Real Advice On Gifting Jewelry For The Holidays

Ok, so you’re thinking about potentially… maybe… perhaps… giving jewelry to your girlfriend, fiancé or wife this holiday. And yes, you know that what you get her is going to send a message. This holiday season, we're here to make sure that you give her a gift that says the perfect message. With over 135 years of experience, we’ve had plenty of time to come up with this great advice on gifting jewelry for the holidays:

I need to spend a lot of money if I’m going to buy her jewelry, right?

Absolutely not! You can find jewelry for practically any budget. Although you could spend thousands or tens of thousands on some killer diamonds, jewelry, and watches, you don't need to break the bank to get her a gorgeous piece of jewelry. For example, a well made, beautiful piece of silver jewelry can be under $100, designer silver jewelry from major brands like David Yurman and John Hardy can be a few hundred dollars, sparkly diamond stud earrings typically start at under $300, and you can often find diamond jewelry starting at under $500. 

Wait, so how much should I spend?

Well, that depends on a bunch of different factors. Some questions to consider are: What jewelry will make her happy? What does she own already? Have you given her jewelry before? What’s your budget? How long have you been together? How often do you think she'll wear it?

Here’s some advice: Don’t get her jewelry unless you really think she’ll enjoy it and wear it either every day or for special occasions. If it’s going to sit in a drawer and never see the light of day, it’s not worth spending anything on it.

The next piece of advice: Set the bar at an appropriate level. Don’t spend thousands of dollars if you’ve been dating for 1 week. Don’t spend $99 if you’ve been married for five years. And keep in mind that next year, you might have to raise the bar… so think carefully before you set the bar really high right now.

I’ve decided to get her a piece of jewelry, but how do I know what kind of message I’m sending? I don’t want to send the wrong signal!

Think about what you want to say and then find a gift to match that statement. For example, fashion jewelry is a great way to say “Hey, I get you, and I get your great sense of style." How about a piece of antique or vintage jewelry? Alternatively, you can go with something that screams fun, like a Michele watch. It’s an anti-dress watch, it comes in only the brightest of colors, and it has zero chance of being misinterpreted as a proposal. If you want to send a more sentimental message, go with a customized, personalized piece of jewelry or something traditional like diamond stud earrings.

We’ve been dating for a while now so there’s no way I can give her a piece of jewelry… she’ll see the box and think it is an engagement ring!

A valid concern but not to worry, there are plenty of ways to give jewelry without her getting her hopes up for the big one. Ask your jeweler to put your gift in a box that is much too big or oddly shaped to be a ring box, or put it in a different packaging entirely (like a Target bag) to really fake her out. Another way to go is to present the jewelry in a unique, “un-boxed” way such as by wrapping a bracelet around her wine glass or just ask to close her eyes while you fasten the pendant around her neck.

What’s hot this year?

Check out our picks for the top jewelry trends for the holidays to get some ideas of what's in and trending now. Want a quick overview? Yellow gold is back in, negative space in jewelry design is the "must have" this holiday season, and opals are ruling the gemstone world.

Everybody has opinions about gift ideas for us ladies, but I’m stuck on what to get HIM for the holidays!

True! Guys can be tricky but we advise to keep it simple. Manly accessories like cool cufflinks or a silver or gold link bracelet might do the trick. But most guys still want that statement watch to show he’s made it in the world. Every man still needs a nice timepiece (no, the clock on his cell phone doesn’t count in his professional world), and every time he looks at his watch, he will think of you. It doesn’t have to be top of the line; there are plenty of cool watches at great prices that are sporty, contemporary or dressy, depending on his style. Check out our top 5 holiday gift ideas to upgrade his style if you're stuck!

In need of more gift-giving tips? Contact us and ask an expert or make an appointment and one of our specialists will help you find the perfect gift for that someone special.

Check out our Gift Guide Hub to find the perfect pieces for anyone on your list this holiday season.