Verdict: Kept – with real caveats. By Charlotte jewelry earns a spot on the Kept List for its consistently refined aesthetic and solid 14k gold-fill and solid gold construction, but if you’re expecting heirloom durability at every price point, you’ll be disappointed by some of the brand’s entry-level pieces.
Who Is By Charlotte -and Who Is This Review For?
By Charlotte is an Australian jewelry brand founded by Charlotte Blakeney, according to the brand’s own published story. The label describes itself as rooted in spirituality, femininity, and intentional design and based on browsing the full collection, that framing is accurate in a non-marketing sense. The pieces genuinely look like someone made choices rather than chasing trends.
The brand sits in what I’d call the “accessible luxury” tier: not costume jewelry, not fine jewelry in the traditional sense, but something in between that has gotten genuinely crowded in recent years. Mejuri, Gorjana, and Jennifer Fisher all occupy similar territory.
This review is for you if:
- You want minimalist gold jewelry that photographs well and holds up to daily wear
- You’re considering By Charlotte as a gift or a personal investment piece
- You’ve already looked at the website and want someone to tell you what’s actually worth buying
This review is NOT for you if:
- You want fully solid gold at every price point (you won’t find it here across the whole range)
- You’re shopping for statement jewelry By Charlotte’s identity is quiet and intentional, and that’s non-negotiable across the catalog
- You’re on a strict budget and hoping the lower-end pieces punch above their weight (they mostly don’t)
What Does By Charlotte Actually Sell?
By Charlotte is a jewelry brand that specializes in delicate, spiritually inflected gold and gemstone designs think fine chains, meaningful pendants, stacking rings, and subtle hoops. The brand describes its aesthetic as rooted in mindfulness and natural symbolism: lotus flowers, moons, evil eyes, semi-precious stones.
Based on reviewing the current catalog, the collection breaks into a few clear categories:
- Necklaces and pendants– the brand’s strongest category, in my assessment
- Rings– a mix of stacking-friendly and statement styles
- Earrings– hoops, studs, and drops
- Bracelets and charms– lighter offerings, more variable in quality feel
The brand operates from Australia but ships internationally. Based on our review of current catalog listings, pricing is presented in AUD with international conversion at checkout worth noting because the sticker price looks different depending on your currency.
How Do the Materials Actually Hold Up?
This is where By Charlotte gets complicated, and I want to be direct about it.
The brand offers pieces across multiple material tiers:
Gold-Fill vs. Solid Gold
A significant portion of By Charlotte’s accessible price-point pieces use 14k gold-fill, not solid gold. Gold-fill is meaningfully better than gold plate it contains a substantially thicker gold layer than a typical plated piece, which is why it resists flaking in a way that plating typically doesn’t. (If you want to confirm exact regulatory thresholds, a certified jeweler or the Federal Trade Commission’s jewelry guidelines are your best primary sources.)
That said, gold-fill is not solid gold. Based on owner reports reviewed across jewelry communities, gold-fill pieces can show wear at friction points clasps, rings worn daily, bracelets after roughly one to three years of heavy use. That’s a wide range, and your mileage will genuinely vary based on skin chemistry and wear habits.
By Charlotte also offers solid 14k and 18k gold pieces at higher price points. These are the pieces I’d consider actual investment buys. The brand is transparent about which pieces are which, which I respect you have to read the product descriptions carefully, but the information is there.
Gemstones
By Charlotte uses semi-precious stones labradorite, moonstone, turquoise, citrine, and others depending on the collection. Based on reviewing the product descriptions and owner feedback in jewelry forums, the stones appear to be genuine rather than synthetic simulants, though the brand’s published materials describe them as natural semi-precious stones rather than providing independent gemological certification.
For the price point, the stone quality reads as appropriate. These aren’t investment-grade gems they’re decorative semi-precious stones used in a fashion-jewelry context, and they’re priced accordingly.
The Chain Problem
Here’s a genuine con: fine chains at lower price points are delicate to a fault. Owner reports reviewed across multiple forums and community threads consistently flagged chain durability as the brand’s weakest point. Several owners reported broken clasps or kinked chains within months of regular wear. One owner described a dainty necklace chain snapping at the clasp after what they described as normal daily wear one data point, not a pattern, but it came up enough times across different threads to be worth flagging.
