Repli-Kate Review: Kiki Classic Morganite and Diamond Cushion Drop Earrings Repli-Kate from AliExpress

The Duchess of Cambridge debuted a new pair of Kiki McDonough earrings at this year's Commonwealth Observance service at Westminster Abbey, on 9 March 2015. They're the Kiki Classic Morganite and Diamond Cushion Drop Earrings, retailing at £3,400 (€ 4,750/$ 5,330) and "featuring a subtle and very pretty pale pink morganite cushion drop on an elegant 18ct white gold and diamond tapered hoop".

 

They were repeated twice more prior to the Duchess taking maternity leave ahead of the birth of Princess Charlotte, first on 18 March 2015 on a visit to Brookhill Children's and Community Centre in Woolwich, south-east London:

 

 

And on her last pre-birth official engagement, a visit to the Stephen Lawrence Centre in south London on 26 March 2015:

 

Given the price tag attached to the real Kiki ones, I was thrilled to come up this repli-kate round-up over at Kate's Closet. I ordered this pair from AliExpress, advertised as being made of morganite and sterling silver and at the time retailing at half price at $13 (€11.50/£8) plus $5.25 (€5/£3) p&p.

 

 

Anyway, the seller mixed up their orders and I ended up being delivered a sterling silver and cz crystal ring, of all things...Luckily getting a refund was quick and straightforward, so no problems there. I still wanted the earrings, though, so I ordered another pair, this time at full price - agh! $25.99 (€23/£16.60) plus shipping, still not a lot but I wasn't exactly thrilled.

 

They were finally delivered yesterday (registered shipping from China to Italy took about two weeks) and I have to say I'm really very pleased with them! The main difference with the original Kiki ones is these are slightly bigger (about 14 mm at the widest point compared to 10 mm for the real deal) and longer (about 28 mm in total, compared to 22 mm) and the stones are fixed in place with prongs all around, whereas the Kiki pair only have four prongs at the corners.

 

  

 

Front and back view.

Apart from that, the metalwork seems to be good quality, not flimsy and the lever-back hoops appear quite sturdy, unlike some other Chinese costume jewellery, which tend to be rather fragile. They're hallmarked on the back with the usual .925 sterling silver mark. A huge plus, the crystal studded drops are fully removable, so you could use the hoops on their own or with a different set of pendants, as you can do with the originals, always a bonus!

 

 

The main crystals are a delicate and entirely plausible champagne pink, and very sparkly (my main gripe with some of the repli-kates available is that the stones tend to a worrying shade of bubblegum pink).

 

They took long to arrive, but I definitely recommend these if you're after a good-quality repli-kate of the Kiki Morganite and Diamond Drops!