9 Best LIÉ Studio Alternatives & Dupes: Chunky Chain Jewelry for Less

LIÉ Studio built a cult following fast. Founded in Copenhagen in 2021 by twin sisters Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard, the brand's chunky, voluminous chain necklaces and rounded dome rings show up constantly on Scandinavian minimalist mood boards, and its pieces are stocked at Net-a-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman, and Nordstrom. The catch is the price: a single chain necklace runs $380-$774, and even earrings start around $170. That gap between the aesthetic's popularity and its price is exactly why people search "lie studio dupe," "brands like lie studio," and "affordable lie studio alternative." This guide breaks down what LIÉ Studio actually costs and what it's made of, what an honest dupe looks like, where a gold-plated sterling silver chain necklace fits the same silhouette for a fraction of the price, and the one material difference — brass versus sterling silver — most "dupe" roundups never mention.

What Is LIÉ Studio, and Why Is It So Expensive?

LIÉ Studio's design language is deliberately restrained: rounded, sculptural chain links, dome-shaped rings, and thick huggie hoops, all in a warm, high-shine gold or brushed silver finish. Nothing is engraved, gemstone-set, or logo-branded — the volume and proportion of each piece is the entire design statement, which is part of why the brand reads as "quiet luxury" rather than a flashy status buy.

That restraint doesn't come from cheap materials, but it also isn't solid precious metal. Every LIÉ Studio piece we could verify across its own site and stockists like Net-a-Porter is built on a brass base, plated with either 925 sterling silver or 18 carat gold. You're paying primarily for design, proportion, and the brand's positioning at luxury retailers — not for gold or silver weight. A $550 Betty necklace and a $30 gold-plated chain necklace can both be, structurally, "plated metal over a base material" — the differences are in which base metal, how thick the plating is, and the brand name on the box.

LIÉ Studio Price Breakdown

Here's what the real brand costs across its main categories (US retail, current as of this writing):

Notice the pattern: nothing in LIÉ Studio's core collection is priced under $170, and the brand's most-searched piece — a chunky chain necklace — sits at the top of that range. That's a lot of money for a plated-brass foundation, which is the opening most affordable alternatives are built to fill.

Best LIÉ Studio Alternatives and Dupes in 2026

Alternatives to LIÉ Studio's look split into two honest tiers — there isn't really a "mid-tier" the way there is for logo-driven luxury brands, because LIÉ Studio's own value is mostly in design rather than material cost:

Tier 1: Comparable Demi-Fine Scandi-Minimalist Brands ($100-$500)

• Sophie Buhai and Sorellina — both work in similarly rounded, sculptural silhouettes in solid sterling silver or gold vermeil, at a comparable or slightly lower price point than LIÉ Studio.
• Mejuri and other demi-fine labels — chunkier chain and dome-ring styles exist across most demi-fine catalogs now, generally in solid gold vermeil rather than plated brass.

These are genuine alternatives, not dupes — separate brands with their own design language that happen to work in the same "voluminous minimalist" category LIÉ Studio popularized.

Tier 2: Affordable LIÉ Studio Dupe Territory ($20-$60)

• 925 sterling silver chain necklaces with 18K gold plating — the honest-dupe construction for LIÉ Studio's chunky chain pieces. A layered or double-row chain in this build reads as bold and voluminous from normal social distance, at a fraction of the price.
• Gold-plated dome and band rings — sold widely as "chunky minimalist rings" rather than under any brand name, these capture the rounded, sculptural proportions without claiming to be LIÉ Studio.

AJLuxe's catalog sits in this second tier. We don't manufacture a piece-for-piece copy of the Laura or Betty necklace, but our chunky, layered chain necklace shares the same design instinct — bold link proportion, warm gold tone, no engraving or logo — on a 925 sterling silver base instead of brass.

LIÉ Studio vs. AJLuxe: Full Comparison

The base-metal column is the detail most "designer dupe" roundups skip entirely, and it's the single biggest practical difference in this comparison.

