10 jewellery brands that are both stylish and affordable from Singapore

You don’t need to sacrifice your savings plan to sparkle in real gems and precious metals. Local Singapore and Singapore-based designers are creating affordable jewellery that’s also super stylish. You get real pearls, gemstones and precious metals like gold, silver and rhodium at prices that make it easy to hit “add to cart”. 

So how do they do it? Singapore actually has a long history of jewellery manufacture, so many of these designers have access to expert craftspeople who can handle tricky techniques like gold vermeil. 

This is an ancient technique where genuine gold is applied in a thick layer over real silver. Vermeil jewellery, also called “gold-filled jewellery”, is called “demi-fine” jewellery because it is filled or plated with more gold than cheap “flash plated” items. The gold layer in gold vermeil jewellery can be up to 1,000 times thicker than flash plating, so it’s much more lasting. Many of these brands also work with craftsmen from neighbouring countries like India and Indonesia to realise their designs using ancient silversmithing methods to craft well-made jewellery that lasts.

You may not have heard of some of these affordable jewellery brands in Singapore before, but they all offer the option of one-off designs or limited edition ranges. So you can be sure you won’t see your gorgeous necklace or ring on everyone else. You get the glamour of designer jewellery, at great prices. It’s the spirit of modern luxury.

Whether you’re looking for dainty rings, a dramatic cuff bracelet or a stylish gemstone pendant, you can find it in this list of affordable jewellery brands by Singapore designers.

1. Curious Creatures - for delicate pieces that will become everyday staples

Local jewellery brand Curious Creatures is all about modern classics that will stand the test of time. Founded by Larissa Tan in 2011, the brand offers demi-fine, 14K and 18K jewellery lovingly produced in small batches.

Choose from delicate rings, earrings and necklaces featuring pearls, diamonds, and gemstones for any occasion. Mix and match the brand’s eclectic pieces or create something truly unique with their bespoke service. Recent pieces that the brand has created include pendants with amazonite, rose quartz and labradorite—newer gemstones that are trending now. The brand also offers luxury piercing at its ION Orchard boutique, as well as permanent jewellery—custom-fitted bracelets and necklaces that are welded close with no clasp.

Prices: Ranging from $59 for 925 sterling silver ear studs to $899 for a 14K solid gold diamond ring and upwards for bespoke pieces.

2. Del Rio Jewels - for colourful, demi-fine jewellery handmade in Turkey

If you adore having a bit of colour in your life, Del Rio Jewels is the brand for you. Founder Henna Thadani is super stylish herself and great at conceptualising pieces that are great for layering. All of her jewellery is handmade in Turkey, using demi-fine materials such as gold-plated sterling silver and genuine Swarovski crystals, and you’ll find a curated mix of classic pieces—think snake chains and tennis necklaces—as well as brighter and more fun pieces.

Some brand favourites include the Ishq ring that features colourful Swarovski crystal, heart-shaped stones and the Tuyo necklaces that come in Swarovski-paved or plain, gold-plated finishings and can be customised with your initials or a short phrase.

While Del Rio focusses on demi-fine jewellery, it also has a DRJ Fine section (with pieces made to order in 14K solid gold, diamonds and semi-precious stones) as well as a new Vintage collection with pieces that Thadani personally sources from Istanbul and Florence.

Prices: Pieces start at $40 for an enamel ear cuff and can go up to $310 for vintage earrings. DRJ Fine is priced from around $250 to up to $2,300 for an emerald and diamond ring.

3. SOAMI - for engravable reminders on handcrafted jewellery

Launched in 2017, SOAMI (pronounced ‘sow me’) is the brainchild of Mindy Aletheia Chow, who has made it her mission to encourage intentional living and boldness through engravable reminders on her range of handcrafted jewellery.

The brand offers rings, cuffs, bangles, bracelets, pendants, earrings and mask chains in stainless steel and 14k gold vermeil, a bridal and bespoke fine jewellery line, Dion by SOAMI, that offers lab-grown diamonds, as well as a solid gold line.

