Video: The Cut; Photos: Hanna Flanagan
The unconventional shapes of Completedworks, a London-based brand that specializes in sculptural jewelry and ceramics from recycled materials, always stops me mid-scroll — so much so that I’ve gifted the recycled glassware to friends in the past. But I don’t own any Completedworks jewelry. Since it’s been on my wish list for years, I knew I wanted to test the brand’s summer jewelry capsule with Net-a-Porter.
The 11-piece collection is so vibrant and tropical that seeing the pieces in person made me want to pour myself an Aperol spritz or have a summer in Hydra (or Jersey Shore, in my case). It features bright colors and bold shapes, and the pieces are crafted from frosted resins, enamel flowers, calcite stone, and cast quartz forms. I tested five pieces from the collection (the Lime Cordial necklace, Iceberg’s Other Half earrings in blue and green, Iceberg’s Other Half necklace in blue, the Between the Tides earrings, and the Thick As Thieves necklace) to see if it’s worth the splurge.
I wore the green Lime Cordial necklace the most: with a white T-shirt and skirt to the office, with an old brown matching set (it’s no longer available, but you can shop a similar one below), and with a black string bikini and linen shorts for a beach day. The sculptural, silver toggle clasp is so beautiful and intentional-looking that I wore it in the front a few times.
The Lime Cordial necklace.
The Iceberg’s Other Half earrings.
I wore the blue Iceberg’s Other Half earrings with a white off-the-shoulder top to a happy hour at Parcelle. As a girl who slicks her hair back into a bun way too often, I know these earrings will become my new go-to. Both the green and the blue are gorgeous and really made my eyes pop. The Iceberg’s Other Half necklace is also big and bold but much easier to style. I wore it once with a light-blue button-up, left open at the top and tucked into Levi’s, for dinner at the Jersey shore.
The Iceberg’s Other Half necklace.
When I first saw the collection, the Thick As Thieves bracelet was the piece I was most excited about. It’s just as captivating in person as it looks online, from the deep jade green to the glossy finish and fluid shape, but I didn’t end up wearing it. It overwhelmed my outfit every time I tried to style it. It’s a dream accessory for maximalists, but if your day-to-day looks are more simple, I don’t think you will get much wear out of it. I also didn’t wear the Between the Tides earrings.
The Between the Tides earrings.
Of all the pieces I tried, the Lime Cordial necklace feels (and looks) the most luxurious. It has some weight to it but doesn’t feel heavy or uncomfortable around the neck. The calcite beads are glossy and smooth. The same goes for the Thick As Thieves bracelet, although it’s more lightweight. Even though this piece is made from bioresin, which is derived from renewable resources rather than fossil fuels, it still looks and feels exactly like standard resin. Both pieces feel sturdy and scratch-resistant.
The Thick As Thieves bracelet.
The Thick As Thieves bracelet.
The Iceberg’s Other Half pieces are also made from resin but plated in silver. The finish is rough and more matte-looking. The necklaces and earrings are both lightweight, which I appreciate as someone who has pretty sensitive ears. I wore the earrings for an entire workday, and they didn’t annoy me or pull down on my earlobes. The Between the Tides earrings are even more lightweight and comfortable than the other two pairs I tried.
The Thick As Thieves bracelet is very big and bulky (although I should note that I have weirdly small wrists). It sort of swallows my hand when I let it fall naturally. It looks best pushed up as a cuff around my forearm, but it doesn’t stay put when I try to style it that way and ends up sliding back down my arm after a few minutes.
Since it’s weighty, the Lime Cordial necklace has such a nice drape. My only complaint is that it’s a little too long to wear with true crewneck shirts, and the length is not adjustable. (It falls past my collarbone.)
The Iceberg’s Other Half necklace is adjustable, which I love — my favorite way to wear it is as a choker. The S-hook clasp is easy to adjust and not too delicate. Since the necklace is made of angular beads that vary in shape and size, it doesn’t always lie flat against the neck. That doesn’t bother me at all, though; it actually adds to the whole organic, bohemian look of the necklace. Unlike the string on the Lime Cordial necklace (which is knotted for reinforcement), the Iceberg’s Other Half necklace is held together with one small string, which is slightly concerning. It feels very durable so far, but I probably wouldn’t travel with it or be as careless with storage as I am with some other pieces in my collection. All three pairs of earrings I tried are well made and durable.
If I could buy one other piece, I would choose the Poppy earrings because I know I would wear them all the time, making them well worth the $284 price point. The Lime Cordial necklace and the Iceberg’s Other Half earrings are also worth it, especially if you’re a maximalist or someone who wants to incorporate more statement jewelry and color into their wardrobe.
At $284, I would skip the Between the Tides earrings; I love the pearl and clear resin, but the addition of the rhinestones makes it look less expensive than it is. The Thick As Thieves bracelet and the Iceberg’s Other Half necklace are both standout pieces, but I wouldn’t pay close to $300 for them — not only because the price per wear would be low for someone like me who tends to gravitate toward neutrals but also because the quality is lacking in comparison to the rest of the collection.
