Collections by Joya is a monthly jewelry and accessories subscription box for women. All items offered are 100% handmade by expert female artisans around the world. Proceeds from every purchase are donated to a women's charity.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Collections by Joya
The Cost: $49.95 a month + free shipping. Save with quarterly and annual subscriptions.
The Products: jewelry and accessories, handmade by women from around the world.
Ships to: US for free, Canada for $14.95, and International for $21.95
Check out all of our Collections by Joya reviews and more handmade jewelry and fair trade boxes and jewelry subscription boxes in the Women's Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
The card included in this month's box simply offers a little Collections by Joya About blurb and tells of all the ways you can shop their collections.
This month, all three pieces of jewelry came tucked in this cotton drawstring baggie. If you're familiar with this subscription box, or have read my previous reviews of it, you know that each month's shipment of goodies arrives with simple, thoughtful gift packaging in case you wish to pass any of your jewelry along. This bag is in lieu of the classic cardboard sleeve that I received the past two months, but I can also see it being useful for myself! I usually pack jewelry in a drawstring bag like this when I travel, so this will come in handy over the holidays.
Each accessory in this month’s box arrived in a plastic baggie for protection.
Kai Bracelet - Labradorite — Retail Value $58.95
The bracelet I received this month is so sweet and delicate! I'm often drawn to more statement-making jewelry, but the labradorite stone featured on this guy is so bold and eye-catching (these photos don't nearly do its deep tone and amazing iridescence justice) that it didn't feel too fragile to go with the rest of my style. The white and gold support beads add nice texture and shine, allowing for it to be worn dressy and casual looks alike. It would also make a great stacking bracelet; I can see myself layering it with all sorts of other beaded ones.
When I first laid eyes on it, I thought it looked teeny-tiny, but at least it's adjustable. In the above photo, I'm wearing it on the last loop (so the bracelet's diameter is as large as it can be), and it was roomier than I expected! I could even have gone several notches tighter.
Morro Earrings — Retail Value $78.95
When I first laid eyes on these dangly earrings, I really liked the look of their hammered gold hemispheres and hoop-like wires. I wasn't sure what the excess chain was all about, and wondered if maybe a coordinating necklace was stuffed in the same package. Turns out this pair has long gold chains hanging from each half-circle. I feel much less smitten by the earrings with this detail included, and actually considered removing the chains so the hammered part could stand alone, but I fear I'd regret it if I were to alter them from how they were intended to look. And, that hesitation to boldly go my own direction with clothes and accessories isn't like me! I think I'm tentative because I can't decide why I don't like the chains. Is it that they dress these earrings up too much for day-to-day wear? Is it that they make the look of this pair 'heavier'?
For now, I've decided to put these earrings among my other jewelry and see if/when I'm moved to style them. One thing I've noticed about myself is that when I purchase a garment or accessory that's meant for special occasions, I often end up building it into more casual ensembles at some point, or wearing it to work (where the dress code is very relaxed and encourages creativity), thus making it feel less special. Perhaps if I save this pair for truly fancy events, the chains will feel more appropriate and more special. I'd be curious to hear others' thoughts on all this!
Colmar Necklace — Retail Value $58.95 (found on sale here for $39.95)
Finally, I received this statement necklace. This is the first piece I've received in a Joya box that I just can't seem to connect with. On Joya's website, the Colmar Necklace appears to have beautifully variant wooden beads that coordinate with the carved horn well. My own sample's beads have more of a moody, gunmetal-ish hue to them that makes a jarring statement when paired with the horn. That's just my opinion, of course!
The horn itself, however, is gorgeous. Being of Italian heritage, horn pendant necklaces have a really strong connotation to me, though of course, this one is quite different. If anything, I love the nod, and it made this piece grow on me a little!
Of course, after putting all of these items on rather than seeing them laying flat, I instantly liked them all more! I don't think these three pieces are necessarily intended to be styled together, nor do I think they work particularly well in one look. I've been getting into wearing black a lot more often, and actually, I think a black top, sweater, or dress would have done each accessory a favor: it would've made the earrings and bracelet pop, and the necklace's thick black beads look a little more toned down.
Verdict: While this was my least favorite Collections by Joya box so far, I'm still blown away by the quality and craftsmanship of each piece, as well as the lovely curation of the subscription. As I've said in previous reviews, if I do decide to part ways with any of these items, I will feel confident and guilt-free gifting them to any one of the beloved ladies in my life, knowing the reason they didn't work for me was purely because they didn't fit into my personal style. The jewelry in this month's box adds up to $196.85 (using the sale price for the necklace). For a $49.95 box, that's an incredible value. The only piece that seemed overpriced to me was the bracelet, merely because of how simple it is. That said, I usually find Joya's jewelry to be on the high side of fair, so perhaps the price point for this piece is simply due to the cost of the labradorite and other materials. Overall, great experience!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Order by 12/8 to get the December box!
Value Breakdown: At $49.95 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Kai Bracelet - Labradorite: $14.96
- Morro Earrings: $20.03
- Colmar Necklace: $14.96
What do you think of Collections by Joya's November box?
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