I was in the market for a simple, everyday necklace—something affordable I could wear with casual outfits, perhaps even paired with my favorite men's fashion beanies for a laid-back vibe. The Zodiac Sign Necklace (Aquarius-Silver) caught my eye because of its incredibly low price. Honestly, my expectations were pretty low from the start.
I’ve now worn this pendant and chain set daily for exactly 90 days (three months). Budget jewelry like this often fails quickly, so I wanted to track exactly when and how it might break down. Below is my day-by-day assessment of its quality, plating, and overall wear and tear.
Before you consider buying jewelry this inexpensive, it’s important to understand the potential downsides. Here’s what I discovered:
The package arrived quickly and was presented in a small, neat cardboard box—a pleasant surprise. If you’re planning to give this as a gift, the packaging looks better than you might expect for the price. The chain length works well as a choker, sitting high on the neck.
The pendant itself features the Aquarius zodiac symbol. It’s very lightweight, and the material feels like a thin metal alloy rather than something substantial. That’s typical for extremely cheap jewelry. I checked for a material stamp, such as “316L” for stainless steel, but couldn’t find one. Without that marking, it’s safe to assume it’s plated brass or zinc alloy.
Initial Check: I inspected the jump rings and clasp closely, since those are usually the weakest points. They seemed decent initially, but I suspected they’d be the first to give out.
Verdict: It looks great straight out of the box. However, the thin material suggests the silver-colored coating may not hold up over time.
I wore the necklace every single day this week without taking it off—even in the shower and during gym workouts. This is the ultimate test for budget plating; poor-quality plating usually shows green skin within a week.
To my surprise, my neck didn’t turn green at all. The pendant remained shiny, and the chain held up well—no hair pulling or breakage while sleeping.
My main early concern was the delicate chain snagging. If you wear it constantly, you need a chain that can handle friction from clothing, like thick sweaters or layers such as men’s fashion beanies and scarves.
Action Step: Get into the habit of checking the chain’s connection points each night for any bent links.
Verdict: It passes the initial plating test and is suitable for continuous wear, but handle the chain with care.