The gift of a piece of jewelry has long been regarded as a valuable and welcome present for many, many reasons – it is long lasting, it retains and even increase in value if it is of high quality to begin with and it can be handed down from one generation to another without complicated formalities. It is the appropriate gift on so many occasions and gifts for both women and men can readily be found. So lets take a look at what you need to know when choosing this popular gift:

1. When To Buy: So many of the formal gift-giving times can be made even more memorable with a jewelry gift. One major occasion is a marriage proposal, generally accompanied by the exchange of engagement rings and followed up by gold, diamond or other variants at the time of the wedding itself. A gold or silver necklace can mark a wedding anniversary. Earrings, brooches or necklaces are suitable birthday presents for ladies or teenage girls. And jewelry of all kinds makes a very welcome Christmas present.

2. The well-established jewelry stores that can be found on every Main Street and in every Mall are the traditional sources for buying jewelry. Not only do they have a wide selection of products to choose from they can also help the buyer determine the quality and suitability of the gift.

With the development of the Internet, jewelry buying is no longer confined to Mall and Main Street stores. The increase in the number of jewelry outlets online means that the buyer can compare the prices and quality of a number of stores without having to physically visit them. And quite often online retailers can offer lower prices because they do not have the high running costs of traditional stores.

Being able to compare and contrast different products will help you find the special gift you are looking for whether that is a diamond watch, heart pendant or a gold bracelet to accessorize a new outfit.

3. Jewelry For Her: From a male perspective, buying a piece of jewelry for a woman can be very tricky. Women generally like far more variety than men and enjoy matching different types and colors of jewelry to different outfits. For example, a complementary-colored necklace might be essential to highlight an expensive evening gown. But she may insist on a gold necklace and matching earrings to emphasize a silky shirt. Yet more variations of diamonds, pearls, brooches, earrings and watches may be required for other items in her wardrobe.

Thinking about the style and color of clothes his loved one favors as well as discovering whether she has any likes or dislikes when it come to different stones (diamond, ruby, emerald, pearl) or gold or silver jewelry will help the male buyer.

4. Ladies can have as much difficulty choosing the right piece of jewelry for the man in their life. Cuff links are a great present but if he never wears a formal shirt then it’s not a good idea. And for some men the thought of wearing anything other than a wristwatch would make them very uncomfortable. On the other hand some guys are happy to wear bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

So before rushing out to buy that gold medallion for the man in her life a lady needs to first check out what his tastes and preferences are and if he has any particular “no nos”.

5. Jewelry For Teens: Teens are a fascinating challenge when it comes to buying jewelry as a gift for them. On the one hand, they frequently profess to be more open-minded about every aspect of their life and to have individuality as a high priority in their lives. At the same time, fashion, teenage insecurities and the herd mentality channels their choices into well-defined paths.

So take note of their dress style and the accessories they display and try to learn something about the latest teenage fashions before coming to a conclusion. For example, if silver jewelry is now considered last years outdated fashion and only for out-of-touch old people, it could be an embarrassing mistake to opt for that. Also, give some thought to where the recipient could wear your gift ” for example, a teen may have very little opportunity to display an expensive wristwatch or a gold necklace without risk or censure in school or other public places.

Clearly there is a need to think very carefully before setting off for the Mall or jumping online to make a purchase ” but equally clearly, jewelry makes a fine gift for friends, relatives and loved ones of all ages with just a small amount of forethought. No wonder it is so popular!