The Gap Nobody Mentions: Brass vs. Sterling Silver Base

Brass is a copper-zinc alloy. It's a completely normal, common base metal for plated demi-fine jewelry — plenty of respected brands use it — but it has two practical downsides compared to a 925 sterling silver base once the plating starts to wear:

• Skin reaction risk. Brass contains copper, and some people develop skin irritation, discoloration, or a greenish tint on the skin where a thinning brass-based piece contacts it, especially with sweat or moisture exposure. Sterling silver is far less likely to cause this reaction, and it's the material most hypoallergenic jewelry guides recommend for sensitive skin.
• Plating adhesion over time. Precious-metal plating generally bonds and wears more evenly over a sterling silver base than over brass, because the two metals are more similar in density and structure. That doesn't mean LIÉ Studio's plating is thin or low-quality — the brand is a legitimate demi-fine label — but it does mean a $30 sterling-silver-based chain and a $550 brass-based chain age differently, just not necessarily in the direction the price gap implies.

None of this makes LIÉ Studio a bad brand. It makes "base metal," not just "is it plated," the question worth asking before you spend $380-plus on a necklace — a question this category's marketing rarely volunteers. For more on how gold plating and gold vermeil hold up over time regardless of base metal, see our guide on whether gold vermeil tarnishes.

AJLuxe's Chain Necklace: Inspired-By, Not a Piece-for-Piece Copy

We want to be direct about what we actually sell relative to LIÉ Studio. After reviewing our full catalog for chunky-chain and layered-chain SKUs, AJLuxe does not carry a literal replica of any single LIÉ Studio piece — there's no "Laura necklace dupe" that maps one-to-one onto the original. What we do carry is a double-row snake chain necklace in 925 sterling silver with 18K gold plating, built around the same design instinct that makes LIÉ Studio's chains popular: bold, layered chain volume with a warm gold finish and zero logos or engraving.

If you're searching "lie studio look alike jewelry" expecting an exact silhouette match, be aware this is a similar-spirit piece, not a mirror copy — the individual link shape and proportion differ from any specific LIÉ Studio design. What it shares is the core appeal: a chunky, voluminous chain that reads as considered and minimalist rather than flashy, at $30.99 instead of $380-plus.

AJLuxe is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to LIÉ Studio in any way. Any resemblance in general silhouette or aesthetic category is intentional inspiration, not an attempt to pass off our jewelry as a LIÉ Studio product.

Dupe vs. Counterfeit: What's Actually Legal

This distinction matters for anyone shopping this category. A dupe — a piece inspired by a popular silhouette, sold under its own brand name, with no fake LIÉ Studio stamps, hallmarks, or logos — is legal to make and sell. A general design language like "chunky rounded chain links" isn't protected the way a specific brand name or logo is. A counterfeit — a piece stamped with a fake "LIÉ Studio" name or logo, sold to deceive a buyer into thinking it's authentic — is illegal, and carries real legal and financial risk for both sellers and buyers. Every AJLuxe piece referenced in this guide is sold under our own name, with no LIÉ Studio branding anywhere on the product or packaging.

Is a LIÉ Studio Dupe Worth It?

It depends on what you're actually optimizing for:

• Buy genuine LIÉ Studio if: you want the exact brand's specific silhouettes (the Laura, Betty, or Dora pieces by name), you shop at retailers like Net-a-Porter or Bergdorf Goodman regularly, or the brand name and boutique positioning matters to how you feel wearing the piece.
• Buy a comparable demi-fine brand (Sorellina, Sophie Buhai) if: you want the same "voluminous Scandi-minimalist" category in solid sterling silver or gold vermeil, with strong craftsmanship, but the LIÉ Studio name specifically isn't the draw.
• Buy an affordable dupe like AJLuxe's chain necklace if: you want to test whether the chunky-chain, minimalist-dome aesthetic actually suits your wardrobe before spending hundreds of dollars, or you simply want a $30 layering piece that captures the same visual mood as your outfit inspiration board.

The honest tradeoff at the affordable end: gold plating over sterling silver will show wear with one to three years of daily use, same as LIÉ Studio's own plating over brass eventually will — neither piece is "forever gold." You're trading brand name and boutique retail positioning for accessibility, not necessarily trading away durability, since sterling silver holds plating at least as well as brass does.

Sensitive Skin? What to Check Before You Buy

If skin sensitivity is part of why you're comparing bases in the first place, look for two things regardless of which brand or price tier you choose: a stated base metal (sterling silver, not just "plated" with no base disclosed), and nickel-free construction. Both LIÉ Studio and AJLuxe disclose their base metals openly, which is more transparency than a lot of fast-fashion jewelry offers. For a deeper look at which metals and finishes tend to cause reactions, see our hypoallergenic jewelry guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good LIÉ Studio dupe?

