There was defiantly care taken into making sure the necklace was packaged securely. Obviously, due to the price, I wasn't expecting it to hold up like my real gold necklaces. The overall appearance first hand: it's a lovely piece. Color, shine, and length work perfectly well. It was a necklace I wore on numerous occasions for a period of time and began to have issues with the necklace clasp within a month of wear. Discoloration occurred and it became hard sometimes to open the clasp. This is a necklace for an individual who occasionally wears necklaces, periodically, for special occasions and outings. If you wear necklaces as much as I do, expect noticeable discoloration and few issues over time. This may be a factor when you consider purchasing.