Ballpark Estimate: $25 to $175 per month
Do you wish you could change your jewelry as easily as you change your outfit? Maybe a beautiful gold Chanel necklace would be the perfect accent with your black cocktail dress, while two-carat diamond earrings and a hefty tennis bracelet would be great complements for your long red dress. And a thick silver chain would set off your patterned wrap dress.
Imagine if these and a host of other jewelry items you admire were right at your fingertips, so you could change your accessories at a whim, without even considering the cost to buy them.
Well, now you can have access to whatever jewelry your heart desires, thanks to several online companies that rent designer and costume jewelry pieces for a monthly or per-piece fee. This is a lot less expensive than purchasing the jewelry straight out, and it also means you can wear a wide variety of items and then trade them in for new choices when the mood for something fresh hits.
If Renting Bling Is Your Thing
The concept of borrowing jewelry is not a new one. In fact, it’s fairly common practice for celebrities to borrow outrageously expensive necklaces, bracelets, earrings and even jeweled purses and hair clips from high-end suppliers to set off their gowns for special events. In addition, stylists for movies and television shows often borrow jewelry for their clients. But until recently, the general public hasn’t had access to borrow such items, except perhaps from very generous family members and friends.
Enter a new trend of companies that do just this—rent jewelry to ordinary women who appreciate the finer things in life even if they don’t have the budget to own them.
Of course, keep in mind that the idea of renting out jewelry is built on an important premise: that even women who can afford their own luxury jewelry collection can get tired after a while of wearing the same pieces and wish they could add some new items to the mix. This is usually true not only of jewelry, but also of purses, belts and other accessories. That’s why some companies also include these items in their inventory for members to select.
How It Works
Most companies that rent jewelry post their inventory online so you can browse through their choices right from your computer and see what you’d like to try. Keep Cost To Rent Jewelryin mind that different companies offer different types of selections, so you want to look around and see whose items best match your taste and your interests. You can locate such companies easily doing general keyword searches. On the companies’ websites, you will find everyday items, such as basic silver, gold, platinum and costume pieces, as well as fine designer items. Some companies are focused more on dressy, special-occasion items, while others provide a broader range of pieces appropriate for everyday wear. If you know and like styles by Gucci, Vera Wang, Rosiblu and David Yurman, look for sites that feature these higher-end items. If vintage is your thing, you can also shop for prestigious classic items, which are available on a more limited basis.
Generally, no matter which style and company you choose, you will need to join their service in order to have access to their collections. The finer the jewelry, the more you can assume membership will cost.
Once you join a service that meets your needs, you can usually select anywhere from one piece at a time up to three or more items to have in your possession, depending on the terms of the site. The items you select are shipped right to your address, and some sites let you keep the pieces for as long as you’d like, while others limit you to two days at a time and then charge hefty late fees after that. Also keep in mind that most companies will secure the value of the item against your credit card until the piece is returned to them safely. This is standard practice.
Benefits of Borrowed Items
If you like to wear a new dress and new accessories for every occasion and would never consider wearing the same thing twice, then a jewelry rental service just might make sense. It will allow you to stay on top of the latest trends and incorporate the latest jewelry styles and shapes into your wardrobe. Further, renting jewelry is a great way to impress, since others will be amazed at how often you show up in beautiful new items. If you work in a high-profile setting, this is an easy way to allow you to establish yourself as a successful trendsetter. Keep in mind that not all of the sites rent out real jewels and diamonds, but some specialize in high-quality faux stones that look like the expensive items but without the high cost. These are the most cost-effective way to go if you have big eyes but a limited cash flow.
You should also know that the most popular designer pieces, such as Chanel and Gucci jewelry, often have a waiting list, so be patient if you want to borrow these and similar items.
If during the rental process you fall in love with an item, some of the companies will make provisions to sell the piece at a discounted price. Further, several companies provide incentives for customers to spend more money with them, and offer rewards points that can be applied toward future rentals and purchases on the site.
Cost to Rent
There are a range of companies and different fee structures, so the cost to rent jewelry varies a great deal.
A few sites start at an annual fee that comes out to about $5 a month, but they may charge an additional rental item per piece. These fees can be assessed on a weekly, or monthly, basis, depending on your needs and preferences. They can range from about $10 a week to rent a simple pair of gold earrings or a necklace to about $1,500 for a diamond necklace.
Other sites offer a variety of membership levels with the rental prices included in the fixed-rate fee.
A fixed monthly rate for jewelry rentals can range from $25 a month for casual items to $175 a month for couture pieces.
The price rate you select usually dictates how many pieces you can borrow at one time, how many rentals you are entitled to per month, and what quality of jewelry items you can access.
It’s also important to note that some sites charge late fees, while others let you keep items as long as you’d like. In addition, some include shipping both ways in their membership fee, while others tack on another $10 for each round-trip shipment.
If you are looking for a great item for a special event but don’t plan to use a rental service on a regular basis, be sure to check out the company’s policy before you join. Some companies require a minimum three-month commitment. Others allow guests to rent jewelry without joining the site. In this case, you can expect to pay more for the actual rental charge, but at least you won’t have an ongoing monthly expense, so for a one-time, short-term lease, you may come out ahead in the end.
Finally, when you rent jewelry, you run the risk that the item could be lost or damaged beyond repair and you will be held liable for the value. That being said, most companies have a liberal policy and won’t charge you for regular wear and tear, only significant amounts of damage that indicate that you were careless.
Is It Really Worth It?
Whether renting jewelry truly makes sense really depends on the person. For some women who constantly need to have new items, this is a great way to exercise their inner fashion diva without having to go broke in the process. But keep in mind that if you are going after the high-end (i.e., more costly) items, what you will to pay to rent the piece for a month or two might end up being more than you would invest in a quality item that could be yours to keep.