I Wear-Tested En Route’s Viral, Under-$50 Jewelry—Now I Get Why My Favorite Celebs Love It

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.Hearst OwnedWhat do Bella Hadid, Doechii, Camila Cabello, and Lola Tung all have in common? They’re all known for killing it on the carpet, yes—but once the cameras went down, I took notice that they’ve each been wearing the same under-$100 jewelry brand.It might surprise you that some of the biggest stars in entertainment are wearing budget-friendly baubles. But after adding a few choice accessories from the brand to my own collection, I have to admit: En Route has some of the trendiest, most compliment-garnering jewelry the internet has to offer. (And, let’s face it: it doesn’t hurt that it costs less than the price of my favorite takeout.)Shop En Route JewelryAhead, I’m giving my honest review on En Route’s most popular pieces after months of wear-testing in my everyday jewelry rotation. Keep reading for the rundown on this viral, celebrity-loved brand—including the affordable pieces I think are worth it.Jump to:How I TestedNecklacesRingsEarringsBracelets and Body JewelryThe Final VerdictHow I Tested As an editor who’s been covering jewelry trends for years, I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical when I saw the price tag. In my experience, $30 jewelry either (A) turns your skin a sickly shade of green, or (B) tarnishes to an unbecoming rust color in a matter of weeks. That’s why I wanted to put En Route’s pieces to the test. I wore them to work, regularly washed my hands with them, kept them on for sweaty outdoor runs while marathon training, and even accidentally showered in them a time or two. (Ya know, the normal wear and tear that your jewelry is going to experience throughout its lifetime.)The brand claims its jewelry is hypoallergenic, meaning that it’s lead- and nickel-free and should be safe for shoppers with sensitive skin. Its gold-plated jewelry is also three times thicker than industry standard, according to its FAQ section, which means it’s designed to last longer than competing budget brands—a claim I was excited to put to the test.Without spoiling my full review, here’s the TL;DR: if you want to shop trendy, unique pieces that show off your personal style, you should be running to add En Route to your collection.Samantha Jones for CosmopolitanA quick note about gold-plated jewelryBefore we dive in, it’s worth noting that all of En Route’s jewelry is gold-plated—not solid gold. What does this mean? The base of the jewelry is made from an inexpensive metal, like brass or stainless steel, and then a very thin layer of gold is electroplated on top. This gives the look of real gold without the price tag.As you might expect, gold-plated jewelry isn’t nearly as long-lasting as solid gold and silver; the thin layer will eventually rub off, particularly on jewelry like rings or bracelets that receive a lot of wear and tear. In my experience, standard gold-plated jewelry will begin fading or tarnishing within one to three years. To ensure the longevity of your jewelry, En Route recommends avoiding water and chemicals like makeup or perfume (though showering every once in a while is A-okay)—and they even have an entire section of their site for waterproof jewelry that’s safe to get wet.NecklacesI’m not exaggerating when I say that I receive at least one compliment every time I wear one of my necklaces from En Route. Over the summer, I found myself reaching for the Infinity Choker almost every day, since its colorful beads glimmer in the sunshine and look great with a simple white tank top or sundress. These days, I’m spicing up turtlenecks and basic tees with this vintage-inspired collar necklace that looks like a family heirloom but costs less than $40.After several months of frequent wear, both of my picks have held up without so much as a smudge. Just note that neither is advertised as being waterproof, so I’d definitely avoid wearing them in the shower or during a workout to keep them looking shiny and new for as long as possible.Wearing the Infinity choker necklaceSamantha Jones for CosmopolitanWearing the Venus collar necklaceSamantha Jones for CosmopolitanRingsUpon first glance, I was immediately impressed by how unique En Route’s ring selection is—and after testing them for a few months, I’ve become even more of a fan. The selection is basically perfect if you’re looking to shop personality-driven pieces that express your unique style. Take Bella Hadid, for example. The star was spotted doubling up with the Wonder Pearl ring on multiple fingers, showing off the chunky sculptural bezel and a pretty faux pearl inside. Or, consider Lola Tung’s stack of hammered silver rings—a