The closest honest alternatives are chunky, layered chain necklaces and rounded dome rings built on a 925 sterling silver base with 18K gold plating, priced $25-$60. They share LIÉ Studio's bold, minimalist design instinct without replicating any single piece exactly.

What is LIÉ Studio jewelry made of?

LIÉ Studio jewelry is built on a brass base, plated with either 925 sterling silver or 18 carat gold, depending on the finish. It is not solid precious metal.

Why is LIÉ Studio so expensive if it's just plated brass?

You're primarily paying for design, proportion, and the brand's positioning at luxury retailers like Net-a-Porter and Bergdorf Goodman, not for precious metal weight. Plated-brass construction is common across the demi-fine category; LIÉ Studio's prices reflect brand and design value more than raw material cost.

Does LIÉ Studio jewelry tarnish?

Any plated piece, including LIÉ Studio's, will show plating wear over time with daily contact, water, and skin oils. Brass base metal can also cause a greenish discoloration on skin once plating thins, which is a known downside of brass compared to a sterling silver base.

What is similar to LIÉ Studio?

At a comparable price and quality tier: Sorellina and Sophie Buhai, both working in similarly sculptural, minimalist silhouettes in solid sterling silver or gold vermeil. At the affordable tier: independent jewelers like AJLuxe offering chunky chain and dome-ring pieces in gold-plated sterling silver.

Is LIÉ Studio jewelry worth it?

If the specific brand name, boutique retail positioning, and exact silhouettes matter to you, yes — it's a legitimate demi-fine brand with a distinct design language. If you mainly want the general "voluminous minimalist" aesthetic without the brand attached, a comparable or affordable alternative can deliver a similar look for less.

Is it illegal to buy a LIÉ Studio dupe or replica?

Buying a dupe sold under its own brand name, with no fake LIÉ Studio branding, is legal. Buying a counterfeit stamped with a fake LIÉ Studio logo or name to pass as authentic is not, and carries legal and financial risk.

Does AJLuxe sell an exact copy of a specific LIÉ Studio piece?

No. AJLuxe's chunky chain necklace shares the same design category — bold, layered, minimalist gold chain — but is not a piece-for-piece replica of any named LIÉ Studio design. Expect a similar overall aesthetic, not an identical silhouette.

What's the real difference between LIÉ Studio and a $30 dupe?

Base metal, brand, and retail positioning. LIÉ Studio uses a brass base and sells through luxury retailers under its own established name; an affordable dupe like AJLuxe's uses a 925 sterling silver base and sells directly, without the boutique markup or brand-name premium.

Are brass-based jewelry pieces bad for sensitive skin?

Not universally, but brass contains copper, which can cause irritation or greenish skin discoloration in some people once plating wears thin. A solid sterling silver base is generally considered more skin-friendly for sensitive skin than a brass base.

Where can I buy an affordable alternative to LIÉ Studio's chunky chain necklace?

Independent jewelers selling 925 sterling silver, gold-plated chain necklaces are the most common source. AJLuxe's double-row snake chain necklace is one such option, priced at $30.99, sold under its own name with no LIÉ Studio branding.

Final Thoughts

LIÉ Studio earns its following honestly — the brand's rounded, voluminous chain and dome silhouettes are genuinely distinctive, and its retail placement at Net-a-Porter and Bergdorf Goodman reflects real design credibility, not just marketing. What the brand doesn't have is a materials advantage: every piece is plated brass, the same broad construction category as a $30 alternative, just with a different base metal, thicker plating, and a well-known name attached. If the LIÉ Studio name and exact silhouettes matter to you, buy the real thing. If you mainly want the bold, minimalist chain-and-dome aesthetic for a fraction of the price — and arguably a more skin-friendly base metal — AJLuxe's double-row snake chain necklace is a reasonable place to start. For more designer-inspired options in a similar sterling-silver-and-gold-plating build, see our Van Cleef alternatives and Cartier Love bracelet alternatives guides. If chunky chain jewelry specifically is what you're after, our Jaxxon alternatives guide rounds up more affordable chain-focused picks.

By AJLuxe Team. Last updated: July 2026. AJLuxe is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to LIÉ Studio. Sources: Jewelers of America, GIA.