The pressure is building on many of us to come up with the most romantic, most touching, perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Whether you’re anticipating your first Valentine’s Day with a new love, or trying to top all your previous gifts to a long-time squeeze, you can always look to the experts for a little help.
Since jewelry is so popular at this time of year, I asked Hannah Davis, who owns Buschemeyer’s on Dundee Road with her husband Leslie, for tips on selecting the perfect jewelry gift to suit your other half. She’s confident that you can impress your partner by keeping these suggestions in mind.
Consider Their Taste
This seems like a simple task at first, but when contemplating a gift of jewelry, a multitude of questions will need to be answered. “Do they like contemporary? Or vintage? What colors do they prefer? Yellow or white? Sterling or gold? It’s so personal; whoever you are buying for, you will have to really know the person. And even then, it’s very hard. My husband and I have been married for 37 years, and he wouldn’t know what I would like,” Davis says with a smile.
Think about the recipient’s personality and whether they would wear a certain piece or style every day. If not, that may be a sign that it’s not a great choice.
Take a Cue from the Stars
If your beloved emulates the style of a favorite actor or singer, that may provide a clue to a gift that will pull at their heart strings and show you’re really paying attention. “You probably don’t know who Arlene Francis was, but she was extremely popular back in the 60s, on ‘What’s My Line?’ She was known for the diamond heart necklace she always wore, and the style became really popular.” (It’s true; IMDb says the same thing about the necklace in her bio.)
These days, it is easy to surreptitiously check out pictures of your love’s favorite stars and see what type of jewelry they wear.
Be Trendy
Try an of-the-moment choice.”Morganite, which is named for J.P. Morgan, is very popular right now. It’s a pinkish stone, and is usually set in rose gold,” says Davis.
Get Engaged!
Many couples get engaged at Valentine’s Day, and choosing a ring on your own can be nerve-wracking. “Know her preferences on stone shape,” recommends Davis. From there, the store can help you through answers on size and price range and quality of the diamond.
“Colored diamonds, which are irradiated, are also very popular. The most prominent are blue, green, brown, black and yellow diamonds,” says Davis. “Pink or red diamonds are very, very rare.”
“Many people are also going with moissanite instead of diamonds these days. It’s a softer stone, but has more brilliance,” she notes.
Don’t Forget the Guys
For men, you can go with a ring or bracelet, says Davis, but “tie bars are really making a comeback. We also have money clips and cigar cutters, which are great for men’s gifts.”
Above all, have fun choosing a jewelry gift, and don’t be shy about asking your jeweler for assistance. Valentine’s Day comes every year – they’re well-versed in the gift selection process.
Photos: Kachina Shaw
