Jewelmint review: Cosmic Fusion Necklace

I meant to do a review for the Cosmic Fusion Necklace from Jewelmint a long time ago but I didn't have time until now so I am very excited to do this review, which is also my first review. *Note: I am going to review this necklace from the standpoint of a jewelry designer/maker. I didn't get paid to do this.

PACKAGING
As an etsy seller / jewelry maker, packaging is always something that bothers me. I know it's important to have nice packaging but at the same time it could significantly increase the cost, which translates to higher retail prices. When I received the Jewelmint necklace, the first thing I looked at was the packaging - does it worth the $30? Let's see.

 
 The elastic ribbon is a nice detail which I like.

 
 Inside you find this information card which tells you about the necklace.

 
 The foam protection is nice.

The overall packaging feels high-end and expensive. My rough guess on the packaging cost? Probably $$$ out of $$$$$, which contributes to the $30 you pay for every necklace.

MATERIALS
The structure/design of the necklace is pretty simple. It's made up of 3 enamel drops which are uniquely designed (and I like!), rolo chains which hold all the pieces together, cable chain for the extension, and a lobster clasp. From my own experience dealing with gold plated brass, bad quality ones can oxidize very quickly after a few uses. Good quality ones can last longer and the color change won't be as bad. The ones used for this necklace, from what I've seen so far, are still holding the color pretty well so I think the quality is pretty good. However, gold plated brass is an inexpensive material in general. Depending on the style of the chain, the average cost could be as low as $0.15 per inch. The 3 enamel drops - I'm taking a wild guess here - could be about $2-3 per piece. So you do the math. The cost of this necklace could be around $10.

DESIGN
 
The design is absolutely gorgeous. It has a 3 1/4" extension chain which allows you to adjust the length according to your outfit. The new age color palette is unique and you can wear it as a statement piece. I also like the fact that its designed by my favorite celebrity Kate Bosworth. Kate and I were actually born on the same day same year so for me to wear a necklace designed by her has a special meaning in my heart.

The ultimate question: Does it worth $30? 
For those of you who don't have a lot of disposable money, $30 is rather expensive for a piece of jewelry. However, factoring in the material and packaging costs, which I guess could be anywhere between $15-18, as well as free shipping (about $4-5), I think $30 really isn't that bad. I mean, they're running a business here. They have to make a profit. I don't think this is a rip off. Could it be cheaper? Yes, most definitely. They could opt for a less fancy packaging and lower the cost, but that's not what Kate is going for and it wouldn't be Jewelmint anymore. My conclusion is, buy it if you love it. Now you know what you're paying for. Stop thinking that it's the celebrity effect - it really isn't.