Jewelry ideas for a female relative
September 24, 2017 4:01 AM Subscribe
I would like to buy a female relative a necklace or bracelet. The relative is late-20s in age, and I'm quite a bit older, so I'm not sure what is fashionable with women of her age.
What I have in mind is a piece of jewelry that she can wear with jeans or dresses--i.e., most of the time. It has to be something sturdy--no lightweight chains or fiddly parts. I know her taste runs to modernistic, clean lines and that she prefers silver to gold. She also likes things that are kind of unique.
Anyway, I want to give her a piece of jewelry that will last, and cost isn't particularly a concern--although platinum and diamonds would probably be too pricey. I never buy jewelry myself, so I'm kind of at sea here. Any ideas you can give me?
What I have in mind is a piece of jewelry that she can wear with jeans or dresses--i.e., most of the time. It has to be something sturdy--no lightweight chains or fiddly parts. I know her taste runs to modernistic, clean lines and that she prefers silver to gold. She also likes things that are kind of unique.
Anyway, I want to give her a piece of jewelry that will last, and cost isn't particularly a concern--although platinum and diamonds would probably be too pricey. I never buy jewelry myself, so I'm kind of at sea here. Any ideas you can give me?
This might be a bit on the utilitarian side of jewelry, but I've been wearing things from Etsy seller XtraVirgin for a few years now. I work outside and they're great in terms of sturdiness.
My favorites include this simple silver beaded strand. Although, even as a longtime wearer of only grey metals, I really like the brass version more.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:29 AM on September 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
My favorites include this simple silver beaded strand. Although, even as a longtime wearer of only grey metals, I really like the brass version more.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:29 AM on September 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Take a look at Tiffany - they have a lot of classic items.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:32 AM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:32 AM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Anna Sheffield Attelage cuff
Monica Vinader Signature thin bangle
Hermès Clic, Chaîne d'Ancre Initiale, or Clap bracelets
Charlotte Chesnais Turtle bracelet
Roberto Coin 18k Oval bangle
The Cartier Love bracelet is a classic heirloom piece, but may be out of budget.
posted by evoque at 4:43 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Monica Vinader Signature thin bangle
Hermès Clic, Chaîne d'Ancre Initiale, or Clap bracelets
Charlotte Chesnais Turtle bracelet
Roberto Coin 18k Oval bangle
The Cartier Love bracelet is a classic heirloom piece, but may be out of budget.
posted by evoque at 4:43 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Alex and Ani bangles (Amazon Link) (Alex and Ani site) are popular now; I've both received and given them as gifts. While they have a small dangling charm - which is nice because it personalizes the bracelet - they are very sturdy bracelets and fit pretty much any wrist size. The trend is to layer several of them at once and they do look great with jeans or a dressed up outfit. Price point-wise, they range from $25 and up, so depending on your budget, you could get a few.
posted by NoraCharles at 4:57 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by NoraCharles at 4:57 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
This type of diamond solitaire necklace (not endorsing the seller, just an example) is classic but also still considered pretty fashionable. I see many women in their late 20s, myself included, who wear them everyday.
I know it's a "lightweight chain," going against you criteria, but there's no reason that should mean it's delicate or prone to break any more than a thick chain.
I would caution you against buying "brand name" jewelry like Tiffany's, Hermes, or Cartier unless your relative has expressed an interest in any of them specifically. I think it's well known among my friends that those pieces of jewelry come with an outrageous markup solely because of the name.
Of a kind is a great source for modernistic, "kind of unique" jewelry, although yellow gold is very in right now so most of their selection is not silver at the moment.
posted by telegraph at 5:20 AM on September 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
I know it's a "lightweight chain," going against you criteria, but there's no reason that should mean it's delicate or prone to break any more than a thick chain.
I would caution you against buying "brand name" jewelry like Tiffany's, Hermes, or Cartier unless your relative has expressed an interest in any of them specifically. I think it's well known among my friends that those pieces of jewelry come with an outrageous markup solely because of the name.
