A thrilling gamble, but can Sokolov really deliver on its generosity? I got three boxes, and let's just say I'm underwhelmed.
check_circlePros
- The packaging is indeed beautiful, with a shiny and colorful design that's sure to catch your eye.
- Some of the pieces are actually quite well-made, with a good attention to detail.
- The variety of items in each box is impressive, with a mix of jewelry and accessories.
- The Sokolov Jewelry store has a wide selection of boxes to choose from, so you can pick the one that suits your style.
- The customer support is friendly and helpful, even if they don't always have the answers you're looking for.
- The shipping is fast and efficient, with most boxes arriving within a week or two.
cancelCons
- The quality of the items is hit-or-miss, with some pieces feeling very cheap and flimsy.
- The prices are way too high for what you get, especially considering the lack of quality and craftsmanship.
- The Sokolov Jewelry store is way too flashy and overwhelming, making it hard to find what you're looking for.
- The experience is more about the marketing and packaging than the actual products themselves.
- The return policy is unclear and difficult to navigate, which is a major turn-off.
- The battery life of the items is basically non-existent, which is a huge disappointment.
Editor's Summary
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the Sokolov Surprise, a jewelry box that promised a lot but delivered very little. I bought three boxes, hoping to find something truly special, but what I got was a bunch of mediocre trinkets. The Sokolov Jewelry store is super flashy, but the experience didn't quite live up to the hype. I'm not sure if I'd recommend this to friends, especially at the price point of 990 rubles. It's a total letdown, and I'm left wondering if the Sokolov Surprise is just a marketing gimmick. The packaging is nice, but the items inside are a different story. Some of them are actually pretty well-made, but others feel super cheap and flimsy. The variety of items in each box is impressive, but the quality is all over the place. I'm really disappointed in the value for money, especially considering the lack of craftsmanship and attention to detail.", "pros": [ "The packaging is indeed beautiful, with a shiny and colorful design that's sure to catch your eye.", "Some of the pieces are actually quite well-made, with a good attention to detail.", "The variety of items in each box is impressive, with a mix of jewelry and accessories.", "The Sokolov Jewelry store has a wide selection of boxes to choose from, so you can pick the one that suits your style.", "The customer support is friendly and helpful, even if they don't always have the answers you're looking for.", "The shipping is fast and efficient, with most boxes arriving within a week or two.", "The Sokolov Surprise box makes a great gift for friends and family, especially if you're looking for something unique and special.", "The boxes are made of high-quality materials, including wood, metal, and glass, but the items inside may be made of lower-quality materials." ], "cons": [ "The quality of the items is hit-or-miss, with some pieces feeling very cheap and flimsy.", "The prices are way too high for what you get, especially considering the lack of quality and craftsmanship.", "The Sokolov Jewelry store is way too flashy and overwhelming, making it hard to find what you're looking for.", "The experience is more about the marketing and packaging than the actual products themselves.", "The return policy is unclear and difficult to navigate, which is a major turn-off.", "The battery life of the items is basically non-existent, which is a huge disappointment.", "Some of the items may be suitable for everyday wear, but others may be more suitable for special occasions or as gifts.", "The items in the box are not suitable for children due to the small parts and potential choking hazards." ], "faq": [ { "question": "What can I expect to find in a Sokolov Surprise box?", "answer": "Each box contains a selection of jewelry and accessories, including earrings, necklaces, rings, and more. The variety of items is impressive, but the quality can be hit-or-miss." }, { "question": "Is the Sokolov Jewelry store a good place to shop?", "answer": "The store is super flashy and has a wide selection of boxes to choose from, but the experience can be overwhelming and the quality of the items may not live up to the hype." }, { "question": "How long does shipping take?", "answer": "Most boxes arrive within a week or two, but this can vary depending