Gifts.... to hint or not to hint?

[hungrymagpie]

A fairly trivial problem in the grand scheme of things but I'd just like some opinions on this.
I've been with my partner for nearly 5 years and come to realise that he's a very practical gift giver. By that I mean I've received "useful" gifts from him for birthdays/ xmas e.g. or flowers.
In the early days he bought me a couple of charms for my pandora bracelet but other than that he's never bought me anything sentimental and his go to gift the last few times has been flowers which, although he always picks a beautiful arrangement, inevitably die after a week or 2.
It's my birthday coming up and I'd really, really like some form of necklace to wear. Nothing super fancy or expensive just a simple chain that doesn't turn my skin green would be nice. I've mentioned it casually a couple of times but was met with a "but you don't wear jewellery"
I do wear earrings and my pandora bracelet but he does have a point - only because the jewellery I do own was bought for me by my ex and it would seem weird to wear it now - or am I being silly saying that? I don't know!
Sooo I guess my options are:

1. Ask outright for what I'd like - I feel a bit demanding doing that though and it'd feel forced. When I've received jewellery from previous partners it's always been spontaneous on their part and had some romantic value to it
2. Drop hints and maybe leave some web pages open??
3. Do and say nothing and prepare for a new set of pans
4. Buy it myself - happy to do this but (and perhaps I'm being way too old fashioned/ soppy/ stupid here) I'd love something that he'd put some thought and effort into, so I can wear it and it mean something.

What would others do in this situation?

1. But give him some options (all of which you like - so it’s somewhat of a surprise)

@DarlingCoffee thank you, I'd not thought of that actually. I shall start having a browse!

Wait until your birthday and get the bouquet, which IMO is not a present in itself but a token to go with a present, or the set of pans, which probably won't be the ones you would have chosen, then buy a present for yourself. Do the same next year and forever more.

Or

Ask him for what you would really like and as pp said, giuve a few options.

give not giuve ^

I would say what you want and send some ideas

Give him options show a ref necklaces from where you want them.

I would do #1 in advance and then #2.
As a man, Id prefer to get my partner 1 or 2 'safe' gifts and 1 'risky/spontaneous' one.

That way if it backfires, I can just exchange the risky one without ruining her bday/Xmas as she got what she wants.

Thank you all! I think finding a few options and letting him choose maybe the way forward! I'd love him to surprise me but I think I might be waiting forever

He will learn what you like (one day. hopefully.)

@heartache590

I would do #1 in advance and then #2. As a man, Id prefer to get my partner 1 or 2 'safe' gifts and 1 'risky/spontaneous' one.

That way if it backfires, I can just exchange the risky one without ruining her bday/Xmas as she got what she wants.

I found that when this happened to me I was told that he wouldn't take it back and was told to give it to a charity shop. Needless to say, we're not still together.