of the components is a fraction of the retail price.
Is it worth it?
Only you can answer that for yourself.
Other options to consider might be a Diamond by the yard necklace or a solitaire diamond. Both these options will give you more diamond carat for your money but such styles are more “common” so you don’t get the exclusivity you get with a Kataoka piece.

Thank you so much for your input! I didn’t know that Kataoka was praised by the

Have a look at @yennyfire listing under PS Pre Loved jewels.
It’s a gorgeous platinum vintage link chain set with diamonds. Currently priced at $2,000. Now that is a good price for such a beautiful piece.

this one’s beautiful, but not necessarily my style for everyday wear. Thanks though! <3

 

[Rfisher]

If one likes the designer brand name, yes it’s worth it.

Oh my Kataoka!

I've been a huge fan of Kataoka since I first discovered his jewelry in 2014. I collected a few things here and there, and thought I'd share some pics. Please post if you have any of his pieces! First up, the crown ring. 0.68 ctw of rose cut & brilliant cut diamonds, set in 18K yellow gold...

www.pricescope.com

If you don’t care for the brand name and are on a budget, no I don’t think it is.
Would a little briolette be your style?

Shop Necklaces

Peace & Carat

peaceandcarat.com

Make sure you check out the neckshots

Or look thru here for something a bit less than 2.5k

14K Gold Fine Jewelry, Recycled & Lab-Grown Diamonds | Catbird

Catbird makes beautiful, ethically sourced jewelry & is home of the Forever Bracelet™. Shop 14k gold rings, necklaces, earrings, & bracelets.

www.catbirdnyc.com

I’m sure with some looking around elsewhere you could find something vaguely similar to the one you linked at not a designer price. But not the same.

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

If you're open to lab diamonds, I would check out Lightbox Jewelry (they are also sold at Bloomingdale's and they currently have a 30% off promo and if you sign-up for their e-mail you get another 15% off). The only downside is that their metal is usually gold plated sterling silver or 10K gold. You can also look at Vrai which has 14K gold.

 

[JPie]

If you go with a less expensive solitaire, would you feel happy wearing it knowing that you got more bang for your buck? Or would you still wish you had a Kataoka snowflake?

I think that should determine what you get.

 

[Volute]

Design is worth paying for, so I would say yes if you love the design. It's extremely delicate and lovely. The beige gold is unusual. Could you get more for your money karat/carat-wise? Probably.

 

[OdetteOdile]

I would love to own a Kataoka piece one day, so I think you should go for it if you love it and if it is in your budget. I think a delicate diamonds by the yard necklace would be a good option for you too. There are lots of threads with pictures on Pricescope so you can see what the necklaces look like in real life. Here is an option from Whiteflash that might be a good fit for you:

'Whiteflash By The Yard' Diamond Necklace | 960

Whiteflash By The Yard Diamond Necklace. Experience the allure of diamonds scattered like stars. | 960

www.whiteflash.com

 

[Syilop]

If one likes the designer brand name, yes it’s worth it.

Oh my Kataoka!

I've been a huge fan of Kataoka since I first discovered his jewelry in 2014. I collected a few things here and there, and thought I'd share some pics. Please post if you have any of his pieces! First up, the crown ring. 0.68 ctw of rose cut & brilliant cut diamonds, set in 18K yellow gold...

www.pricescope.com

If you don’t care for the brand name and are on a budget, no I don’t think it is.
Would a little briolette be your style?

Shop Necklaces

Peace & Carat

peaceandcarat.com

Make sure you check out the neckshots

Or look thru here for something a bit less than 2.5k

14K Gold Fine Jewelry, Recycled & Lab-Grown Diamonds | Catbird

Catbird makes beautiful, ethically sourced jewelry & is home of the Forever Bracelet™. Shop 14k gold rings, necklaces, earrings, & bracelets.

www.catbirdnyc.com

I’m sure with some looking around elsewhere you could find something vaguely similar to the one you linked at not a designer price. But not the same.

I am still deciding if the designer is worth it. I will definelty look around for similar styles for a cheaper price.. thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Syilop]

If you're open to lab diamonds, I would check out Lightbox Jewelry (they are also sold at Bloomingdale's and they currently have a 30% off promo and if you sign-up for their e-mail you get another 15% off). The only downside is that their metal is usually gold plated sterling silver or 10K gold. You can also look at Vrai which has 14K gold.

