landmark jewellery for close female friend

[Gonnagetgoing]

So, I'm struggling with what to get a close friend for a landmark birthday.

She's quite minimal when it comes to jewellery, I know she has a Tiffany bracelet and ring but quite old and doesn't scream Tiffany at all.

Should I get her a statement bracelet from a local artsy boutique which she may like or go for something Tiffany?

Budget approx £150 but could go higher if I chose to spend more.

Honestly I don’t think you would get anything from Tiffany for £150. Their prices have shot up in recent years.

Depending on her style, have you looked at somewhere like Astley Clarke? They have some really lovely lockets that are in that sort of price bracket and are quite a nice thing to get for a significant birthday.

Do you have an independent jewellery near you? The ones near me do a staged consult for a bespoke item.

1. initial ideas consultation and sketching
2. CAD imaging and resin prototype
3. casting into metal
4. final fitting

I have a friend with a landmark birthday soon and am thinking of getting her a bespoke item, I feel I know her taste well enough to do this, but will present her the gift at stage 2, that way she can change the design if it isn't quite right. Bespoke pieces would be an expensive mistake as shops often can't resell so exchanges not possible.

Hmm, just because her Tiffany jewellery is old doesn't mean she needs to replace it. Presumably it's much loved.

How about something more personal for your friendship rather than a replacement for something that doesn't need to be replaced? I've bought something from all of these in the last few years:
Emily Nixon
Wilson Jewellery
Cat Stacey Jewellery
Little Joy Jewellery
Clare Kilgour Jewellery

When you say she’s minimal re jewellery- do you mean she doesn’t wear much / always the same few items, or do you mean she likes jewellery but her style is quite unfussy?

Cos if the former, I wouldn’t be buying her jewellery. But if the latter, I’d get something in a similar style but prob wouldn’t bother with it being Tiffany- just aim for a similar style.

Antique from her birth year? Works better if she’s older though.

I’d also say that a “statement” bracelet would have to be extremely well chosen to not be disliked! To me, statement implies something quite distinctive- and that is likely to be v personal. But not sure whether you mean “extra nice” - I’m never sure of the terminology!

@Borracha

Honestly I don’t think you would get anything from Tiffany for £150. Their prices have shot up in recent years.

Depending on her style, have you looked at somewhere like Astley Clarke? They have some really lovely lockets that are in that sort of price bracket and are quite a nice thing to get for a significant birthday.

@Borracha - they start at £200 and I'm prepared to add more to bring it to those sorts of prices.

Hmmm maybe Astley Clarke - will take a look.

Also meant to say. I would be very cautious about going for a different style to what she normals wears. You say she is minimal, I also prefer simple and dainty jewellery and I would be horrified if I was presented with an expensive but highly ornate or large or very colourful bangle I know I wouldn't wear. So it depends what you mean by statement. Minimal jewellery can also be impactful (Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra bracelet for example).

@SummaLuvin

Do you have an independent jewellery near you? The ones near me do a staged consult for a bespoke item.

1. initial ideas consultation and sketching
2. CAD imaging and resin prototype
3. casting into metal
4. final fitting

I have a friend with a landmark birthday soon and am thinking of getting her a bespoke item, I feel I know her taste well enough to do this, but will present her the gift at stage 2, that way she can change the design if it isn't quite right. Bespoke pieces would be an expensive mistake as shops often can't resell so exchanges not possible.

@SummaLuvin - I don't have an independent jeweller offhand, at least I don't think I know of one personally but I do know one who potentially could do this who are fairly nearby.

However, they've not been very forthcoming with messages so thinking of leaving them off the list.

@SummaLuvin

Also meant to say. I would be very cautious about going for a different style to what she normals wears. You say she is minimal, I also prefer simple and dainty jewellery and I would be horrified if I was presented with an expensive but highly ornate or large or very colourful bangle I know I wouldn't wear. So it depends what you mean by statement. Minimal jewellery can also be impactful (Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra bracelet for example).

