In this economy, it’s all about finding the deals and thanks to TikTok, there’s no more gatekeeping in 2024. The good deals aren’t just for the savviest shoppers and the coupon clippers. I love a good deal, a good designer dupe, hey I even buy TK at the grocery store. But I don’t have time to check the circulars and shop around like our mothers did. I prefer to stalk social media (where I’m already spending my free time) for these rare, but truly amazing finds. And my latest discovery that is worth telling you about involves designer jewelry brand Van Cleef and your favorite place to spend a Saturday afternoon—TJ Maxx!
TJ Maxx customers including myself are having a heyday with the discovery that the discount chain has a not-so-secret section of designer jewelry knock offs. and that you can find Van Cleef dupes there. Yes. We were today years old when we learned that in addition to bougie candles and summer dresses, you can actually find necklaces, bracelets, rings and more that are almost identical dupes of Cartier, Van Cleef and more there. Thanks to TikTok, we learned that the “designer lookalike” jewelry area is full of really cheap—like under $30—plated jewelry pieces inspired by the luxury diamonds and gold ones you’ve been obsessing about getting for years.
I was doing my usual before-bed TikTok scroll when I discovered this viral post from user @mandy.willardd calling out her recent amazing find at the store: a $24 Van Cleef Alhambra look-alike necklace. Immediately, the Maxxinistas flew to the comments to confirm that yes, they’ve found really good cheap jewelry dupes at the store. This is not a drill people! We can’t wait to shop the newly-discovered section of the store. Here’s everything you need to know:
TJ Maxx Jewelry Section
TJ Maxx superfans know that you can purchase luxury items, including designer clothing and accessories, at significantly reduced prices at the store. It’s the main appeal of TJ Maxx, their buyers broker deals with the brands to get top labels and trendy pieces you actually want at the moment for majorly reduced prices. They have everything from sneakers and purses, to candles and home decor, kids stuff and more. You can walk into a TJ Maxx with an empty cart and leave with some incredible finds, including your favorite brands that you didn’t even know they sold there. Also, since they are constantly changing out the inventory, it’s becomes like a treasure hunt experience every time you stop by. Aka, it’s heaven!
Shoppers may get distracted by the clothing racks you encounter when you first walk in the store because they typically have the latest, aka the most covetable, finds. But if you go a little deeper, you will find the jewelry case. Inside the case are fine jewelry pieces from designer brands, like the 24K gold, the diamonds, the actual designer logos. But right in that vicinity, there is a “designer alikes” section where you can find the plated pieces that are under $30 replicas of the designers. This is where you can really keep your spending light. Buyer beware: because this jewelry is cheap and oftentimes plated, it is not waterproof. If you wear it everyday including in the shower, it will lose the plating and can even tarnish your skin.
Van Cleef Alhambra Dupe
Van Cleef & Arpels introduced their iconic Alhambra necklace, featuring a single clover pendant, in 1968 and it immediately became a statement necklace for the rich. The original will run you upwards of $2,300, but thanks to relaxed trademark rules for fashion, the piece is often imitated. You can find a cheaper clover necklace everywhere from Amazon to Temu. But the catch is that you never really know how good the dupe will look in person, if the detailing, or lack thereof, will make it a dead giveaway that it’s a fake, and whether it will start turning your skin green as soon as you wear it. The original necklaces are made of real gold, diamonds and either mother-of-pearl, onyx, or other precious stones. The knock-offs are often plated and the precious stones can be made from anything from glass to plastic. Yikes! It’s very rare to find a Van Cleef dupe that’s good quality, and that’s why I’m shouting this TJ Maxx item from the roof tops.
@mandy.willardd who was going to tell me this…. @TJ Maxx #tjmaxx #tjmaxxfinds #fyp #jewelry original sound – Mandy
TikTok Discovery
TikTok user Mandy, known as @mandy.willardd to her 65,000 followers, recently revealed a surprising discovery: luxury jewelry items at TJ Maxx that won’t break the bank.
“Did you know this about TJ Maxx?” she exclaimed in a video that’s garnered over 285K views. “I just found out today that their jewelry case has real gold, real diamonds, real designer pieces — like Gucci.”
She added, with a wink, “They also have a section of ‘designer’ look-alikes,” while showcasing a necklace resembling the Van Cleef Alhambra Pendant Necklace.
“This was $24,” she shared, noting that the store also offers matching bracelets, earrings, and rings. “Are you kidding?” she scoffed, not believing what she had found. And neither could her followers.
Fan Reactions
Fans were quick to react to Mandy's find in the comment section. Many were thrilled to learn of her discovery; "Such a good find OMG," wrote one fan, and "The way I hoped it was Van Cleef and you delivered" chimed another.
Some confirmed that they, too, knew about this incredible jewelry section and had found great finds there, too. "I got 14K gold earrings for $16" boasted one fan; "I buy their jewelry all the time and it’s good quality for the price," confirmed another.
Hilariously, some commenters reprimanded Mandy for putting the jewelry section on blast to her followers, since it will be make it more competitive to find the goods there for those who are already wise to the deals. "It's ok to gatekeep sometimes," teased one angry fan; 'Shhh!' wrote another "Stop giving up our secrets," added a third. Their loss is our gain!