Aww, I don’t mind lab diamonds, but I would really like a solid gold chain. I will check out Vrai!

 

[Syilop]

If you go with a less expensive solitaire, would you feel happy wearing it knowing that you got more bang for your buck? Or would you still wish you had a Kataoka snowflake?

I think that should determine what you get.

Hmm, that is my biggest question right now. From far away, a solitaire necklace would look similar to the Kataoka snowflake, but up close, I feel as though the Kataoka snowflake would look more precious . Although, on the upside, I would be probably saving lots of money. I am torn.

 

[Syilop]

Design is worth paying for, so I would say yes if you love the design. It's extremely delicate and lovely. The beige gold is unusual. Could you get more for your money karat/carat-wise? Probably.

I agree. The design is very unique, and if I would get the courage to pay so much, I would probably enjoy its delicacy in design. I actually love beige gold, more than the traditional yellow gold, as sometimes, I feel yellow gold can get too bright.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Syilop]

I would love to own a Kataoka piece one day, so I think you should go for it if you love it and if it is in your budget. I think a delicate diamonds by the yard necklace would be a good option for you too. There are lots of threads with pictures on Pricescope so you can see what the necklaces look like in real life. Here is an option from Whiteflash that might be a good fit for you:

'Whiteflash By The Yard' Diamond Necklace | 960

Whiteflash By The Yard Diamond Necklace. Experience the allure of diamonds scattered like stars. | 960

www.whiteflash.com

Hmm, a diamonds by the yard necklace sounds interesting. I will check it out!

 

[JPie]

Hmm, that is my biggest question right now. From far away, a solitaire necklace would look similar to the Kataoka snowflake, but up close, I feel as though the Kataoka snowflake would look more precious . Although, on the upside, I would be probably saving lots of money. I am torn.

Also keep in mind that the Kataoka snowflake has a rose cut center, so unless your solitaire was also a rose cut, it will be a distinctly different look.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I will play devil's advocate. It's not the popular opinion or option.
I love the aesthetic of a Kataoka piece.
I will also never be able to afford an actual handmade Kataoka piece, so I am relegated to the knock off by necessity. Etsy has many aesthetic 'knock offs' that may fit your bill for a fraction of the cost.
It depends on your personal feelings and parameters as to whether that is amenable/acceptable to you.

 

[Syilop]

I will play devil's advocate. It's not the popular opinion or option.
I love the aesthetic of a Kataoka piece.
I will also never be able to afford an actual handmade Kataoka piece, so I am relegated to the knock off by necessity. Etsy has many aesthetic 'knock offs' that may fit your bill for a fraction of the cost.
It depends on your personal feelings and parameters as to whether that is amenable/acceptable to you.

Thanks for your opinion! I know, Kataoka pieces are all sooo dreamy. Etsy has many great options too, so I am looking on there too. This purchase is no piece of cake, it would be a significant bite to my wallet, so I am taking lots of time to think this through.

 

[Syilop]

Also keep in mind that the Kataoka snowflake has a rose cut center, so unless your solitaire was also a rose cut, it will be a distinctly different look.

Hmm, I see. Does rose cut diamonds shine less (not as much as regular roundcut diamonds) from far away?

Up close, I definitely love the timeless look to a rose cut diamond.

 

[JPie]

Hmm, I see. Does rose cut diamonds shine less (not as much as regular roundcut diamonds) from far away?

Up close, I definitely love the timeless look to a rose cut diamond.

They can flash a lot of color when you catch the light just right, but they’re not the same kind of sparkle as an MRB.

Here’s what the earring version looks like outside on a sunny day.

 

[Volute]

JPie, are these your earrings? I've never seen this designer's jewelry in person they look amazing here.

 

[Syilop]

They can flash a lot of color when you catch the light just right, but they’re not the same kind of sparkle as an MRB.

Here’s what the earring version looks like outside on a sunny day.

Wow, just wow. These are gorgeous.. if I had my own pair, I would wear them everyday! Just, stunning!