master class in simple yet effective ring stacking.courtesy of En RouteBella Hadid wearing the Wonder Pearl ring in gold.courtesy of En RouteLola Tung wearing the Mila ring, Grace ring, and Trinity ring in silver.I, on the other hand, found myself enamored by the Mojave Buckle ring. It runs a little bit small, but I love the subtle Western flair it adds to any look. The brand recommends keeping its rings out of water as much as possible, but even with regular hand-washing, I haven’t noticed any tarnishing or fading so far.Wearing the Mojave ring and Amelie ringSamantha Jones for CosmopolitanEarringsAs someone with multiple piercings, I’m here to tell you that you can never have too many earrings. The greatest perk I found while testing En Route’s earring selection is just how lightweight they are—which is essential if you want to be comfortable all day and avoid stretching out your piercings. Despite sturdy-looking shapes and ornate details, the earrings I tested were feather-light and virtually unnoticeable all day long.Possibly my favorite jewelry piece I tested from the brand were these Star earrings. They garnered multiple compliments from friends and strangers alike, and people were shocked when I told them they cost just $22. What’s more, the stainless steel material doesn’t irritate my ears and this pair just so happens to be waterproof.Wearing the Star earrings in silverThe Star earrings in silverSamantha Jones for CosmopolitanBella Hadid wearing the Silent Drop earrings in gold.courtesy of En RouteLola Tung wearing the Clio earrings in silver.Courtesy of En RouteMy only word of caution: while the earrings look expensive, their lightweight construction makes them feel a little cheap in your hands. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me since they’ve held up flawlessly so far, but don’t expect them to have the same heft and quality of your pricey solid gold studs.Bracelets and Body JewelryI’m not a big bracelet person. There’s something about the feeling of jewelry sliding and clanking around on my wrists that really bothers me—so it’s a rare occasion when I decide to put one on. But for the sake of this review, I tested the Athena bracelet and the Harmonic Hour watch, and honestly? I kinda loved them.While I’m still not a fan of the clinking feeling, I loved the colored gemstone details that glittered in direct light and added a cool-girl flair with virtually zero effort. The lightweight construction makes them almost unnoticeable throughout the day, so I didn’t notice them as much as hefty bangles. Bonus points for the fact that they’re pretty easy to put on and take off by yourself, since they have simple clasps and T-bar closures. There’s even body jewelry and hand chains for more ways to personalize your jewelry stack.The Final VerdictAfter several months of constant wear-testing, I’m convinced: En Route is one of the best affordable jewelry brands on the market if you’re looking for cute, trendy, and personality-driven pieces. The wide selection of options—ranging from chunky statement pieces to wearable basics in both gold and silver—makes it super easy to express your personal style without dropping hundreds of dollars.For shoppers with sensitive skin, I love that everything is hypoallergenic, according to the brand, so you don’t have to worry as much about how your skin will react to your new affordable jewelry. And while not everything is designed to hold up in water, I love that there’s a dedicated section on the website for shopping waterproof pieces. Even the rings, earrings, and necklaces I tested held up well with occasional splashes and frequent hand-washing.En Route’s overall quality for the price is one of the best I’ve seen. That said, if you’re looking for investment-worthy jewelry you can wear literally 24/7—as in, at the gym, in the shower, or to sleep—I’d recommend investing in a longer-lasting (albeit more expensive) premium metal option. Nearly everything onsite is gold- or rhodium-plated, so they’ll likely start tarnishing within a couple of years, unlike pricier vermeil or solid gold and silver pieces.Shop En Route JewelrySamantha Jones is a senior shopping editor at Hearst Magazines, where she specializes in style, wellness, and home content. She has more than 8 years of editorial experience, with bylines across ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and more. At the office, Samantha can often be found reporting on emerging style trends, curating the perfect 5-minute makeup routine, or wear-testing the latest running shoe launches for a story. She’s also an avid runner, repeat marathoner, and former Division I athlete. (In fact, when she’s not at her desk, she’s probably out for a run.)