Need help with Jewlery purchase for wife (anniversary).

altmann

So my 8th anniversary is coming up in about 3 weeks. I'm looking to get my wife something, probably a bracelet or maybe necklace, I'm looking in the $1000 range or so. My main question is this:

Should I go to "mall stores" or am I just going to get ripped off at places like Tiffany or Helzberg. I tend to be skeptical about them, and I don't want to pay a premium for a brand name when I'm already dropping a grand on this "thing" whatever it ends up being.

Does anyone have advice on the best places to go? Are "neighborhood" jewelers better? Are there online jewelers that are even worth it?

Forbe!

Support small jewelers, they have a hard time competing with large chain stores that outsource most of their work to Korea and China, few places like that actually make any of their own jewelry besides setting the stones.

Mom & Pop jewelers are usually very friendly, but if you don't feel comfortable with them, and they don't treat you well, don't give them your business. If they treat you terribly when you are giving them money, how do you think they're going to be when you come in for repairs and cleanings? A lot of the smaller jewelers will have their own line of in-house designed jewelry, making some of the pieces one of a kind. This is different from chain jewelers, like I explained before, who simply get the metal findings/pieces and simply at stones to them, allowing for little customization.

You may pay more buying from one of the small guys, but depending on the jeweler, you will have a lot more say in what they produce for you, and can usually work around your price range.

ceres

What Forbe! said, pretty much exactly. If they're anything less than completely helpful, go somewhere else (that goes for a big name like Zales or Kay as well).

To add to that, if you decide you don't feel comfortable with that route but still want something unique, look for a Na Hoku in your area or check out their website. I'm in love with their Plumeria jewelry (much of which seems to min about $250ish so I don't have *tons* of it), and their boulder opals are amazing.

I've been with my husband since 2007, and just about every piece he's ever bought me, engagement ring and wedding band aside, has come from this store. He always takes me and has me pick something out, but he also probably knows by this point that he could really safely walk out of the store with a plumeria ANYTHING and surprise me, and I'd be thrilled.

Belruel

Support your local jewelry store if you can find something you think she will adore there, but I know that if I were to be getting such a costly gift of jewelry, I would want Tiffany jewelry, which I lust after endlessly. It is classy, timeless, very well made, and simply beautiful. Whatever you do don't get that awful kay jewelers open heart necklace, thing looks like two scrotums pushed together.

near your price range I like
golden heart
drop pendant with pink sapphires
fringe necklace, with pearls

or you could buy her a couple of less expensive items, tiffany has beautiful silver.
bean necklace this is really pretty in the smallest size, great for everyday wear
love locket
eternal circle in handcarved amethyst
infinity pendant

VisionOfClarity

I worked for a small, local jewelry store. Every repair we had was sent out of house and we overcharged for it so we could make money off of repairs. We also cost more than the bigger chain stores because our buying costs were higher. I only buy from bigger stores now because I know they're charging me less and most of them have service plans where they will clean/inspect for free and as long as you get that done every 6 months they will do most repairs free (I've had missing diamonds replaced even).


Which one you shop at depends. To be frank, I don't care for Tiffany because you are paying for the Tiffany name and that's a huge premium. But if your wife loves Tiffany's clearly that's the place to chose.

altmann

Hmm, I think it's going to come down to good old gruntwork. I'll have to hit the pavement and go to these places. I will check out the mall and go to these various places. My wife prefers silver/white gold and doesn't have really anything that's gold colored.

I was originally thinking a bracelet or something, but I don't think those are so in style and I don't see her wearing them much.

VisionOfClarity

Personally, I don't wear bracelets because they're always bumping into things. But if I had a nice bracelet to wear out to nice dinners or on special occasions I'd rock it.

Xaquin

Buy her Lizzy Borden Hatchet Earrings

http://www.lizzie-borden.com/GiftShop.aspx

on a more serious note, you might hint around asking her or maybe a family member if she had a favorite piece of jewelry as a child and then buy a pricier version of it.

Practical, sentimental and thoughtful

Belruel

the pandora charm bracelets are actually very nice, and in style too.

Usagi

Check out Etsy!

There are tons of great handmade jewelry things there, also a lot of vintage pieces, and I'm sure your wife would love that you put so much thought into her gift rather than just going to a store.

I have no idea what your price range is, but here is a lovely silver and garnet bracelet, adorable stackable gemstone rings, and a gorgeous colorful necklace. Lots of great stuff over there!

ceres

If you're looking to spend that much money on something nice, don't go to Etsy. For my own comfort at least, I wouldn't want to put down $1k over the internet to an individual I can't look in the eye.

kalia

I don't know if any of it'll be the sort of thing you're looking for, but for online shopping I actually like http://www.novica.com/. I've gotten a couple of things & have been perfectly happy with the process & product.

etdragon

altmann wrote: »

Hmm, I think it's going to come down to good old gruntwork. I'll have to hit the pavement and go to these places. I will check out the mall and go to these various places. My wife prefers silver/white gold and doesn't have really anything that's gold colored.

I was originally thinking a bracelet or something, but I don't think those are so in style and I don't see her wearing them much.

I'm a lot like your wife in that I don't own any yellow gold and don't wear bracelets. Necklaces are always good or you could consider getting her a ring to wear on her right hand. My husband got me a really awesome white gold ring that had regular diamonds and black diamonds for my birthday this year. It feels like I'm balanced wearing rings on both hands now

I do think you should visit a few places both in the mall and smaller jewelers and see what you find. You know your wife best and you want to get her something you know she'll love and it honestly doesn't matter that much where it comes from.

cncaudata

I think your location and selection will play a huge part in it, but I'll put my 2 cents in for the small local jeweler. I went that way for my wife's engagement ring, and have since gone back for our wedding rings and all my other jewelry needs (ok... one necklace and one pair of earings in 5 years, I am a horrible husband).

They had similar prices to mall stores (for the quality - I've seen a ton of crappy diamonds in mall stores for cheap), but my repairs and cleanings are free for life, one resizing of the ring is free, and they have fresh cookies whenever I go there.

altmann

MMk, there have been quite a few good suggestions. If anything, I've learned a little bit that women have different tastes but also (in an odd way?) that price is less of an issue vs what I think she'll want. I know for Xmas I gave her a pearl necklace and I found that by asking her friends so I will probably go that route first then look 2nd. Even places like etsy at least give me ideas of what I might want to get her.

Werewolf Gamer

My husband is great at picking out jewelry. We had our wedding rings done by a local jewerly store and it was beautiful! (we had some of the diamonds from my grandmothers ring put into the new setting).
however he also gets me stuff from Jared's. I'm not sure if you have a Jared's near you but he has always found nice stuff there at decent prices.