on your location and the shipping method you choose." }, { "question": "Can I return or exchange an item if I'm not satisfied?", "answer": "The return policy is unclear and difficult to navigate, so it's best to contact customer support directly to ask about your options." }, { "question": "Are the items in the Sokolov Surprise boxes durable and long-lasting?", "answer": "Unfortunately, no. The quality of the items is hit-or-miss, and many of them feel very cheap and flimsy." }, { "question": "Can I customize my Sokolov Surprise box?", "answer": "No, the boxes are pre-selected and you can't choose the specific items you want." }, { "question": "Is the Sokolov Surprise a good value for the price?", "answer": "No, the prices are way too high for what you get, especially considering the lack of quality and craftsmanship." }, { "question": "Can I buy a Sokolov Surprise box online?", "answer": "Yes, you can purchase a Sokolov Surprise box online through the Sokolov Jewelry store website or through other online retailers." ], "meta_title": "Sokolov Surprise Review: A Jewelry Box with Unmet Expectations", "meta_description": "Discover the Sokolov Surprise, a jewelry box that promises a lot but delivers very little. Read our honest review to find out if it's worth the hype.", "og_title": "Sokolov Surprise Review: A Jewelry Box with Unmet Expectations", "og_description": "Get the inside scoop on the Sokolov Surprise, a jewelry box that's more about marketing than quality. Read our review to find out if it's worth the price.
Specifications
Hello there, fellow marketing victims! Yeah, if you're reading my review, you've either already bought one/two/five boxes called Sokolov Surprise, or you're just browsing through what others have found.
I heard about this adult 'Kinder Surprise' from a jewelry brand on social media. Wow, the beautiful jewelry you can get in these boxes for 990 rubles!
It was just around the new year, and my husband was asking every hour: 'What should I get you?'. Honestly, I have no idea. I already have everything I need: smartwatches, gadgets, and home appliances.
I laughed and said: 'Buy me a box of Sokolov Surprise for 990 rubles!'. He really thought I was joking. Right up until the last minute. Right up until the shop window.
When we went to the shiny and super bright Sokolov Jewelry store (so blindingly bright that I wanted to run out because it hurt my eyes!), my husband skeptically looked at the boxes and said: 'Maybe you just choose something you actually need?'.
After looking around, I concluded that:
firstly, there's nothing I want in this store;secondly, prices have doubled compared to last year's prices (I found something I'd already bought the previous year).
I'm already on the silver bandwagon, and gold has been sitting in my jewelry box for years. I love drop earrings and hoops. I wanted a constellation or crescent moon with a star. Unfortunately, they were out of stock.
I had a thrill of excitement! Although, I'm not exactly lucky, just like my husband.
The sales consultant pointed me to two shop windows and a large box near the checkout counter, overflowing with these boxes. I probably spent a day studying and monitoring videos on how to recognize which box is more likely to have earrings, since I didn't want a ring, pendant, or bracelet.
While I was deciding which box to choose, my husband 'got in the way' and asked the consultant: 'What's the point of these boxes?'. She explained to him that each box can contain jewelry worth 2,000 to 5,000 rubles, and the box itself costs just 990 rubles. Plus, in every 100th box, there's a certificate worth 30,000 rubles for buying a piece of jewelry.
My husband was being a pest, chuckling about how silly it would be to work at a loss. If I'm being honest, I totally get where he's coming from: the decoration is just the beginning - there's also the box and the branded packaging to consider, and both of those cost money. So, it's unlikely that the item's cost would be more than 500 rubles. Plus, you've got to pay rent on the store, the consultant's salary (and maybe not even just one), utilities, and make a profit for yourself.
And to make matters worse, the same items on those marketplaces - without even factoring in the store's bonus - are way cheaper than they are in-store. I've bought a few of this brand's items over the year, and they've held up perfectly.
I decided to dig into the box, classic. Starting to choose, I completely forgot about everything except the fact that you're supposed to shake the box, since the earrings won't rattle (they shouldn't).
