This holiday season, Quince wants to be more than your go-to destination for $50 cashmere sweaters. The online retailer (and frequent podcast advertiser) emailed its subscriber list this week to announce it was selling a limited run of Quince-branded Royal Osetra Caviar tins, “sustainably harvested in Thousand Island Lake China.” The flavor is described as “buttery, nutty, oceanic,” and each tin comes with a mother-of-pearl spoon. My chef friend texted me immediately, pleasantly surprised about the price: $125 per tin or $100 for two or more, about $30 per ounce. “It’s similar to what my guy charges,” she said. (Meanwhile, a similarly sized tin from Petrossian sells for more than $500.) Quince’s initial caviar stock sold out Thursday, but now the retailer is offering preorders for delivery in mid-December. Unlike most of the brand’s inventory, these caviar tins are final sale.
Since it launched online in 2020, Quince has built its reputation by offering cheap takes on the ubiquitous quiet-luxury trend dominating fashion at a time when many shoppers are hunting for dupes. Think tasteful oatmeal-colored cashmere sweaters and midi-length inky black silk skirts for less than Uniqlo prices. It carries minimalist homewares, too, like sheets and blankets and wineglasses. The caviar, however, is a perishable outlier — and perhaps a budget-friendly way to impress your guests this holiday season. That is, if you’re willing to trust Quince to deliver more than just cozy basics.