Collections by Joya is a monthly jewelry and accessories subscription box for women. All items offered are 100% handmade by expert female artisans around the world. Proceeds from every purchase are donated to a women's charity.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Collections by Joya
The Subscription Box: Collections by Joya
The Cost: $49.95 a month + free US shipping. Save with quarterly and annual subscriptions.
The Products: jewelry and accessories, handmade by women from around the world.
Ships to: US for free, Canada for $14.95, and International for $21.95
Collections by Joya November 2018 Review
Most months, I open my Collections by Joya to find a card featuring a jewelry-bedecked model. It's always such great outfit inspo!
On the back is this announcement of some in-person opportunities to shop the Fall 2018 collection. It's printed like a postcard so I suppose you could write an address in and mail it to a friend if you wanted to spread the word the old school way.
As usual, all of this month's jewelry came tucked in a lightweight cotton drawstring pouch. I'm always on the edge of my seat as I open the pouch...will it be two pieces of jewelry this month or three? Will it be earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, or even a ring? Will it be items I'll wear or gift? So many possibilities!
Turks and Caicos Teardrop Earrings — Retail Value $58.95
This month it was just one piece: this pair of labradorite teardrop danglies. These earrings are just one of many items on the Joya site that are offered in multiple stone options (in this case, the others are moonstone and aqua chalcedony), and as has generally been the case for me, I would have preferred either of the other two stones over labradorite. While it does have a way of gleaming a beautiful blue-green hue when the light hits it—which you can see in the first picture—it just isn't as fun to style for me as colors are.
Do you agree that the labradorite kind of gets lost against my hair? That teamed up with the fact that I prefer gold over silver jewelry (though I would make an exception if I loved the piece's design) means I'll be gifting these babies. With the holidays coming up, there are a number of candidates I can think of who would love these!
$50 Collections by Joya Gift Card
This was unexpected! Instead of offering another piece or two of jewelry, Joya included this $50 gift card in my box. I have mixed emotions about it—part of what I love about Joya is the element of surprise, as well as the well-curated experience. This GC was printed on printer paper and isn't exactly the most beautiful sight to behold. That said, I knew exactly what piece I wanted to use this for, which is a pair of earrings I have been secretly hoping would turn up in my box one of these days: the Sonia Earrings. I'm pretty excited not to have to wait and wonder any longer! And, while I chose a piece that I had to add a little money to, there are a decent amount of options on the Joya site that are under $50. Here are some favorites: Orbital Earrings, Hexagon Studs, and Pyramid Ring. Keep in mind that standard US shipping is free on all orders, so choosing an item that's just under $50 won't mean having to toss a few bucks in for shipping.
One last thing to note is that this GC has an expiration date of "13/11/19," which of course is a nonsensical date. I'm not sure if that means it doesn't expire or if it's a typo or what, but I would say that if anyone else received this in their box, you should use it ASAP!
Here's a quick shot of the gift wrap that comes in every month's box! It's a cardstock squeezebox that arrives with a pretty piece of raffia ribbon. I've received a bright coral piece of ribbon for a handful of months, but they switched it up to silver for November.
Verdict: Well, this wasn't my typical Collections by Joya box, but in the end I'm happy! While I wasn't crazy about the earrings I got, they came with perfect timing for the gifting season. And, though I nitpickily (is that a word?) wish the gift card was prettier, it ultimately led me to order a pair of incredible statement earrings I know I'll wear often. This box costs $49.95, including free shipping. The earrings and gift card credit add up to $108.95, which is a higher value than many months' contents!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No. Order by 12/8 to get the December box!
Value Breakdown: At $49.95 for this box, you're paying approximately $24.98 per item (assuming you don't add money to your gift card purchase).
Check out all of our Collections by Joya reviews and more handmade jewelry and fair trade boxes and jewelry subscription boxes in the Women's Subscription Box Directory!
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What did you receive in your November Collections by Joya box?
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