Are you planning on giving a gift of jewelry this Valentine’s Day?
Before even considering a purchase, the most important thing to do is research and planning in advance around the piece you will buy, whether it’s that very special ring or you’re choosing a necklace, earrings or bracelet.
If you’re planning to propose, then there will be an added set of considerations and you will need plenty of time to decide on the type of ring that you want and the price range, the four C’s – color, cut, clarity and carat. You’ll want this most special of rings to be as unique and precious as your love story itself.
You’ll need to make decisions on whether to go for a traditional or modern choice and whether you will opt for a diamond or another type of stone as the centerpiece. There is also the option to engrave a message on to the ring, which can be a beautiful way to express your intentions, your promise and your love.
If you – or your bride to be – has Irish heritage or is interested in Irish design or history, then there are choices of
Celtic engagement rings or
Claddagh engagement rings and many beautiful collections with an Irish or Celtic theme.
The Claddagh is a timeless choice as an engagement ring. In addition to the
traditional Claddagh, there are many embellished beautiful rings with different styles of band, from the more ornate to the more restrained.
There’s also the choice to include a precious stone as the heart centerpiece and really reinforce the message of the Claddagh – the heart for love, the hands for friendship and the crown for loyalty.
So how do you choose the right Valentine’s Day jewelry? Here’s a 5 step guide to making the right decision:
Let Them Know Your Intentions
On this most special of days, you’ll need to be careful not to leave the gift open to the wrong interpretation, so if you are planning to propose, then that should be very clear and you should put the planning in now to the piece of jewelry that you select, the location you plan to propose in and just how you will pop the question.
If you are giving jewelry as a special gift, but not proposing, then you’ll need to make that clear at the outset when you’re giving the gift, especially if it’s a ring, so that there is no disappointment!
Whether you are getting engaged or not, you’ll have made the right decision in choosing a gift of jewelry, as it always adds that extra sparkle to Valentine’s Day.
Set Out Your Spend
Set out your planned budget in advance as there is huge variation when it comes to jewelry choices. Whether it’s gold or silver, it is best to set your guideline price in advance before searching online. This will narrow down your choices and help you to make the decision whether it is a ring, necklace, bracelet, earrings, a brooch or a tie pin or pair of cuff links.
Tailor Your Purchase To The Wearer
One really important element to consider when choosing the right Valentine’s Day jewelry is the style of the wearer. It’s essential that you like the piece that you are buying but you will also need to think about whether the recipient will like it too.
Take an extra close look at the type of jewelry that the recipient normally wears – for example don’t buy a large, embellished piece of jewelry if they normally wear discreet pieces. Equally, check whether they normally prefer a more contemporary look or go for traditional jewelry.
Make Sure to Measure
If you are buying a ring, you’ll need to make sure that you get the measurement correct. This can be tricky, but there are many good on-line guides to ring sizing available to help, such as the
one available from Rings from Ireland.
Think Ahead
The great thing about gifting jewelry is that it allows the wearer to build a collection and as the relationship evolves you can continue to gift additional pieces over many years.
It is a nice idea to develop matching sets of jewelry, so if you are interested in doing that, it can result in a beautiful collection.
There are many collections available from the
Celtic Warrior Collection to the
Eternal Promise Collection and from the
Faith Collection to the
History of Ireland Collection. There’s even a
Family Name Coat of Arms that can be personalized with a family crest.
These include matching sets of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings and this can be the most romantic starting point to a timeless and romantic jewelry collection.
Happy Valentine’s Day 2017!