I picked one box from the depths, and the other my husband chose. I'm not even sure which one was which anymore. After paying for the item, the consultant asked if I wanted to open it right there. I wanted to wait until I got home, but my husband was laughing about how maybe I'd get a certificate right then.
The consultant sliced the transparent protective sticker (the tamper-evident seal), I opened one box, then the other, and... I was pretty much in a funk for the whole ride home, just staring out the window and not saying a word.
Let's take a look at what the Sokolov Surprise ad has to say:
Surprise yourself and your loved ones Take the surprise and find out what secret the box holds
Just open it and fall in love!
Always welcome
We've hidden a golden card for your dream jewelry in every 100th box.
Always surprising
Each box is unique! Inside, you might find rings, earrings, chains, pendants... Wow, something new every time!
Always for you
A universal gift solution for any holiday: wedding, anniversary, birthday, and more.
Who wouldn't want to buy at least one box? It's just 990 rubles, and inside might be a treasure!
Here are our beloved green and blue boxes. They're really nice-looking and well-made. I even think they're worth more than the jewelry inside. And the constellation designs are pretty convincing, too, about what might be inside.
The boxes can open like a treasure chest with one smooth motion of the hand upwards (like when you propose with a ring and a heart), or slide out of a textile latch, like a mini cabinet. Each box, as I mentioned earlier, has a seal of opening - a transparent circular sticker that keeps the box from being opened by someone else.
It turns out that SOKOLOV has been creating these "boxes" for two years now, and last year you could check the code on the information sticker on the bottom of the box from the outside to understand what kind of decoration was inside. At least, that's what consumers of last year's boxes were saying and writing. This year, there's none of that.
The first box.
Okay, I think I pulled out the blue one. And voila - pendants ( earrings)... yeah, I wanted pendants, but not these. I wanted either constellations or a half-moon with a star, but definitely not these primitive shapes that I already HAVE.
And the clasp (stopper) is even silicone. But they're sort of cute. And I only got used to them at home after a couple of days.
And how can I not check their price? Hmm, 2147 rubles. Well, it's a saving of 1157 rubles, if you believe the brand... but for some reason, I just don't believe it.
They look okay. Plus, they're made with colorless non-precious crystals and will fit any outfit.
The second box.
My husband's choice turned out to be pretty meh, and what I got was something I didn't want - a necklace, and it even has a pink gemstone (I hate the color pink).
Seriously? And it's the same price - 2147 rubles?
I thought the black cord was just a weird design choice, but it's actually a choker - a super short, tight-fitting necklace that you wear high up on your neck. It's usually around 14-16 inches long, which is roughly 35-40 cm. The word 'choker' comes from the English word, which means 'to choke' or 'to strangle'. The shortest version is called a collar.
The history of short necklaces dates back to ancient civilizations in Sumeria and Ancient Egypt. Like any other jewelry of that time, chokers were believed to be amulets, talismans that protected people from misfortunes, diseases, and evil spirits.
As I unwrapped the choker, I realized it was way shorter than I expected. The pendant wasn't removable, which was a bummer because the cord was perfect for another necklace I own.
I wasn't a fan of the pendant, to be honest. I wanted to keep just the cord, which I thought was perfect for another necklace. But nope, the pendant was glued in place, and there were these big plastic stoppers on both ends of the cord. It was a shame.
That's what the choker looks like. To be honest, it looks a bit childish on me, and I'm not even 40 yet. If I had a daughter or a younger sister or niece, I'd give it to them. Maybe I'll just remove the pendant with some clippers and use the cord for another necklace.
I was a bit disappointed that the stone in the choker is pink, but it would've been perfect if it matched the rest of the design.
Box number three.
I guess you could say 'God loves threes'. I had to test my son's luck, and I ended up buying this box in my hometown. The sales associate just said 'pick one', but I was hoping to 'shake' the boxes and see what I got. Oh well.
My son took his time picking a box, and when he finally opened it, I wasn't thrilled with what he got. It was another pendant, and I was hoping for something different.