If you’re buying a By Charlotte necklace, I’d lean toward the heavier chain styles or the solid gold options for anything you plan to wear daily.
Five Signature Pieces Worth Knowing
Rather than describe the entire catalog, here are five representative pieces that illustrate the range:
1. Lotus Flower Pendant Necklace
The lotus is By Charlotte’s most iconic motif. Based on current catalog browsing, this pendant is available in gold-fill and solid gold variants at meaningfully different price points. The gold-fill version is the entry point; the solid gold is the one I’d actually recommend. The detail work on the pendant is genuinely fine not something you’d easily find at a lower price tier.
2. Evil Eye Stud Earrings
A consistent bestseller based on catalog prominence and the frequency with which they appear in community gift guides. The enamel eye detail is clean. These are the kind of piece that reads as considered without announcing itself exactly what the brand does best.
3. Crescent Moon Ring (Stacking Style)
By Charlotte’s stacking rings are well-proportioned and genuinely stackable. The crescent moon is the most recognizable design. Worth noting: owner sizing reports reviewed across communities consistently suggested sizing up half a size for comfort, particularly for wider knuckles.
4. Hammered Hoop Earrings
Not as overtly symbolic as other pieces, but these show the brand’s craft most clearly. The texture is consistent and the weight feels appropriate not so light that they feel cheap, not so heavy that they pull. These are among the pieces I’d call reliable daily wearers.
5. Labradorite Pendant Necklace
This is the piece I’d point someone toward if they want to understand what By Charlotte does at its best. Labradorite’s natural flash is difficult to fake, and the setting shows the stone without overwhelming it. Based on catalog pricing observed during our research, this sits at the mid-to-upper range of the pendant collection and in this case, the price feels justified.
How Does By Charlotte Compare to Competitors?
Let’s be honest about the competitive landscape, because it’s genuinely crowded.
| Brand | Material Tier | Style/Aesthetic | Typical Price Range (AUD Equivalent) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By Charlotte | Gold-Fill and Solid Gold | Spiritual, minimalist designs | Entry-Level to High-End | Buyers seeking symbolic and meaningful jewelry |
| Mejuri | Gold-Fill and Solid Gold | Clean, modern minimalism | Mid-Range | Everyday minimalist jewelry |
| Jennifer Fisher | Solid Gold and Gold-Plated | Bold, architectural statement pieces | High-End | Those who prefer striking, contemporary designs |
| Gorjana | Gold-Fill | Relaxed California-inspired style | Budget to Mid-Range | Casual everyday wear and layering |
Observed price ranges are based on our review of catalog listings in June 2026 and will vary with exchange rates and collection updates. Verify current pricing directly with each brand.
The honest comparison: Mejuri and By Charlotte are the most direct competitors, and choosing between them is mostly an aesthetic question. Mejuri leans cleaner and more architectural. By Charlotte leans softer and more symbolic. If you connect with lotus flowers and moon phases as design language, By Charlotte will feel more intentional to you. If that aesthetic feels precious, Mejuri probably fits better.
Jennifer Fisher is playing a different game entirely higher price, bolder design, solid gold throughout. If your budget extends there, it’s worth considering, but it’s not the same kind of piece.
What About Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing?
By Charlotte, according to the brand’s own published statements, describes a commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical production. The brand states that it works with suppliers who meet ethical labor standards and that packaging is designed to minimize waste.
I want to be careful here: I am attributing these claims to the brand’s published materials, not independently verifying them. The brand does not, based on my review of publicly available information, hold a widely recognized third-party certification like Fairtrade Gold or a Responsible Jewellery Council membership that I could confirm at time of writing. That absence doesn’t mean the claims are false it means that if ethical sourcing is a deciding factor for you, I’d encourage you to contact the brand directly and ask for specifics.
This is an area where the minimalist jewelry space broadly has room to improve transparency, and By Charlotte is neither uniquely behind nor uniquely ahead.
