Earrings for dinner

You decide to meet a girlfriend for dinner somewhere decent; you have a glass of wine, split dessert. 

That was fun! With tax and tip, you've spent $60, maybe more if it's Friday night and you decompress via an extra glass.

In the windows today, artisan-made earrings for the price of dinner or less, which is not to imply you shouldn't have that sympatico night instead of zhuzhing your longtime favourite jacket via new earrings.  

Let's shop the jewelry category I've dubbed Relaxed Real. (And given that so many readers are on watchful budgets, I'll be posting more often on Relaxed Real than on fabulous pieces.)

Relaxed Real materials are noble but sometimes the metal is silver or gold plate—just fine on earrings, which aren't subject to the friction of rings. You'll also see bronze, brass or other alloys, but even among less-costly materials, well-made pieces exist. I make room in the category for resins, glass and rubber and wood but not shiny-slick plastic, and look for well-executed jewelry-fabrication techniques such as joints, setting (versus gluing) and design quality.

Here too, you will find repurposed bits such as odd beads, or 'marriages', combining elements from salvaged pieces. (I dressed today's window with pieces from Etsy so that readers worldwide could access them.)

The use of bronze adds a sculptural presence to art noveau earrings; from Etsy seller Mocahete, who say these are very lightweight. I think they'd look enchanting. Price, $58.

Geometric grey resin cabochon earrings framed in antiqued brass provide quiet cool for the price of the entrée; $14.50 from Etsy seller picturing.

If you love your boho chic and want a luscious shot of colour, consider 1.25-inch hoops of solid sterling, hand-hammered and accented with 2mm blue amazonite beads. (Also made with other stones.) Price, $31 from Etsy seller ArtistiKat. 

Many readers applaud the beauty of glass; I concur! Glass briolettes meld gemmy colour with manageable price; the offerings from ilexiadesigns come in so many arresting combos I could hardly pick—but finally settled on fuchsia and grey dangles with (plated) silver setting; price, $28. 

You know I'm going to get pearls in here! This pair of silk tassel, cloisonné and seed pearl dangles display detail in the design and sophisticated contrasting colours. Also, it's fun to get a parcel from New Zealand! From ThePillowBook; price, $32.

Haven't forgotten you stud wearers: a smart, seasonal pair of art deco snowflake stud earrings made from glass cabuchons secured to stainless steel posts; price, $19. And you'd be Buying Canadian—from New Brunswick artisan WildWoman Jewelry.

Some of my own Relaxed Real earrings are worn more than precious pairs; it's all in finding a well-made, pleasing design. Each of these would sing as a Christimas or birthday gift, too. The only thing to check is the vendor's exchange policy, but if she admires your pair, I doubt she's sending hers back!