@SummaLuvin - you're right. These friends both got me for my birthday last year (significant) a Swarovski bracelet with an eye on it (seeing eye?) which is really more another friend's taste than mine. I didn't want to offend by sending it back so kept it but it's not me at all.

@Talipesmum

When you say she’s minimal re jewellery- do you mean she doesn’t wear much / always the same few items, or do you mean she likes jewellery but her style is quite unfussy?

Cos if the former, I wouldn’t be buying her jewellery. But if the latter, I’d get something in a similar style but prob wouldn’t bother with it being Tiffany- just aim for a similar style.

@Talipesmum - she's both really - doesn't wear much and if so mostly the same items but she also does like jewellery but her style is quite unfussy too.

I've never really had in-depth convos with her re jewellery though! We just ooh and aah over jewellery gifts which we have bought each other and presented on joint birthday outings in the past.

Maybe a very wearable small gemstone pendant / necklace? Does she wear earrings? Silver / gold?

Something like etsy.me/3cJO5Cg ?

• Etsy is v good for browsing jewellery, you can filter by price, shop location (often stuff is from overseas and has long delivery time), etc

Or this in white gold? etsy.me/3wZqxmp

@Talipesmum

Maybe a very wearable small gemstone pendant / necklace? Does she wear earrings? Silver / gold?

@Talipesmum - I was thinking of gemstone like a birthstone but I'm sure she hasn't worn one since I've know her. Earrings are either gold or silver and mostly hoops so I don't think she'd wear new ones.

it's such a minefield! I wish I was in more contact with e.g. her sister so I could gauge more of her style.

[quote Talipesmum]Or this in white gold? etsy.me/3wZqxmp[/quote]
She doesn't wear white gold!

Minimal Tiffany would be a bean necklace i would love one.
More than £150 though.

If she like super minimal stuff I've bought a few of these for people.

wanderlustlife.co.uk/collections/wanderlust-life-jewellery-fine-cord-necklaces

One thing to note with earrings, though I'm sure you have considered it, is that they are rarely returnable or exchangeable as they go into a piercing.

With regards to contact with those close to her, unless there is historical beef, I wouldn't be hesitant about contacting her sister. If a friend of my sisters contacted me about a special gift for a landmark birthday I would be more than happy to help in whatever way I could, even if I didn't know the person well.

doesn't wear much and if so mostly the same items

Tbh, I wouldn't buy someone like this jewellery as a gift. You also say you're unsure how to gauge her style.

It could end up being a lot of money for something that isn't really right.

Reading your update, I really wouldn't bother with jewellery for this friend. If she's not fussed about it and it's something she has key pieces she loves, it would be difficult to buy for her.

Or you take her out to Hatton Garden etc and pick a piece together as a day out for her bday.

As a milestone gift - what about a nice artwork?

@Gonnagetgoing I definitely wouldn’t go for something statement if she usually likes quite minimal styles 😊
I second @Borracha suggestion of Astley Clark 😊 also have a look at Carrie Elizabeth and Monica Vinader 😊

These are nice and understated. And not immediately obvious what the significance is of the rings

https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/sophiejonesjewellery/product/50th-birthday-silver-necklace?cqsrc=googleeads&cqcmp=15218377092&cqqterm=&cqplac=&cqqnet=u&cqplt=gp&DGMKT=FIDTIDDpla-1459588546216PIDD724469CRII1459588546216&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgoSPo7Cn9QIVGoBQBh1OdgAREAQYASABEgKgqDD_BwE

I’m a big fan of Rust jewellery, they have a few bits left in their sale which could suit?

www.rustjewellery.com/product/gold-arrow-and-champagne-diamond-necklace

Totally off piste but if you decide jewellery is too risky then I have gifted this a couple of times and it's been very well received ..

www.joloves.com/fragrance-discovery-gift-experience-collection.html