The Real Drawbacks (No Glossing Over)
1. Gold-fill durability is tier-dependent. The entry-level pieces using gold-fill are not forever pieces. If you buy a By Charlotte necklace expecting to pass it to someone in twenty years, buy the solid gold version.
2. The chain fragility issue is real. Owner reports flag this consistently enough that I can’t ignore it. Delicate chains are a design choice, and By Charlotte makes that choice aggressively. If you want something you can throw on without thinking, these chains require more care than the price tag might suggest.
3. The spiritual aesthetic is non-negotiable. If you’re neutral or negative on moon phases, lotus flowers, and eye motifs, By Charlotte doesn’t have an escape hatch. The entire brand identity is built around this language. There are no “plain” pieces here in the way Mejuri or similarly modern-minimalist brands offer.
4. Sizing variability on rings. Based on consistent owner sizing feedback reviewed across community threads, By Charlotte rings may run slightly small. Order with that in mind or check the brand’s current sizing guide directly.
5. Price-to-material mismatch at entry level. Based on our review of current catalog pricing, the entry-level gold-fill pieces occupy a price range where you’re partially paying for the brand’s aesthetic identity rather than the raw material value. That’s not a scandal it’s how fashion works but it’s worth being clear-eyed about.
What We’d Buy Instead (If By Charlotte Doesn’t Fit)
If the By Charlotte aesthetic clicks but the price-to-durability ratio at entry level concerns you: go straight to the solid gold tier within By Charlotte. You’ll spend more, but you’ll own an actual piece rather than a piece with an expiration date.
If the aesthetic doesn’t click: Mejuri is the cleaner, more architectural alternative with similar material tiers and comparable pricing.
If budget is the primary constraint: Gorjana offers gold-fill pieces at a lower observed price point with a more relaxed aesthetic. The trade-off is that the Gorjana pieces feel more casual and less considered than By Charlotte’s.
If budget is not a constraint and you want pieces that genuinely appreciate: look at solid gold from established fine jewelry brands rather than the accessible luxury tier entirely.
Customer Reactions: What Owners Actually Say
Based on owner reports reviewed across jewelry communities and published reviews at time of writing, here is an honest summary of the pattern:
Common praise: The aesthetic translates well from screen to real life. Pieces that look delicate in photos feel intentionally delicate rather than cheap in person. Gift recipients consistently respond well the packaging and brand presentation add to the experience.
Common complaints: Chain durability (flagged above), sizing on rings, and the occasional quality inconsistency between pieces in the same order one owner described receiving two similar pieces where one felt noticeably finer than the other. One data point, but worth noting.
Net pattern: Buyers who purchase with accurate expectations knowing they’re buying a design-forward brand with genuine but not bulletproof materials tend to be satisfied. Buyers who expect heirloom quality at every price point tend to be disappointed.
FAQ
Did By Charlotte make the KeptList? Yes Kept, with conditions. The solid gold and higher-end gold-fill pieces earn a clear recommendation. The entry-level gold-fill pieces are best treated as intentional fashion jewelry, not forever pieces.
Is By Charlotte jewelry real gold? It depends on which piece you buy. By Charlotte offers both gold-fill and solid 14k/18k gold pieces. Gold-fill is not solid gold it has a gold layer over a base metal core. The brand’s product descriptions specify which material each piece uses. Read them carefully before purchasing.
How does By Charlotte compare to Mejuri? Both brands occupy a similar price and material tier. By Charlotte skews more spiritual and symbolic in aesthetic; Mejuri skews cleaner and more architectural. Material quality is broadly comparable at matching price points, based on our review of both catalogs. Choose based on which aesthetic resonates with how you actually dress.
Are By Charlotte gemstones real? Based on the brand’s published product descriptions, the stones are described as natural semi-precious stones. They are not independently certified to gemological standards at the price points offered, but they appear to be genuine semi-precious material rather than synthetic simulants.
Is By Charlotte worth it as a gift? For the right recipient, yes. The packaging and brand presentation are genuinely considered, and the pieces photograph and wear well. Stick to solid gold options if you want the gift to have lasting material value, or lean into the gold-fill pieces if the aesthetic and presentation matter more than longevity.
