Man & Woman: We’re
pretty different, and the stereotypes and clichés are endless. And by now we should
really know what makes each other tick. That said, the number of times I’ve
seen men put endless thought and energy into buying
the wrong gift for
their significant others, leaving both disappointed with the result, is sadly too
high to ignore. There is clearly a problem of misunderstanding here!
Handbags, dresses, scarves are all swell. But Gentlemen, listen
to me, if ever in doubt, go for something small and shiny.
Yes, the sparsely populated jewellery stores and overly zealous
(ehm, desperate) sales people are harbingers of our newest recession, Recession
Version XYZ (I lost count). So time to tighten our purse strings, yet again? Well,
sort of. I've chosen to become somewhat immune to it all, frankly. What's the point? The doom and gloom: the
ratings-boosting headlines on the news, and the uninformed apocalyptic
speculation on the street and all the rest of it (the sales in the shops
however, are fantastic). So, what to do? Keep calm and carry on, I say! Do your
bit, and help raise London’s GDP!
Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and births must still be
celebrated and marked, and what expresses love better than a classic, timeless
piece of jewellery? Eternal, ever lasting, it’s a beautiful memory of the
moment. It’s what she really wants.
I love being spoiled by my husband, and there are few things
that bring a girlish excitement to my face more than a sparkly something
special. It’s one of the best parts about being a girl: being adorned by
beautiful, precious things!
@Gentlemen: Skip
the next paragraph, moving straight to the Classic Jewellery Selection.
@Ladies: Carry
On.
Ladies, Expressing your
wish for something can be the loveliest of moments if received well –but it’s also the most delicate. Should your Dear
Darling not precisely grasp your desire for a particular something special, here are a few ‘points’ you may want to include in
your chat...
1.
It’s a good investment. Gold, diamonds and other
precious metals and stones are renown for their intrinsic value, but their
appreciating value is often overlooked. My husband loves a good investment- so
I present him with one that brings both of us happiness! Unlike cars, they appreciate,
and unlike stocks, they have immediate utility and won’t lose their worth at
the flash of a threatening news headline. In these uncertain economic times, jewellery
could just be your safest bet yet. Isn’t that great?!
2.
It will become an heirloom. If you have a
daughter, this flies much easier, but if you don’t, daughter-in-laws and
granddaughters still work, albeit are a bit further fetched…
3. Lastly, try this: ‘But I really really want it’ Our men hate to disappoint us, they hate to
see us with a frown, knowing they have caused us this unhappiness. It’s in
their nature: they want to provide, take care of and please us. It is really
the sweetest thing! So ladies, be careful, please don’t abuse this.
So now on to the most elegant, classic jewellery pieces that
every woman should have in her jewellery box. Pulling together this selection,
I consulted a few dear friends with nothing short of exquisite taste.
Here are the 5
classic jewellery picks.
1.
Diamond Are
Still a Girls Best Friend. Diamond
studs: A must, must, must-this is the most important piece after your
engagement ring! My advice: get a pair done at a jeweller. Brand named jewellers will make this piece (and
so many others) unaffordable and frankly, not worth the extra cost. Your
jeweller (and every girl needs a good one that they can rely on) can make you a
perfect set, as perfect as Tiffany’s can (sorry), at a much sweeter price. My
engagement ring, for example, is derived from the classical Tiffany’s six-prong
setting, but made by my trusted jeweller. Just be extremely very careful about
1) the quality of the stones and metal and 2) the craftsmanship of the setting.
Key points to keep in mind:
a.
Ask for GIA or HRD certified stones only (other
labs can be so misleading in their assessments, you wont know what you’re
buying) and read up on the 4 C’s before.
b.
Don’t go below 18 karat gold (ok, maybe 14k) or
you’ll hardly be getting any actual gold at all, and stick to platinum for
bigger stones as you wouldn’t want to lose one of those!
c.
Finally, inspect existing items in stock to make
sure you’re happy with their craftsmanship quality.
