Advice for wife's Christmas present

[Carleatspeas]

Hi,

Bit cheeky this but I need some sage advice. I'm desperately looking for something for my wife and want to avoid my usual fails. I find it flipping difficult to correlate the value of the things my wife seems to like. £30 on lipstick seems mental to me but normal to her. Same as £200 for shoes. I’m happy to spend money on her, but I struggle to spend large amounts on what seems like tiny bits of tat to me. What always seems to happen is that I water it down and end up buying her several bits of crap.

Anyway, I’ll probably spend about £500 – it’s just where do I put it?
She has kinda mentioned stud earrings, shoes (LK Bennet I think). She is 40, fashionable (much more so than me) and will be grateful for anything. Do I just buy one thing like earrings from Tiffany for the whole amount, or a few things for less. A real first world problem here.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks! Carl.

That one is very nice Carl. As I said, check before you buy it if it can be exchanged.
The thing with handbags is that they are very personal, and she'll still be hankering after a bag. I wouldn't choose navy - black would be more practical.
A friend badly wanted a Mulberry handbag and she got one, but it wasn't the right one. She managed to light up and gush about it but we knew.

Okay, I’ve done it. Pebble bag purchased. From John Lewis so no problem returning it.

Now how about some earrings. Could I get some studs for £100 - £150? Then I could get some of the other bits mentioned.

Here a weird one. She also seems to like green shoes at the moment?

Now I'm super jealous of the pebble bag, perhaps you might like to have a word with my DH!

Get him on here. We've had a breakthrough.

So she has told you what she wants!!! Get the diamond earrings if you can find within your budget, cheapest pair at Tiffany are £580 so might be better going to an independent jeweller. If you can't manage that get the shoes she wants and a handbag.

See, this demonstrates how hard it is taking advice from the internet - I feel the opposite to mike and would never want black, it’s such a nothing colour. Would you be able to tell what colours your wife would prefer? In which case I would say the pebble bag, some studs and some nice toiletries from L’occitane or somewhere like that?

Must say this thread is a nice tonic to the one from earlier about the book token

Sorry, too slow, you’ve done it - good choice!

She likes blues, greens and browns. Couldn't see her with a black bag. I went for the caramel one in the end.

How about these earrings?

www.linksoflondon.com/gb-en/serpentine-sterling-silver-and-pink-opal-gemstone-stud-earrings/5040-2926.html?cgid=women-earrings-stud-earrings#gclid=CjwKCAiA9rjRBRAeEiwA2SV4ZQiVnM7xnKBvOAnN7phhi3NymEU8qFYPE0Yn28My5pGnW9lkI_0ulhoCGGAQAvD_BwE&start=8

Hmm not sure...

Maybe these:

www.linksoflondon.com/gb-en/diamond-essentials-sterling-silver-and-pave-round-stud-earrings/5040-2407.html?cgid=women-earrings-stud-earrings#gclid=CjwKCAiA9rjRBRAeEiwA2SV4ZQiVnM7xnKBvOAnN7phhi3NymEU8qFYPE0Yn28My5pGnW9lkI_0ulhoCGGAQAvD_BwE&start=12

Earrings for pierced ears are usually non returnable for hygiene reasons so bear that in mind.

The first earrings feel a bit too old to me.

What about these, or are they a bit crap?

www.pandora.net/en-gb/products/earrings/studs/290738rc

https://www.thediamondstore.co.uk/diamond-earrings-010ct-studs-diamond-9k-gold-p10866c689.cfm?utmsource=GoogleShopping&utmmmedium=ppc&gclid=CjwKCAiA9rjRBRAeEiwA2SV4ZdiFm8BhMIOLTxSiCff8-2YLa8vUmsvJ-SL884qmhOmK97aA0hVRxoCjI0QAvDDBwE

0.1 Carat is so small though. 3mm.

Hardly seems worth it...

If she wants diamonds and you're pretty sure that it's what she really wants then by all means you can go with that. I can't imagine how she'll react with such beautiful present :) Good luck!

I know, seems so expensive for what they are I was just trying to stay around your budget

OK earings.

If she has asked for diamonds that is what she wants, not cz or opals or whatever.

Does she wear silver/silver coloured? If you are unsure what colour is her wedding ring? What stone(s) are in her engagement ring?

Get a picture of her wedding/engagement rings and take it to the jeweler, if you get something that matches you won't be too far wrong.

OR - and this one can be a bit 'out there' buy some gold and some gem stones and put with a card saying you will have them made up to her design in the new year.

How about a voucher?

As she's mentioned studs that's what I'd go for.

Spend the whole amount on a pair of diamond earrings, you will get something beautiful for £500, and over the years they will increase in value too.
Go to the best independent jeweller in your area, pick a single stone design if possible rather than a cluster of several smaller stones.

I can't believe I went to Mumsnet and someone suggested a voucher.

For me it would be the small diamond studs, followed by the pave links ones. Don't like the first links at all and no to the Pandora. I would go with the small but classic studs personally.

Whereabouts are you Carl incase anyone can recommend a jewellers locally for you?

Well she has the bag and then can pick whatever earrings she likes afterwards, without the fear of getting it wrong and not being able to return them... I would be happy with that!