Jewellery Gifting

Jewellery Gifting

How-To Guide | Buying Jewellery for Someone Else

Get your gifting purchases right from the get-go.

Christmas Gift Guide | Find the Perfect Jewellery Gift | Blog Post by Kit Heath
How-To Guides | December 2021

Buying Jewellery for Someone Else

Jewellery is an all-time favourite when it comes to gifting, especially around key holiday periods like Christmas. With the added responsibilities and endless task lists at this time of year, choosing the right gift can feel daunting.

We’ve created this simple guide to help you and ensure your gift is loved and cherished for years to come.

The Recipient | Christmas Gifting Guide: How To Buy Jewellery for Someone Else | Rhodium Plated Sterling Silver by Kit Heath
how to buy jewellery for someone else | Part 1

The Recipient

Jewellery is a highly emotive purchase and, as a result, very personal to both the gift giver and the recipient. Buying for someone else, whether a loved one, sibling, parent or even a colleague or friend, is very different to buying for yourself.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, as the queues to the customer service desks post-Christmas prove. However, there are a few simple steps to maximise your chances of getting it right with the least amount of stress possible.

Bohemian Style | Christmas Gifting Guide | Sterling Silver Jewellery by Kit Heath

Bohemian

noun /bəʊˈhiːmiən/ a person, often somebody who is involved with the arts, who lives in a very informal way without following accepted rules of behaviour
HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE RECIPIENT

Style: Visual Cues & Lifestyle Choices

Buying for a wife and Great Aunt Molly should of course be approached slightly differently, but the key elements, and questions to ask and answer when choosing, follow the same principle. Is the recipient an influencer, trend-follower, or a rule unto herself? Is her taste floral, geometric, or abstract? Does she usually wear silver, gold, or a mix of both? Does she like sparkle, or does she prefer designs in more unusual styles and colours?

HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE RECIPIENT

Personas

Both those inclined towards being trendsetters and eclectic in style tend to be quite daring in their outfit choices and you can easily identify their style influences; whether urban, retro, city chic or free-loving bohemians, a general style can usually be easily identified in their outward personas.

Retro Style | Christmas Gifting Guide 2021 | Silver Jewellery by Kit Heath

Retro

adjective /ˈrɛtrəʊ/ imitative of a style or fashion from the recent past
HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE RECIPIENT

Affinities

Does she have a strong affinity for something, for example, a love of bees or all things natural? Look for clues in her lifestyle choices and anything she may be particularly vocal about.

Blossom Flyte Honey Bee and Dragon Fly Necklaces | Nature Inspired Silver Jewellery by Kit Heath

Nature

noun /ˈneɪtʃə(r)/ the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth...
HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE RECIPIENT

Relationships

Familial, platonic, romantic, or professional?

Someone You Know

Buying for someone you know well is usually easier. You’ve already identified their style; you’ve quite possibly gifted to them before and know what works for them. You can use your experiences to drive your next decision! You might choose another piece from a collection they already have or like or consider adding engraving to a piece to make it even more personal.

Entwine Twine Twist Pave Necklace | Sterling Silver Jewellery by Kit Heath
Classic Kit Heath | Sterling Silver Jewellery by Kit Heath
HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE RECIPIENT
A New Acquaintance

Buying for an acquaintance is always harder by default but doesn’t have to be taxing. Steer your shortlist towards more simple designs, bestsellers that have already proven themselves, and classic shapes which work with a multitude of styles. Less is more when you’re unsure!

HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE RECIPIENT
For the Man (who has everything)

We spend a lot of time thinking about gifting jewellery for women, but jewellery for men can be the perfect personal gift for the men in our lives too. Our cufflinks collection is a classic go-to for both occasional and professional wear, with engravable options available for those keepsakes and milestone events. Even “awkward dad” who has everything will enjoy a quality pair of cufflinks to wear.

how to buy jewellery for someone else | Part 2

The Buyer

Shopping Smart: Make shopping easier with a budget and eliminate those common sizing pitfalls

HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE Buyer

Budget

The main present for a loved one, a stocking filler for a sibling, or an office Secret Santa?

Most of us have an idea of how much we are prepared to spend on a Christmas gift, and as with anything, this will greatly vary.

Start with setting your maximum budget and use filtering tools or pre-made gifting edits to shop within your allowance. A smaller selection from the get-go will make choosing so much easier, and not tempt you with items outside of your price range, making your gift buying journey quicker and more enjoyable.

HOW TO BUY JEWELLERY FOR SOMEONE ELSE: THE Buyer

Sizing

Give Yourself a Margin for Error

For those really tough decisions, it helps to stick to simpler rules. Size can matter but sticking to necklaces and wristwear tends to be safer, especially if you choose adjustable styles.

Earrings

It kind of goes without saying, but sometimes these things slip our minds! If buying earrings, whether studs, hoops, or drops, do check that the recipient has pierced ears.

Toggle Bracelets

Wrists are as unique as you. Toggle style bracelets are perfect if you’re unsure, as the sliding fastener allows the bracelet to be adjusted to the perfect size and fit.

Necklace Extender Chains

All of our necklaces include at least one link to allow adjusting to a shorter length. Our product detail pages indicate the chain length under the specification tab, but should you be unsure what length is best, we offer extender chains for greater versatility.

Rings

Sizing is important with rings; check against an existing ring the recipient wears and consider which finger it will be worn on. Wider rings tend to need to be larger as there is more surface creating resistance. A thumb ring will also need to be larger than a ring for the wedding finger. Our dominant hand tends to be marginally bigger than the other (think of all the exercise it’s getting with everyday tasks!)

Personalisation

It’s worth remembering that adding engraving will prevent you from returning an item, even if it turns out to be unsuitable due to fit or style. If you’re not sure, choose something like our Signature initial necklace. It’s still personal to the recipient, just without the permanent alteration and customisation of engraving.

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how to buy jewellery for someone else | Conclusion

The Take-Away

Follow our three 'S's for a pain-free gift shopping experience:

Did You Know?

All our jewellery is made from sterling silver and is stamped KH 925 and/or hallmarked (as is required by law in the UK for silver items weighing 7.78g or above) to denote the fineness of silver (sterling means 925 of 1000 parts are pure silver). You can read more about silver fineness and British hallmarks at our hallmarking partner’s website, Edinburgh Assay Office.

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