Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Buying Jewelry for Women - Ideas for Men

By Blue Lily

Buying jewelry a woman can be challenging. When it's done right, it's a romantic, meaningful and even magical gesture. It can also be daunting, even intimidating process. But a little knowledge, planning, and preparation can go a long way towards making you hero of the story.

The variety of options will make your head spin. There are earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings and many different categories of each. As for metals, your choices include silver, platinum, yellow gold, white gold and more. Let's talk gems for a second. Anytime you have a choice, pick a small authentic gem over a large fake one. Have doubts? Ask a woman.

What does she want? If this gift will be a surprise, then you certainly can't ask her. Why not ask her sister or her mother or her friends? Women do talk to each other about jewelry so tap into the network. They may have the information you need or they may know where you can find it. If it's a secret operation, be sure to tell the ladies involved.

What size should you buy? Your options are limited here. First, ask her family & friends. If that doesn't work, measure any rings, necklaces, and in her jewelry box. As a last resort, sneak one or more of the pieces into a jewelry store so they can size it for you. Make notes for later on.

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?

Bring yourself up to speed before you're ready to purchase anything. Do your homework online. The knowledge you gain will help make the shopping experience a lot more comfortable. The goal is to make a thoughtful, personal purchase. You certainly don't need a piece of jewelry that turns her finger green. The bottom line is: Learn about jewelry quality. It will save you some grief in the long term.

Most guys aren't used to actually shopping for items. Most often we march in grab what we need and head for the door. This time you need to shop. Compare the quality, value and price of jewelry across several stores. If you've done your homework, this part should be easy. When you're ready to buy, choose an established company. If you need them later, they'll be there for you.

Remember why you've gone through all this. The gift should help express some emotion to your woman. To maximize the impact, consider exactly how to give it to her. Should it be a romantic setting? Or should it be an unexpected surprise? Don't be afraid to be original. Do this part right and she'll remember it for a long, long time. - 16650

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