The Art of Gift Giving

Author

Lindsay Ellen is the daughter of Richard Alan, the colorful author of this column you have known for many years. She will be filling in temporarily while Richard holidays and as he slowly and gracefully slides into semi-retirement. Lindsay will also be happy to answer any questions or comments you may have. [email protected].

This is Lindsay Ellen, filling in for Richard Alan while he holidays in Spain. He's enjoying the fine wine and foods the country has to offer whilst I slave away in the shop all summer long. I have been temporarily tapped to write his article, and I hope you enjoy my perspective on things. I am the jeweler's daughter, but these are tough shoes to fill. Dad has over 50 years experience in the jewelry business; I feel like such a newbie compared to him! I did grow up appreciating fine jewelry and I have learned more than a few things from my Dad, but he's from a different generation, so our tastes in designs also differ. So that being said, with my father's blessings, I started my own jewelry line this year. It's called "The Jeweler's Daughter" and features hand-selected pieces that enchant me - I’m so excited! So far, it has been received well. I have people talking, and even better, many pieces have sold, and I have been steadily adding to my selection. If you like top-quality and unusual jewelry, stop by to have a peek!

Jewelry has special meaning to everyone. There are a lot of traditions that have gone by the wayside, but we still get calls occasionally. Children's jewelry is having a revival. Little gold ID bracelets, crosses on a chain, and even gold earrings for babies have been selling. Sometimes they’re just given as a memento and not intended to be worn except just for the baptism or christening. These are really nice gifts to help pick out for people; who doesn't love babies? Our suggestion is that you get it with a longer link chain that can be shortened, then save the excess and add it as the child grows; this will ensure they get to wear it longer and not grow out of it in a few months. Religious medals and crosses are always in demand come Holy Communion and Confirmation season. These are generally yellow gold traditionally. Silver is available, though, and makes a nice presentation.

Celebrations such as wedding anniversaries and birthdays are still wonderful occasions for jewelry gift giving. Some like to follow birthstone and anniversary traditions. You wouldn't believe how many 60th wedding anniversaries are celebrated on Marco! These lucky lovebirds get to exchange diamond gifts, very good for the jewelry business! A diamond solitaire necklace is a great option for this occasion. An April birthday is also diamond; I was always jealous being born in January. I disliked my birthstone - garnet. It just never did anything for me personally until last year when we had a huge, gorgeous red garnet set in yellow gold with a diamond halo. This garnet I liked! It had a hefty price tag but emulated the gorgeous rich color of a ruby. Most people thought it was a ruby. Don't feel obligated to give a gift of a birthstone - lots of people don't care for their birthstone and have a preference for other gemstones. We have a huge selection of colored gemstones in rings and pendants. Always popular for gift-giving, a colored gemstone can be the perfect piece to compliment a woman's wardrobe. I love to accessorize with color. We have sapphires, emeralds, and fancy yellow diamonds, and don't forget about tourmaline. This beautiful gem comes in an array of colors and has real appeal. We carry several interesting tourmaline pieces. I especially love the sea foam green tourmaline ring we have in the window. It evokes the beauty of the gulf waters, and it's beautiful and big!

Don't forget the meaningful occasion of a graduation! These scholars have toiled away for years to get that degree, and a lovely piece of jewelry is always a nice way to commemorate the special moment. Diamond solitaire pendants are popular for this gift as well. Cluster pendants are also a nice option. The collection of diamonds is set together to give the illusion of one big stone. We have some in stock or can order for you. I’ve helped so many proud grandparents select that perfect gift and it's always a pleasure.

A new gift-giving occasion only recently becoming popular is a push present. The mother of a newborn is presented with a gift upon the arrival of the new bundle of joy. What a momentous occasion for a lovely gift! I get a real kick out of this one, and these are fun gifts to pick out with the new father-to-be. These gifts are traditionally jewelry and it's a new fun gift idea.

Gift giving in and of itself is an art. Nothing pleases me more than helping someone find the perfect piece to present to their loved one. There are different types of gift givers, for sure! There are those who seem as though they were dragged kicking and screaming into the store. They’re not much fun to wait on since they don't really seem to enjoy it. But others love to look and find something beautiful and unique to give. Most of the gifts given with love are never returned. But it does happen. We’re always happy to help them find something they love. We do have a couple of regular customers that seem to buy the same thing for their wives as they did on the last occasion. This is cause for a bit of confusion as we scramble to find something else for them. They usually don't want to tell their husband he bought the same thing and just do a swift exchange. This has happened more than once, and I suggest a quick appraisal of the wife's jewelry box to refresh the memory. There is no such thing as too much jewelry, but too much of the same thing isn't very good! Sea life always proves popular time and time again. Women like to collect our prettiest pieces and love to leave Marco with a piece of the sea. Dolphins, starfish, sand dollars, wave pendants, anchors, fish hooks, turtles, compasses, and even fish are beautiful statement pieces. They look great on a rope chain, anchor chain, or one of our most popular chains, the paperclip necklace. This necklace is having quite the resurgence - it's been everywhere. I see it on newscasters and celebrities all the time. It comes in many lengths and widths and layers beautifully with other necklaces. It will be interesting to see what my father has found poking around Europe that is new and exciting. He often finds the current and hottest European jewelry trends. I love having the cutting-edge designs on the island before most U.S. jewelry stores.

Lindsay Ellen is the daughter of Richard Alan, the colorful author of this column you have known for many years. She will be filling in temporarily while Richard holidays and as he slowly and gracefully slides into semi-retirement. Lindsay will also be happy to answer any questions or comments you may have at [email protected].

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