Tips on finding the right jewellery gift

By Britta Schmeis Nov 17, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Berlin - Jewellery is always a good choice when it comes to Christmas giving, but finding just the right piece isn't so easy because it should match not only the occasion, but also the personality of the recipient.

Fashion designer Coco Chanel said the purpose of jewellery was not to arouse envy but rather to be marvelled at. Disgusted that too many women splurged on expensive jewellery, she espoused an attitude that helped make fashion jewellery respectable.

However, there are several questions when it comes to gift-giving. Is classic jewellery better? Gold or silver? Showy or plain? And what jewellery matches with what personality or body type?

'Because the price of gold has gone up, silver and precious metals currently are more in demand,' said Ulrike Moser, a jewellery expert and dealer from Duesseldorf. A more inexpensive and still classy alternative to gold is silver-plated gold. A combination of metals is also currently popular, according to a German jewellery and watch industry publication. A new trend is the combination of rose gold and silver and the mixture of yellow gold and silver.

But gold isn't the right choice for everyone, neither is silver. The personality and the complexion of the recipient are deciding factors, said style consultant and psychologist Lisa Zimmermann in Berlin. Gold usually looks better on women with a darker complexion and darker hair. Blondes and women with a bluish complexion look better in silver.

The recipient's personality is often overlooked when selecting jewellery, said Zimmermann. 'A woman who has an aura or strong presence and full hair shouldn't wear small jewellery,' she said. When she does, the jewellery hardly catches the eye or it looks unsettled. This is also true for large women. 'A fine, narrow ring looks misplaced on a strong hand,' said Zimmermann.

Some trendy jewellery simply doesn't fit all women. Zimmermann said chokers are an example. They look good on women with thin, long necks, but not on women who have thicker, more muscular necks and broad shoulders. However, these women can get by with mixing filigree and broad pieces, said style expert Maria Hans in Hamburg.

She cited a stout woman for whom she chose a fine bracelet and combined it with a somewhat clunky one. 'It looked fantastic,' said Hans. She said it's not true that tall and plump or stout women may only wear large jewellery. It often depends on the mix. And women should remember that too much of a good thing seldom looks good.

'Many women overload themselves with jewellery and other accessories,' said Zimmermann. When flashy jewellery is worn with a colourful scarf on a woman with brightly coloured hair, the eye of the observer doesn't know where to look. Jewellery should actually underscore the character of the woman wearing it, not overload her, she said.

She suggests that when it comes to rings, chains and bracelets, less is more. Moser agrees, saying women shouldn't overdo it. The same is true for men, although they are usually restrained about jewellery. Except for businessmen and professionals, many men choose leather armbands or leather necklaces with an ornamental pendant. The classic jewellery items for businessmen are cufflinks, watches and tie pins.

Hans said a jewellery gift that works for everyone and at every occasion is the friendship band, which comes in a variety of materials from cotton to leather and have all kinds of pendants, even ones with diamond shards. If the recipient is an older woman, a higher quality model should be selected and it should be given in combination with a gold bracelet.

When intending to give a valuable piece of jewellery, experts recommend buying something more plain and timeless than flashy and trendy. That doesn't mean it has to be lacking in style. Quite the contrary: A pearl or a diamond in a classic mount is always right, even for a young person.