We tested Mejuri jewelry to see if it can withstand everyday wear — years later, we're still impressed

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When it comes to impulse buying jewelry, you're not likely to get a good return on those wiry, nickel-laced earrings. Shopping for affordable fine jewelry takes more intention. And that's why we like Mejuri — a brand founded on the idea that people deserve to get high quality jewelry for themselves without waiting for an excuse to do so.

As Mejuri co-founder Justine Lançon told Business Insider in 2018, "We design products we, our friends, and our community would actually wear. It's not just something you put on your Pinterest board for 'someday.'"

It makes sense to buy the "nice" version of jewelry basics — you'll wear them often, and own them forever. But besides the classics, Mejuri has edgy upgrades that cleverly blend in with the rest of your jewelry collection — like the robust Zodiac series, or hoop earrings ranging from classic to gem-set.

Why our editors wear Mejuri jewelry

Mejuri prices are remarkably affordable relative to the rest of the industry. You can buy a diamond, 14-karat gold necklace for just under $300 — not exactly pocket change, but still more accessible for Mejuri's demographic.

As for the quality of the Mejuri pieces we've tested, associate style editor Gabrielle Chase tried its 925 sterling silver. These are totally nickel-free, but aren't as tarnish-proof as pure silver. Still, after a weeks of consistent wear (even through showers and exercise), they've held up.

Our executive editor Sally Kaplan has worn Mejuri for years. She loves her Small Gold Hoop Earrings ($68) because of how small and dainty they are, and explained that "they're representative of Mejuri to me as a brand — they don't try too hard or feel fussed over." The brand uses solid 14K recycled gold as a way to increase the circularity of precious metals.

Mejuri also offers lab-grown diamonds, laid in conflict-free wedding bands like the ones you'd find from Clean Origin or Quince.

Here are more of our favorite pieces of jewelry from Mejuri:

Puffy Charlotte Huggies

I love statement earrings but can't stand the feeling of droopy earlobes, so Mejuri's Puffy Charlotte Huggies are a nice lightweight solution. They get their name from the French Charlotte cake, a spongy dessert with distinct bubbly ridges. These earrings also come in 18K gold vermeil and a slightly larger hoop version.

These are made from 925 sterling silver, with a high-shine finish that's not too brassy. This metal isn't technically 100% hypoallergenic the way pure silver is, but they didn't irritate my skin, and importantly, the metal shows no signs of turning green.

Mini Paperclip Bracelet

Mejuri's chain bracelet collection is a rotating door of chunky curb chains, smooth box chains, and dainty chains like this one: the Mini Paperclip Bracelet. I like its different sized hoops, which give it some subtle dimension. I chose to size up to a Medium so I can layer it with more bracelets and create a more stacked look, rather than pile them high at my wrist.

It's thin but the clasp is well-constructed, so I didn't have to worry about it snapping at the slightest tug. Overall, I prefer Mejuri's silver chain to the ones I tried from Ana Luisa. It didn't tarnish over days of wear, so I think it's worth the extra cost. It also comes with the same 2-year warranty.

Small Hoops

Diamond Necklace

Diamonds Team Ring

Stacker Ring

Curb Bracelet

Duo Ring

The bottom line

If you take a look through Mejuri's site, it's easy to see that success and customer retention were inevitable. Their data showed that over 90% of customers are purchasing jewelry for themselves, and since their launch Mejuri has had product waitlists of 100,000 people at a time.

Overall, Mejuri is a great option for fine, delicate jewelry you can wear every day and keep forever. And thanks to the direct-to-consumer model, it's affordable enough to buy for yourself — even without the excuse of a special occasion.