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Original poster

Buy a £1000 ring for my son's 21st?

33 replies

hamgot · 07/02/2021 09:52

My son spotted a ring he really likes at a jewellers. It's gold, and has a symbol of the country that both of his parents are from (we are emigres). So it would have meaning. The only thing is, is it's £1000. Now we can definitely afford to pay that for a special gift, but I'd be worried he'd lose it.

OP posts:
Cheersdickie · 07/02/2021 09:54

Can’t you get him a different metal and have it engraved? Eg tungsten or stainless steel?

MrWendel · 07/02/2021 09:55

Sounds like a lovely gift. I would offer to look after it for him but most importantly, have it properly insured as a names special valuable under your Household policy.

nimbuscloud · 07/02/2021 09:56

Get it insured on your house insurance policy. Make sure it’s covered for loss or theft outside the house.

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Lemonsyellow · 07/02/2021 09:58

Does he really want a ring, as opposed to you just giving him £1,000 for his birthday? He might like the ring, but might like the money a lot more.

Isadora2007 · 07/02/2021 10:00

I guess it’s a significant birthday and many people would buy a car or an expensive watch or indeed a ring for a daughter. So if it is meaningful and he would like it then yes I’d get it. But add it to house insurance and tell him he’d be paying the excess!

AlwaysCheddar · 07/02/2021 10:58

Will he want it in 1 year, 5 years? Why not a watch?

Bunnybigears · 07/02/2021 11:01

If you can afford it and are happy to spend that much then I dont think the fact he may lose it should put you off. He is 21 not a child, if he loses it thats his problem. I would get it insured though.

Lemonsyellow · 07/02/2021 11:06

I guess it’s a significant birthday and many people would buy a car or an expensive watch or indeed a ring for a daughter.

Would many people do this? My DC didn’t get anything expensive on their 21st birthdays, certainly not a car or expensive jewellery or a watch. No one I know would buy gifts like this.

cheeseybean · 07/02/2021 13:35

A ring that he really likes is a much better gift than just giving cash. It will be something he will keep for years (providing he doesn't lose it!) and maybe even pass on a son. Way way better than cash

Dozer · 07/02/2021 13:36

Not a good plan IMO, even if he likes it now that could well change and £1000 is a lot, even if you can afford it.

Needsmustnow · 07/02/2021 13:39

I think the most expensive jewellery I've ever had was about £300.

FinallyFluid · 07/02/2021 13:39

DS would like a pinky ring, I have said that I will buy him one in silver for his twentieth birthday and if he keeps it on and doesn't lose it over the year then I will upgrade him to a gold one.

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 07/02/2021 13:59

Just give £1,000 cash. He may have admired it but there's a difference between admiring something that costs a grand and receiving it when you could have had the cold hard cash

XiCi · 07/02/2021 14:05

I would definitely buy it, its a landmark birthday and sounds like something he'd cherish. Why buy something like a watch when it's the ring he likes? And cash would just be frittered away. Sounds like a lovely idea.

peak2021 · 07/02/2021 14:05

I wouldn't do this. A holiday somewhere special once Covid 19 restrictions are removed, perhaps to the country of heritage?

If you do, the point about house insurance is well made.

Monkeypeas · 07/02/2021 14:13

Two things:

1 - would be actually really want it? He may have just admired it because of the connection to that country. Does he wear jewellery?
If so, could you look for a cheaper ring and have it engraved? (I certainly didn’t get anything worth £1k on my 21st even though I was given jewellery)

2 - why are loads of people suggesting other things that they think he should have?
That’s the annoying thing people do when they say a couple have asked for cash / vouchers as wedding gifts. But they want to give them something meaningful.
Tip for you, if it’s not what they asked for (or in this case, said they liked) it’s not going to be meaningful

Damnloginpopup · 08/02/2021 06:12

Stainless steel? Did I really read that? Its not a cock ring.

HowQuicklyTwoAndTwenty890 · 08/02/2021 06:26

If you can afford it and if he really wants itand cherishes it then I would go for it. he may wear it for the rest of his life. i still wear the emerald and diamond ring I got for my 21st!

And it is not the same to get 'something cheaper'. he saw what he wanted an admired. It;s like when you really really want a cabbage patch doll but your parents buy you one of the fakes instead. You know the difference and wonder why your parents did not trust that you knew what you would value!

PinkyParrot · 08/02/2021 06:41

Has he tried it on - it might not suit his hand, be too wide?

BigPaperBag · 08/02/2021 07:16

@Lemonsyellow

I guess it’s a significant birthday and many people would buy a car or an expensive watch or indeed a ring for a daughter.

Would many people do this? My DC didn’t get anything expensive on their 21st birthdays, certainly not a car or expensive jewellery or a watch. No one I know would buy gifts like this.

Why should that stop the OP doing it if she wants to?

Go for it @hamgot if you want to and you think it’s the right thing to do.

Thebestposter · 08/02/2021 07:17

A ring? No. Weird

AlwaysLatte · 08/02/2021 07:39

Would many people do this? My DC didn’t get anything expensive on their 21st birthdays, certainly not a car or expensive jewellery or a watch. No one I know would buy gifts like this.

We did driving lessons for 17th birthday and cars for 18th for the first two and will do the same for the younger two - 18th is more traditional for this, I think.

AlwaysLatte · 08/02/2021 07:40

If he really loves the ring I'd do it, unless he has other ideas.

StealthRoast · 08/02/2021 07:47

If you can afford it and he loves it then go for it. It’s a special birthday!

My ds is 18 in a few weeks and I’m getting him an AppleMac, he’s always wanted one. They cost around the 1.3k but as above it’s a special birthday.

Only you know your son. Would he be thrilled with the ring?

Kez200 · 08/02/2021 08:31

Insurance or get a price to have an individual one made from a different metal.

It sounds like a lovely gift for a 21st but, I agree, thats a lot of money to be "wearing" when young