A diamond tennis bracelet would
complete the look. Design it yourself- choose your cut and setting. I’m really
loving cushion cut diamonds at the moment. They are an adorable twist on
brilliant (round) cuts without visually losing any carat weight. Unfortunately
they are still a bit difficult to come by but so worth the hassle.
2. Beautiful Bold Bangles. Bangles are arm
candy, magic on a woman’s wrist, making music as she moves. They are perfectly
casual but also bold accents on a more formal outfit. I prefer to wear at least
two. My mother always wore bangles, and even today hearing the chimes of
bangles brings back warm memories. My favourite is the Cartier Trinity bangle,
signifying eternity, in three colours of gold. It will match any tone of what
you’re wearing as well as compliment a white or yellow gold colour-based
jewellery set. The Trinity ring is a beautiful piece too but not along with the
bangles- too much.
Cartier also makes
the Love bangle –an eye-catching ‘It’ piece, perfectly suited for stacking.
A little less
well-known in Europe are David Yurman’s statement bangles, exciting and
beautifully sculpted designs (
www.davidyurman.com).
Or if you’re into a
more modern aesthetic, take a look at Danish designer Georg Jensen who’s taking
the world by storm with his contemporary finish (
www.georgjensen.com).
3. Timeless Timepieces. A wrist should never be bare, so it’s got to
be either a watch or bracelet. A watch is the perfect accessory to any outfit-
formal or casual. Rolex, Cartier, Patek Phillippe, Audemar Piguet, Piaget,
Jaeger LeCoultre are all classic brands, which have and will, stand the test of
time. Stay away from – 1) fashion brands
like Gucci, Chanel or Hermes who don’t have a history of watchmaking, and 2) hot
ticket items: their prices are swelled up by demand, and their production
over-stimulated. Do you really want the same piece that’s on every ones wrist? Keep
it as varied, unique and special as you can – it should feel that way.
4. A Pendant, Close to your Heart. A
necklace adorning a pendant of significance close to your heart is a perfect
gift. My daughter’s godmothers wear a pendant of an ‘A’ letter for her name,
Alexandra. A symbol of love, faith, a person, or superstition, whatever it is, let it mean something to you.
5. She Can’t Go Without Pearls! The
understated beauty of pearls is not to be misunderstood. Some perceive them as a step down from
diamonds, or dismiss them as old-fashioned, but that’s simply not the case.
Pearls are the most elegant piece of jewellery a woman can own, and the most
romantic gift a husband can buy his wife. Less flash and cash, it’s about the
sheer beauty of the marine miracle. A set of delicately-sized drop earrings or
a strand of any length is not only breath-taking in its own right, their glory
will even make a woman more beautiful. Their natural beauty will brighten her
face, evoking elegance reminiscent of a gentler era.
(Trusted Tip from a Savvy Friend:
buy tax-free at airports when travelling out of EU. It will save you a
fortune!)
Now, a brief note on bijouterie. Let’s be frank: we all wear it,
and we all love it. It’s the best for that fun cocktail ring or fun set of trendy
earrings, and a great way to satisfy an impulse purchase urge without getting a
credit card bill that will spark an uncomfortable conversation with your
husband (eek!). Local high street stores and boutique shops alike make the
sweetest, fun things, that in reality you would enjoy wearing a few times to
accent an outfit, but wouldn’t necessarily suit your tastes in ten years time. So
a fun little pick me up, a bit like a naughty cupcake!
So there it is, my list of must
have pieces, some of which I am lucky enough to enjoy but many of which I
aspire to. On a serious note, I hope this all doesn’t sound lofty– I really do
have a passion for jewellery and I specifically chose items made of precious
stones and metals, because ‘forever’ is implicit in their nature. They are the
true classics in every sense of the word: timeless and everlasting; they
encapsulate the special moment in time between the giver and receiver, and will
forever be a sweet memory of that very moment. Worldly
beauty, at it’s best. So, yes, Gentlemen,
small and sparkly goes a long way.
An equally good alternative? A puppy.