Of a kind is a great source for modernistic, "kind of unique" jewelry, although yellow gold is very in right now so most of their selection is not silver at the moment.
posted by telegraph at 5:20 AM on September 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Sturdy, silver, modern, can be dressed up or down: Jill Platner. A fashionable friend of mine has worn her Platner necklace most days for 20 years.
posted by minervous at 6:34 AM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by minervous at 6:34 AM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Where I live, 20-somethings are wearing geometric jewelry. Sort of like this style or even this. If you type in "geometric" into Etsy's search you will come up with a lot of options. Sorry, I know the ones I linked to are gold, but if you find the style you like, you can probably find it in silver.
posted by Toddles at 7:07 AM on September 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Toddles at 7:07 AM on September 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
Oops, those were both earrings - to get an idea of what a necklace would look like of that style see this or this.
posted by Toddles at 7:12 AM on September 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Toddles at 7:12 AM on September 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think buying jewelry for someone else can be tricky, as taste is so individual. If you can sneakily get an idea of something she really loves, just buy that.
You could check her amazon wish list, if she has one, to see if she happens to have any jewelry listed (make note of the date it was added to the list as things can change).
If you live in the same area and spend time together, you could arrange to get lunch or something, and do it in an area near a store/s with a good selection. Make an excuse to go in and make note of anything she particularly seems to like. If you don't live nearby, a trusted mutual relative might be persuaded to do this.
A more direct ploy is to say "a coworker/friend of mine is trying to find a necklace for his daughter about your age and he's completely stuck, can you suggest anything?"
posted by bunderful at 7:56 AM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
You could check her amazon wish list, if she has one, to see if she happens to have any jewelry listed (make note of the date it was added to the list as things can change).
If you live in the same area and spend time together, you could arrange to get lunch or something, and do it in an area near a store/s with a good selection. Make an excuse to go in and make note of anything she particularly seems to like. If you don't live nearby, a trusted mutual relative might be persuaded to do this.
A more direct ploy is to say "a coworker/friend of mine is trying to find a necklace for his daughter about your age and he's completely stuck, can you suggest anything?"
posted by bunderful at 7:56 AM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Look at Catbird - unique, modern, from Brooklyn. Also try Alexis Bittar or David Yurman.
If white gold or platinum is in your budget, I would choose those metals over silver as they don't tarnish and just look nicer in my opinion. I would not buy fine jewelry from Etsy - so much of that stuff is just resold junk from China and it can be difficult to sift through.
Another way to do this is to go to a big Saks or Bloomingdales and tell them what you're looking for. They will be more than happy to help and there's a good chance the sales person will be a woman in her 20s!
posted by tatiana wishbone at 9:04 AM on September 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
If white gold or platinum is in your budget, I would choose those metals over silver as they don't tarnish and just look nicer in my opinion. I would not buy fine jewelry from Etsy - so much of that stuff is just resold junk from China and it can be difficult to sift through.
Another way to do this is to go to a big Saks or Bloomingdales and tell them what you're looking for. They will be more than happy to help and there's a good chance the sales person will be a woman in her 20s!
posted by tatiana wishbone at 9:04 AM on September 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Going to Pinterest and searching "trending jewelry" will give you a good idea of what's hot right now.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:39 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:39 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
A silver or gold chain in a useful length. 18" is handy, here's a chart. As you spend more on a necklace chain, it's heavier. A plain silver or gold chain is always pretty and can be worn with jeans or dressier clothes. Then, if you want, you could add a pendant that would remind her of some pleasant thing - look at bracelet charms for that, or something that strikes you as really pretty. If you have a museum, museum shops often have beautiful jewelry, and local returns. Or, get something unique and gorgeous at the Sundance catalog.
posted by theora55 at 11:25 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 11:25 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seconding Catbird. Also Minerology is where my fashionable friends have been getting their wedding rings; they have a lot of beautiful pieces.
posted by jeweled accumulation at 7:29 PM on September 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by jeweled accumulation at 7:29 PM on September 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: So many great ideas! But I think bunderful is right about buying jewelry for others. As much as I love the more unique pieces, I'm going to either buy her a heavy chain or the engravable bracelet Monica Vinader
posted by Transl3y at 8:03 AM on September 25, 2017
posted by Transl3y at 8:03 AM on September 25, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:16 AM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]