Top 10 Jewelry Gift Mistakes
10 Terrible Jewelry Gift Mistakes Most Men Make: Never under any circumstances should you knowingly make any of the following errors when giving a jewelry gift to your spouse. That said, I have to admit that I have been on the receiving end of nearly 90% of these mistakes. Sure, I can blame it on the fact that I am in the jewelry business, and by default, it is that much harder for a man to gift my jewelry. But some of these mistakes seem so obvious that they shouldn’t be as common as they are.
Keep this in mind, this list is meant to be a simple, light-hearted guide, and there will be gray areas where it might be appropriate to pop the question a couple of weeks into dating. Above all else, when shopping for jewelry, use your best judgment, and shop from a reliable jewelry retailer.
1. The Ring Box Fake Out
This fake-out works in two ways, one way is very desirable, and the other is just plain cruel. In both scenarios, picture a committed, unmarried couple that has been together for a few years. It is the woman’s birthday, and in the first scenario, she is presented with a very large, beautifully wrapped box. She opens it thinking it might be the flat-screen TV she wanted, only to find another box and another box.
After opening five nested boxes, she is presented with a ring box, and inside it is a diamond engagement ring. Her boyfriend gets up and proposes. She says yes, and everyone in the room starts cheering. In the second scenario, it is the woman’s birthday, and she is opening gifts in front of a party full of people. She gets her significant other’s gift, and it is the size of a small ring box. Her face gets flushed, and she quickly opens the wrapping paper to find an actual ring box. Her heart begins racing. She excitedly opens the box, nearly crying at this point, and finds a right-hand ring in the shape of a cheetah. Her boyfriend chimes in, “you love cheetahs, right?” She tries hard to hide her disappointment, but she is deflated.
If a proposal might be anywhere in your future, but you are not proposing, do not fake out your partner with a ring box that might be misconstrued as an engagement ring box. If you are proposing, by all means, fake her out.
2. Buying Jewelry That’s Not Her Style
Nothing says jewelry blunder more than when you spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on jewelry that just isn’t her style. Observe the types of jewelry your loved one wears currently. Take pictures if you have to. Make sure that you know what style she likes before you make a significant investment. That, or make sure the retailer has a very strong return policy.
See Also: Engagement Rings for Every Style
3. Cracker Jack Box Jewelry
There have probably been hundreds of engagement rings stuffed inside cracker jack boxes for a fun surprise proposal. On the other end of that is the actual jewelry that comes inside cracker jack boxes. This jewelry is cheap and will inevitably turn your finger green. When it comes to gift-giving, unless you are buying high-end costume jewelry worth more than $25, I would leave Claire’s shopping to your loved one.
Instances where very cheap costume jewelry is okay: young couples still in school or when money is really tight.
4. Poorly Made or Damaged Jewelry
Jewelry that is poorly made will cause havoc down the road but won’t necessarily stand out to you like cracker jack box jewelry would. There is cheap costume jewelry (cracker jack box jewelry), and then there is poorly made or damaged fine jewelry.
Things to watch out for in antique jewelry include overly thin bands, worn down or non-existent prongs, and any cracks to the stones.
Things to watch out for in new jewelry include loose stones, rough or sharp prongs, and gold that has tiny holes in it or a poor finish.
5. No Jewelry at All
If you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, it might seem unnecessary to give jewelry as a gift. This is simply not true. Find out when the best time to give jewelry in a relationship is.
6. Getting Her Ring Size Wrong
This mistake is most commonly made for engagement rings. Either you don’t get the ring sized at all, or you size it to the wrong size. Both leave the woman disappointed that she can’t wear her ring right away. However, the worst mistake you might make is the latter because, as most jewelers will tell you, the less you have to size a ring the better.
First, try everything you can to get an accurate ring size.
If you have a size (or she tells you her ring size), by all means, get the ring adjusted before you propose. If you are unsure, at least give the jeweler a ballpark so they can let you know if the ring is sizable. Some designs are unable to be altered beyond a certain point.
See Also: Everything You Need to Know About Ring Sizing
7. Jewelry that is Too Expensive
In case you’re struggling to pay your mortgage, the last thing your loved one is going to appreciate is a pair of diamond earrings that maxed out your credit cards. If this gift is something your spouse appreciates, it is time to reevaluate your budget and your relationship.
8. Jewelry with Expectations
Never give jewelry with the expectation of something in return. You also don’t want to feel like you have to continually buy your partner jewelry just to stay in their good graces.
9. Lying About the Stones
In this business, I have heard some horror stories about women thinking they have some huge diamond only to find out it is fake. Maybe it was a misunderstanding between you and the retailer, maybe you got ripped off, or maybe you just blatantly lied. Do not tell your partner you just bought them a real ruby when indeed it is synthetic. They may never find out; however, if they do, their disappointment will be monumental.
10. Jewelry Too Soon Into the Relationship
This goes for both fine jewelry and a proposal. Make sure you feel out your partner to know whether or not jewelry is appropriate. If you give fine jewelry too soon before you are fully committed, it could really freak your partner out.