Engrave a name, memory or seasonal reminder on your chosen piece—it’ll make the perfect gift for your beloved or yourself.

Prices: From $117 for gold vermeil earrings to $525 for a solid gold pinky ring. Prices for the brand’s one-of-a-kind rings start from $689.

4. By Invite Only - for subtle jewellery that goes with everything you wear

By Invite Only offers affordable designer jewellery that’s safe for sensitive skin. Founder Trixie Khong grew up with sensitive and eczema-prone skin, so all the designs at By Invite Only are made without skin-irritating nickel, lead, and cadmium.

The designs are appealingly timeless, so they don’t overwhelm you. Whether it’s brunch with your girlfriends or a Zoom business call, you’ll find a piece to complete your outfit.

Prices: Vary depending on the stones. For instance, gold Florence drop earrings are made from 14k solid gold and white sapphires and retail for $390. Find real diamonds under the limited edition gldsmth range, which features jewellery in 10, 14 and 18k recycled gold and diamonds. As a guide to price, the White Gold Diamond Bar Necklace is $1,200.

5. Green Gaea - for ethical and elegant pieces made from sustainable materials

Owner and founder Anne Healey started Green Gaea to create beautiful things and also to give back to marginalised communities in India and Nepal. Each piece in this line is handmade in India by artisans who have been displaced from their homes in West Bengal. Creating jewellery for Green Gaea has now granted them sustainable livelihoods.

Healey creates her pieces in small quantities to prevent wastage and we especially adore her one-of-a-kind pieces like rings and pendants that use vintage stones like turquoise and malachite. She sometimes gives free rein to the artisans to design these pieces, resulting in unique, one-off designs with an Indian aesthetic. The pieces are crafted from recycled sterling silver and finished with over two microns of 22K or 18K gold for more long-lasting finish.

Astrology lovers will like her dainty double-sided Zodiac charms on necklaces, while those who prefer more substantial pieces will appreciate her chunkier Himalayan cuffs that are embellished with stones like peridot, lapis lazuli and aquamarine. Green Gaea also now makes solid gold and sterling silver pieces on special order.

Prices: The collection starts at about $95 for sleek, jellybean earrings and goes up to $270 for delicate necklaces made from malachite, amazonite and moonstone beads that are paired with matching or contrasting stone charms.

6. MTJ by Marilyn Tan Jewellery - for meaningful jade and gems

Affordable luxe is the theme at MTJ by Marilyn Tan. Nephrite Jade earrings and pendants in modern shapes are super-versatile and go with everything from office wear to jeans. The jade comes from sustainable mines in Canada, where mining is strictly controlled.

The Minimalist Collection features sleek drop earrings and rings that are perfect for everyday wear. You can choose from 20 different cabochon gemstones with different meanings. A ring in pink Rose Quartz gemstone is used to attract love. Yellow Citrine gemstone is believed to attract prosperity, joy, and energy. The rings and earrings are gold vermeil or white rhodium. A rare precious metal related to platinum, rhodium is very hard, so it stays shiny much longer than silver. Rhodium is often only used for fine jewellery, but at MTJ you’ll find designs in both white and black rhodium.

Tan also does bespoke jewellery. She can take a piece of jade or jewellery you inherited and create a new piece you’ll love. To book an appointment, call +65 6222 4736 or visit the atelier at Eng Hoon Street.

Prices: Minimalist rings in yellow gold or white rhodium are $224, while earrings which come with stones like moonstone and amazonite are priced at $272.

7. Pearly Lustre - for contemporary pearls

Caroline and Wilson Tan use freshwater pearls, which are naturally produced in mussel shellfish. Each pearl is natural and unique, plus there’s always something new on the website because the designer duo create one new design every day, with natural pearls set in sterling silver and 18K gold vermeil.

