Most women love to receive jewelry as a gift, especially when it comes from a significant other, giving the piece special meaning. But certain types of jewelry, and certain gemstones, are more appropriate than others during the different stages of a relationship. Another simple, but very important factor to consider when buying a gift of jewelry for your girlfriend or wife is her own personal style and taste in jewelry.
Rings:
Rings are the trickiest piece of jewelry to buy as a gift for a number of reasons. Ring size is an important factor, because you want to get the size right the first time and give her something she can put on her finger immediately and wear for the rest of the night. The best way to get the correct size is to borrow another ring from her jewelry box and take it with you to the jeweler, but if it’s one that she wears frequently, be sure to return it as soon as possible so that she never knows it’s missing or suspects anything.
If you’re new to the relationship and want to buy your girl a ring, you may not be comfortable with taking a ring from the jewelry box in her bedroom. In this case, it’s better to ask one of her close friends or her sister for advice on the size. Another woman who is close to her will either know her ring size or be able to borrow the right ring for you. If you decide to purchase something in the spur of the moment or simply aren’t prepared with her ring size, make sure you at lease get a band that you think will be slightly too large, as it is easier to size down a ring than to make one bigger.
A final word on rings: be careful about giving a ring that isn’t an engagement ring if you are in a serious relationship. If she’s expecting an engagement ring and doesn’t get one, she may be so disappointed that you would have been better off giving her nothing at all. If you’re in a serious relationship and want to give your girl a gift of jewelry, but aren’t ready to pop the question, steer clear of rings altogether and give her a necklace, bracelet, or even a pair of diamond-studded earrings instead.
Bracelets:
Bracelets are appropriate for any stage of a relationship, but work especially well for new relationships because they seem to carry the least amount of commitment and symbolism. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t buy bracelets as a gift for someone you’re committed to. In these cases it will depend on the woman, the types of jewelry she likes to wear, and the pieces she already owns.
Women are more likely to buy bracelets for themselves than other types of jewelry, so if she doesn’t own a lot of bracelets, this could be a sign that they’re not her favorite type of jewelry to wear. If you’re not sure, it is always good to ask someone who knows her better than you do. Her girlfriends will think you’re a great guy and be happy to oblige. Also consider what she does for work and in her free time, as a bracelet is the most likely piece of jewelry to get in the way.
Necklaces:
Necklaces are also appropriate for any stage of a relationship, but seem to work best as gifts for the girl that you’ve been with for awhile but aren’t quite ready to make a lifetime commitment to. Whether to buy her a necklace can sometimes be determined by her wardrobe. A woman who wears a lot of low-cut blouses will appreciate a necklace to accentuate her neckline, while one that wears clothing that always covers her chest may appreciate a piece of jewelry that doesn’t draw attention to it.
Necklaces often come with gemstones in the charm, and the type of charm and gemstone is another important factor at each stage of a relationship. For newer relationships, a metal or stone charm is often a good place to start, signaling a lower-level of commitment that won’t scare either one of you. Certain gemstones like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds should be reserved for more serious relationships and special occasions. If your woman loves to accessorize and you’re giving her a casual gift (not for Valentine’s Day or your anniversary), a chunky fashion necklace may please her and suit her style.
Earrings:
Earrings are also safe at any stage of a relationship, so the most important factor will be choosing a style she likes. Studs are generally classier and better suited for special occasions, although this is not always the case when a dangly earring contains beautiful gemstones. As a general rule, if she has short hair or wears her hair pulled back most of the time, she’ll be better suited to dangly earrings than if she has longer hair that will hide the earrings or get tangled up in them.
Gold and Silver:
It’s always important to note whether your woman prefers gold or silver jewelry, as most will almost exclusively wear either one or the other. You don’t want to buy her a gold necklace that she’ll seldom wear because it doesn’t match any of her other pieces. This is especially important when purchasing an engagement ring – the one piece of jewelry she’ll wear every day. However, this is an easy obstacle to overcome, since you can simply observe the jewelry she wears each day or quickly peruse her jewelry box when she’s distracted. You’ll be able to tell right away which type of metal she likes to wear.
