From a young age, my mom taught me to look for the signs of quality. In stores, I’d check garment labels, vet zipper pulls and tracks, and examine jewelry clasps. And I still do.
But quality can mean a price tag that drops that jaw. I’m up for investing in nice things as long as the value is there, too, but that isn’t always the case—especially when it comes to jewelry.
A tasteful tennis bracelet that meets my standards for excellence without requiring that I take out a loan is pretty specific, I know. But after years of searching, I finally found it at Aurate.
Here are the things that make this particular jewelry brand my unicorn:
It’s the transparent pricing for me
It’s not every day you feel respected by a brand. I give Aurate major credit not only for being part of the conversation about how the fine jewelry industry’s markup is extreme, but for being an outlier in that industry.
Aurate maintains a direct-to-consumer and made-to-order model, keeping prices modest because there are no import taxes, no middlemen, no astronomical markups in the picture, and no storage facility needed for stock that’s waiting to be sold.
Aurate jewelry isn’t cheap, because it’s not made cheaply – it’s made to last for life. By comparison to their peers in quality (literally Aurate features nothing less than real and recycled gold, plus SI-quality diamonds when others do less), their prices are way more in line with what I need out of my fine jewelry.
Let’s hear it for high quality and sustainable diamonds
Perhaps the real star of this show is Aurate’s approach to diamonds. In the spirit of their no-nonsense approach, I’ll just say it: you have a responsibility to make sure your diamonds are conflict-free.
Aurate uses diamonds that are either ethically sourced from mother earth and adhere to the Kimberley Process, or that are lab-grown, bringing no harm to the people nor the environment.
This is not just how it should be—this is how it has to be. Aurate takes it a step further by ensuring all of their diamonds are at least SI-quality and near colorless, no matter the source.
Aurate’s metals are also ethically sourced and sustainably made, including 14K and 18K gold that’s 100% recycled (!), platinum, 14K gold-plated vermeil, and sterling silver. There is no part of this process that’s shady or dishonest, which has set a new bar for what I look for when I shop for jewelry.
My tennis bracelet is in bestie territory
On top of all the good Aurate has going on, the best part is wearing my bracelet. Everything in their Tennis Collection and beyond is made from durable materials that are meant to withstand everyday wear.
Yes, that means living your life, be it at the office or out in the world, and then coming home to shower in it, sleep in it—whatever you do, you can do it in this jewelry.
Without having paid an arm and a leg for this piece, I can enjoy it fully rather than feeling like it’s too precious or delicate to remove from my jewelry box. This bracelet was literally made for me and I’m going to let it shine.
And if something unexpected should occur with my bracelet, Aurate has a lifetime warranty, so I know it will be righted.
Imagine this: there’s more
I’m not trying to lay it on too thick, but it goes a long way that Aurate shares detailed information about their company’s diversity and inclusion efforts. They were founded by two women – who are both mothers, too – and are predominantly a female-run brand, with different races and cultures represented.
Together, this group of people makes a company that participates in tangible giving opportunities. Their current charitable action is supporting the developing literacy of students, a cause that everyone can agree is worthwhile and impactful.
Aurate is with me every day
Because I finally found the tennis bracelet of my dreams and I wear it every day, Aurate is never far from my mind.
My bracelet is more than just a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s also a representation of what it looks like to do the right thing as a business, from sustainability to cost transparency to diversity and giving.
I’m thoroughly an Aurate girl.
And I have amazing news - Aurate gave me an exclusive code because I love the brand so much, and I'm sharing it with you all. Use code FANFAV30 for 30% off it all, no minimum spend (legit better than anything they'd have on their site!)