The designs may be modern, but the designers at Pearly Lustre still follow some tried-and-tested beliefs. Wilson explains, “We use silver because it attracts negative elements from your body when you wear it. And pearls have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, to calm the spirit and beautify skin.”

In line with their belief in sustainability, Pearly Lustre also provides pearl jewellery cleaning, re-plating, and will restring pearl necklaces for customers.

Prices: Earrings start at around $88. Rings start at $108 to around $1,280 depending on materials.

8. Pyar - for inspirational and minimalist pieces

If you speak Urdu, you’ll immediately recognise that the word “Pyar” means “love”. Founder Nazneen Aziz says, “Jewellery has been the choice for people throughout the centuries to mark and affirm the sentiment of love, either as gifts or talismans. I wanted to continue this tradition with Pyar.”

Inspired by art, travel and nature, we like that many of the pieces are engraved with positive affirmations and take their form from natural objects. For example, the Love Shell necklace has the word “Love” engraved at the back, while the Breathe Shell Amulet has the reminder “Breathe” etched on the reverse side as well. Both are inspired by seashells and have a organic form and luxe finishing.

These minimalist pieces look great with a modern wardrobe or with a simple white shirt, and there’s an option to mix and match your chain lengths and types for the necklaces (cord necklaces are also available), so you can get the intended effect, especially when layering pieces. Signature pieces from Pyar included the Amanti collection that captures the texture of orecchiette pasta with each piece casted in gold-plated bronze. This comes in an elegant choker as well as in stud and drop earrings, and a made-to order, double-stranded bracelet.

Prices: A simple pair of heart-shaped stud earrings cost $65 while the Amanti choker necklace goes for $335.

9. Savage Archipelago - for classic and custom gemstone pieces

Savage Archipelago is a relatively new brand created by Rachel Lee in 2023. Lee’s ethos for the brand was giving a slice of affordable luxury to her clients, so they can enjoy a touch of elegance each day.

Each piece is handcrafted in the traditional method and the brand works with craftsmen in Bali to create 925 sterling silver pieces. Lee sources for beautiful yet well-priced stones such as mabe pearls from Indonesia, turquoise from Iran and Arizona, and black opal from Ethiopia. Savage Archipelago’s designs are timeless and minimalist, with stacking pieces such as skinny rings that are easy to mix and match within the brand’s pieces and with your existing jewellery.

Best-sellers from the brand include the Solo ring, a signet ring with a bezel-set gemstone; the 1950s earrings, which is a twist on the classic button earring and the Antipode, a choker-length paperclip link necklace with a cabochon set at the end of a T-bar. Currently the brand retails in pop-ups, at selected Crane Living stores and via its Instagram account. Visitors to its pop-ups are even able to hand pick gemstones of their choice to have them set in the brand’s designs. These custom pieces are made in the Balinese workshops that the brand works with, creating a new concept of “slow” yet sustainable and affordable treasures.

If you want to set stones that you have purchased from Savage Archipelago into 18K gold and fine settings, the brand partners with jeweller the Ministry of Gemstones to realise your designs.

Prices: From around $169 to $269.

10. Wanderlust + Co - for dainty and feminine pieces

Founder Jenn Low calls Wanderlust + Co “affordable luxe plated jewellery.” Fans call it a one-stop-shop for a wide range of designer accessories, from stacking rings to sparkly hair accessories.

The female-led design team creates new designs regularly—and they try them on in real life to see how they work. This ensures the jewellery is versatile. You can wear it anywhere from a trip to the supermarket to a luxury staycation. Designs are made in brass of silver, then plated 14K gold or rhodium, and studded with semi-precious stones and quality cubic zirconia, and every item has Wanderlust + Co’s signature feminine, yet slightly quirky feel... check out their ravioli lockets or croissant-shaped pendants.

Prices: Almost everything is under $159, with many pieces starting at $69. 14K solid gold earrings range from $145 to $155 for a single stud.

This article was originally published in Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.