Thursday, January 15, 2009

A Guide for Men on Buying Jewelery for Women

By Blue Lily

The fact is that we're guys and guys don't always know exactly what women want for jewelry. The good news is that thousands of guys figure it out and survive the jewelry purchasing ordeal daily. To get it right, you'll need to plan ahead. You can't wait until the day before.

You have choices of the type of jewelry, rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. Then you have choices of metals, yellow gold, white gold, platinum, silver and more. And then there are the gems. Make a mental note - real gems are always better than fake gems. Even a small authentic gem is preferable to a large fake gem. If you have any doubts, ask a woman.

To figure out what she wants, listen when she talks about jewelry. Some women like to drop hints. Think about her personality and lifestyle. If she's conservative, she might like simple, classic jewelry. Does she enjoy handmade or artisan items? Consider something unique and handcrafted made with fine materials. Does she line frills and lace? You get the idea. Do any of these styles show up in her jewelry box?

The quickest way to determine her sizes is to friends and family. Another option is to measure the pieces in her jewelry box. If none of those options work, consider taking some of her jewelry pieces to the jewelry store so they can size them for you.

To determine how much to spend, consider the occasion from her point of view. The more meaningful the occasion to her, the more you can spend. That means every anniversary is important! Her first Mother's Day is very important, although you really don't need to go crazy. How about a charm bracelet or a ring with the baby's birthstone? You do have the birthstone list, right?

Where to start? Start by surfing the Web. Learn jewelry basics. Learn about different metals, and gems. Get a feel for prices. Locate some retailers in your area. Do you need a list of birthstones? Make notes. This information will be useful for future purchases.

Shopping doesn't come naturally to many guys. We often avoid it. There's a saying: women shop, men buy. But you'll have to do at a little shopping this time to find the right gift. If you've done your homework, you'll be fine. Visit several jewelry stores and compare value and quality, not just price. Buy from an established company.

How should you present the gift? Will it be in a romantic setting? How about as an unexpected surprise? You want her to remember it for a long time, so be original. - 16463

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