Jewelry’s Early Endearment

I remember one of my earliest memories of discussing jewelry in the context of a gift. I must have been in grade school at the time. The topic arose when one of my girlfriends was talking about how her boyfriend bought her diamond earrings to go with a dozen red roses he gave her for Valentine’s Day.

A couple of significant things to point out here :

One, and probably the most obvious, is that we were in grade school. Ok, they probably weren’t diamonds as she proclaimed, but still, this is how young we’re trained to understand the significance of giving and receiving jewelry. 

Two: this may have been the first time I felt true envy. The kind of envy that could turn you green if emotions actually held that kind of sway. Those dang earrings gave her bragging rights that she executed without even knowing why she was doing it. Her cheerful boasts were like a knee jerk reaction. By receiving a gift like that would you be able to keep a lid on it? 

Jewelry’s Powerful Roots

Which brings me to the point of jewelry’s power to convey status. Even our young minds at the time interpreted the symbol of jewelry much like our ancestors. The cultural relevance is so deeply programmed into us that even the primitive minds of ancient history understood its value in establishing the pecking order. 

This isn’t just a theory. Archeological finds confirm jewelry’s significance that dates back tens of thousands of years ago. The use of jewelry to adorn ourselves goes deeper than even language in helping us identify who we are. Therefore, gifting jewelry is a way to say ‘I see you’ and who doesn’t love to be seen?

Being acknowledged is really at the heart of what drives us. You can see this motivating factor being played out into almost everything we do. Don’t believe me? Just hop onto social media and you’ll find plenty of examples within seconds.

Jewelry’s Symbolic Significance

So, if gifting jewelry causes the recipient to feel ‘seen’, then every time they wear it they will remember that feeling. They will carry the emotion with them throughout the year and beyond. 

The holidays, especially Christmas and Valentine’s Day are vehicles and an excuse to deliver your message through a token of love. One that she will be reminded of not just at the time of receiving, but long after. The real virtue is not in the occasion but in the object itself and what it symbolizes. 

What is the meaning behind a piece of jewelry you plan on gifting someone? While the reasons can run the spectrum, I’ve never heard of someone giving a piece of jewelry to someone they didn’t like. Jewelry’s association with love is probably as old as the object itself. 

It is a symbol of affection in physical form. The emotion of love is not binary but something more obscure. You can put a form to your emotions through a hug, taking out the trash, or in this case a gift. It’s a way of showing someone that you love them.

Because love is boundless and bleeds into every relationship you care about, it’s completely normal to consider your friends as the lucky recipient. Which is why gifting jewelry is more common today than ever. It’s gone beyond the traditional convention of marking of milestones with a lover such as anniversaries, into ‘just because’ moments of appreciation.

Jewelry’s ability to powerfully communicate the messaging of both being seen and loved makes it the best fit for those who really want to make an impression with their gift-giving.  

Jewelry's Transformative Powers

As far as tokens go, jewelry easily goes beyond the symbology. It actually creates desire. Not just because of its inherent value of precious materials but how it makes the wearer feel. In fact, how expensive a piece of jewelry carries less weight than the intention behind it and how that affects your emotions. 

Jewelry can also have transformative powers in how you perceive yourself. Plus it has a unique relationship with the human form because it’s in direct contact with your skin. Necklaces hang close to your heart while wedding bands adorn your ring finger where the ancient Egyptians believed to have a vein that ran straight to your heart. 

In short, jewelry simply makes you feel beautiful and acts as a reminder of the adoration of the person who gave it to you. When you feel this good it empowers you to be confident. Its ability to act through you and on you makes it a potent source of adornment. 

In a sense, jewelry can cause you to feel more complete. 

Gifting the Perfect Piece

If you’re ready to make jewelry an everlasting gift, then there’s a few things to pay attention to. From a practical standpoint, necklaces, earrings and bracelets are the easiest because they have no size requirements. But then you always have a matter of taste and preferences when selecting a piece of jewelry. 

One way to identify if she will love it, is by doing some sleuthing of your own. Pay attention to the colors and styles she is most drawn to. Does she prefer more muted understated tones with minimal styling or does she go for bold, bright, and statement looks?

Or, go straight to the source and take a peek inside her jewelry box. Give careful consideration as to what pieces she wears the most or cherishes for special occasions. You may find that she wears minimal pearls at the office because it’s more appropriate but loves to pile on the “bling” for a night out. 

With a little research, you’ll ensure that whatever you end up giving her, will be a go-to piece that she will treasure for years to come. The other option takes the element of surprise out of the equation - but guarantees she’ll love it, and that’s by having her pick it. Women have subtle ways of dropping ‘hints’ to get what they want. You gotta be quick on the draw however because most modern women won’t hesitate to buy what she likes herself.

Good Gifting For All

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a special someone, I created a gift guide to help streamline the entire gift-giving process. Shop directly from its beautifully curated pages and virtually try on necklaces with my free app. Included with your gift guide download is your exclusive discount checkout code for 30% off the entire store for Black Friday weekend.