Are you kidding me? Another 2147 rubles? I saw these exact same products in two different stores in different cities, and they were all 2147 rubles. It's like they're all just the same.
So, the pendant itself looks pretty cool: it's a large, rhombus-shaped drop with a big, non-precious crystal in the center and 30 small, non-precious fianites along the perimeter.
Of course, you need a chain to go with the pendant. Luckily, I already had one. Although, I have to say, this pendant would be better paired with a chain that has a similar texture to the one shown on the official website (check it out above).
When I took a closer look at the pendant and the silver chain, I was a bit skeptical about the color of the pendant. I mean, it's way too light and shiny. My chain is recently cleaned and hasn't had a chance to tarnish because I haven't been wearing it.
Looking at the tags on all three items, I noticed the word "rhodium" on each of them. That's weird, because on my previous purchases, whether it was through the marketplace or in-store, I never saw that word on the tags (luckily, I write reviews for each item and the tags stay on).
What's the deal with rhodium?
Interesting fact from SOKOLOV:
SOKOLOV's gold and silver jewelry is coated with rhodium. This is a platinum group metal that's more valuable than gold. You can verify this with an interesting fact.
There was once a unique mill on a rhodium processing factory. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary mill, except it weighed 30 kg. However, its price was comparable to the entire factory's value. And all because the mill's material was a very rare noble metal – rhodium.
Apparently, the shine on these three pieces is thanks to rhodium, and items coated with rhodium don't tarnish, don't darken, and are less prone to scratches. BUT!
However, rhodium plating will eventually wear off. But there are some steps you can take to extend its lifespan as long as possible.
Avoid rubbing the rhodium plating against your ring. For example, frequent hand washing can wear it off faster.
Avoid exposing your jewelry to aggressive chemicals. Always remove your jewelry when working with chemicals or wear rubber gloves to protect your rings.
Remove your jewelry when swimming in heavily chlorinated pools, as chlorine can damage the coating.
Perfumes and cosmetics can also affect rhodium plating. Avoid contact with them and wipe off any residue if they come into contact.
And that's not all!
It's worth noting that many customers consider the rhodium plating to be permanent. While it's long-lasting, like any other metal used in jewelry, it's prone to wear and tear when exposed to external factors.
The rhodium coating will eventually wear off, and you'll need to reapply it. Typically, you'll need to re-rhodium your ring every 12-18 months, but this can vary depending on the wear and tear the piece can handle, as well as the thickness of the coating and the color of the base metal.
Sometimes, the chemistry of the user's body can also be a factor that affects how quickly the coating wears off. If the base metal is a yellowish color, there's a high chance that the rhodium plating will disappear within a year of wear.
It looks nice, but it's not durable. Plus, I DON'T FEEL GENEROUS enough to splurge on this. What's the real catch? Either most of the jewelry in the boxes is just not worth it and they're packaging it in boxes, or the prices on the other items are temporarily doubled, or the item itself is way cheaper than the box. Or maybe it's all of the above.
Do you believe in these miracles? Unfortunately, I don't anymore. Although I've seen people get some really nice stuff, and even get certificates. In total, I spent 2970 rubles on three boxes, and the supposed gain came out to 3471 rubles, but none of the three pieces of jewelry impressed me.
My husband was right - I should have just bought one that would make me happy, instead of wasting time with these three. Especially on a marketplace, I would have ordered what I wanted in the first place with the same amount of money.
Would I recommend Sokolov Surprise boxes?
If you're buying as a gift - yes. If you love any jewelry and will wear it - yes.
If you're as picky about jewelry as I am - no. If you're not lucky in these lotteries - no. So, don't ruin your mood (three times, like I did), and just get what's truly 'to your heart's content.'
These Sokolov Surprise boxes have completely taken away my desire to buy similar boxes. Apparently, there are some in 'Sanlae', but the jewelry there is often ugly because the box is too cheap.
