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. The most popular occasions for the exchange of jewelry gifts are the the marriage proposal and the wedding day. Birthdays and anniversaries are also ideal times to give a gold or silver necklace or earrings. St. Valentine’s day is a popular time to give a loved one a piece of heart jewelry such as a ring or bracelet – these make great gifts for new moms as well. Engraved pendants and watches are welcome any time and make great graduation gifts.

2. Where To Buy: Traditional outlets are the jewelry retailers that are well-established in Malls or in the Main Street of every city. Reputable jewelers provide a broad choice of products along with information that enables the buyer to judge quality and suitability.

But a new trend that has arisen with the development of the Internet is the growth in online jewelry stores. They are frequently able to offer lower prices because they avoid the expensive overheads of traditional stores. The Internet also enables the buyer to compare prices, quality and customer service at a wide variety of stores with minimal effort.

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. Because women more often than not like to match up certain pieces of jewelry with outfits in their wardrobe, men often find it tricky to know exactly what to buy. Should it be gold earrings, necklace and bracelet to highlight the silky shirt or diamonds and pearls for that special evening gown?

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. Choosing jewelry for a man can be just as difficult. First and foremost it is essential to find out if he actually wears jewelry. For some men a watch and perhaps a wedding band are the only jewelry they feel comfortable wearing. Yet other men are happy to sport a gold chain, a bracelet and even earrings.

So to avoid upsetting and expensive mistakes, check out that your guy actually wears jewelry and what his tastes and preferences are and if he is open to new ideas.

5. Teenagers are another difficult group to buy jewelry for. Although they may profess to be an individual with a mind of their own who doesn’t follow the “herd”, teenage insecurities, fashion and peer pressure all play a role in their lives.

Observing their dress style and accessories may give you an idea about the latest teen fashion and help in your choice. It could prove to be an embarrassing mistake if you picked a piece of silver jewelry that they considered to be outdated and not suitable for “with it” teens. It is also worth considering when and where the recipient could wear your gift without risk or reprimand – a gold necklace or expensive watch may not be appropriate for school or some 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!