After having yet another ring tarnish (despite being marketed as "waterproof"), I finally decided I was done buying anything that wasn’t solid gold. No matter how much a brand promises a piece won't turn green or fade, there's only so much you can expect from costume jewelry. While it can be great for traveling or for seeing whether you'll actually wear a style before splurging on the real thing, most pieces just aren't made to last for years of everyday wear. As an added bonus, fine jewelry is also less likely to irritate sensitive skin since many reactions are caused by the base metals often found in cheaper pieces.








