A christening bangle might be kept in its box until the child is old enough to wear it. A signet ring given at 21 can stay on the same finger for decades. An eternity ring marks the years a marriage has already lasted.
The gifts that last tend to have three things in common. They are made of solid, hallmarked metal, they are simple enough to wear often, and they suit the moment they mark. For a christening that is usually a bangle, for an 18th or 21st a signet ring or a pendant, and for an anniversary an eternity ring.
At Anupam, we’ll help you choose for the person and the occasion. Because our workshop is here in Ashford, we can also size, polish and repair the piece for years after it has been given.
What should you give for each occasion?
Here are the traditional choices, with the one thing worth knowing about each.
| Occasion | Traditional choice | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Christening | A bangle in 9ct gold or sterling silver | An expanding bangle can be worn for longer; a fixed one is usually put away as a keepsake |
| 18th or 21st birthday | A signet ring, a pendant or a chain | A pendant or chain needs no ring size |
| Engagement | A diamond ring | Ours are set with natural or lab-grown diamonds, with IGI or GIA certified centre stones |
| Anniversary | An eternity ring, or the traditional gift for the year | A full eternity ring generally cannot be resized |
| Retirement | A chain, a bracelet or a pendant | When a group is contributing, one good piece goes further than several small ones |
If the person already has a stone or a style they love, start there instead.
What makes a piece of jewellery last?
Three things: what it is made of, whether it has been independently tested, and how simple the design is.
Solid metal. 9ct gold (375), 18ct gold (750), platinum 950 and sterling silver (925) are the same metal all the way through. A plated piece has only a thin surface layer, and with regular wear that layer can rub through; how quickly depends on the piece and how it is worn. Solid metal can be polished, resized and repaired for decades, and one day remodelled into something new in our workshop.
A hallmark. In the UK, gold, silver, platinum and palladium jewellery above a set weight must be tested and hallmarked by an assay office before it is sold. The hallmark shows who submitted the piece, the fineness of the metal and the office that tested it. Our commitment to hallmarking explains how we check what we sell, and UK hallmarks explained shows how to read the marks.
A simple design. A plain bangle, a signet ring or a single stone doesn’t date, and plain shapes pass more easily from one generation to the next.
Our advice: look at the metal as closely as the design. The same design in 9ct gold and in 18ct gold will differ in colour, in how it wears and in price. Our guide to how to choose a metal compares them side by side.
What should you give for a christening?
A bangle is the traditional first piece of jewellery for a new baby, and one of the few gifts that can be kept for life. Choose 9ct gold (375) or sterling silver (925), then decide between an expanding bangle, which opens a little to fit a small hand and stays wearable for longer, and a fixed one, which is a keepsake to put away until the child is big enough.
Many of our children’s bangles have an ID plate on the front, the traditional place for a name. A new baby won’t wear one every day: it comes out for photographs and family days, goes back in its box in between, and comes off before sleep. Sizes, ID plates and hallmarking are covered in our article on christening bangles.
What do you give for an 18th or 21st birthday?
These are birthdays people tend to keep a gift from. At 18 someone becomes an adult in law, and the 21st has long been the traditional coming of age in Britain, the “key of the door”. A gift for the moment should be something they can wear to an interview or a wedding, not only to the party.
A signet ring is the traditional choice, and our signet rings suit anyone. A pendant or a chain is easy to wear straight away. If they have a favourite stone, a gemstone ring in their birthstone is more personal still. Birthstones by month lists every month’s stone, and explains that our birthstone pendants are set with cubic zirconia in the birthstone colours rather than the real gemstones.
What if the gift is an engagement ring?
Take your time over this one. Our engagement rings are set with natural or lab-grown diamonds, and the centre stones are IGI or GIA certified, so the grade is on a certificate rather than taken on trust. How to find the right ring covers style, shape and setting, and how much to spend on an engagement ring helps you set a budget.
Once the ring is being worn, check what your insurer requires. We arrange independent insurance valuations with Shirley Mitchell FGA DGA FJVA, and jewellery valuations explained sets out how they work and what they cost. Engagement ring insurance explains what an insurer will ask for.
What do you give for an anniversary?
For a milestone anniversary, an eternity ring is the gift most people think of: a band of stones that, like a circle, has no end. A half eternity ring has stones across the top; a full eternity ring has them all the way round, and that difference matters for sizing. What eternity rings mean explains both, and we have over 1,100 eternity rings to choose from.
Some anniversaries also have a traditional gift of their own.
| Anniversary | Traditional gift | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | Silver | Our sterling silver jewellery |
| 30th | Pearl | Our pearl jewellery |
| 40th | Ruby | A ruby among our gemstone rings |
| 50th | Gold | A piece in 9ct gold or 18ct gold |
| 60th | Diamond | An eternity ring, or another piece from our diamond jewellery |
If a string of pearls ever needs restringing, we do that at our own bench, with a knot between each pearl.
What makes a good retirement gift?
A retirement gift often comes from a whole team, and when several people are contributing, one good piece goes further than several small ones. A 9ct gold chain, a bracelet or a pendant can be worn every day, and a birthstone is a nod to the person rather than the job.
How do you get the size right when you can’t ask?
Pendants and earrings have no size to worry about, and a chain only needs a length, which makes them the easiest surprise. For a ring, borrow one they already wear on the same finger, measure the inside diameter and check it against our ring size guide. How to find your ring size shows three ways to do it at home.
Plain bands and signet rings can usually be resized at our bench in Ashford, and a half eternity ring a little, depending on the style of the setting; ring resizing explains the limits. A full eternity ring generally cannot be resized, so it is the one to leave until you are sure of the size. If a ring turns out not to fit, talk to us and we’ll work out the best solution with you. A bespoke piece can’t be exchanged, but we can resize it, most likely at a cost, because future resizing isn’t built into the original price.
Bangles are different again. A bangle has to pass over the widest part of the hand, so measure the hand rather than the wrist.
What happens after the gift is given?
A piece that is worn often will need a little care over the years. Claws on a ring can wear, chains can break, and white gold is usually rhodium-plated, a finish that wears gradually and can be refreshed. All of this is done in our own workshop in Ashford, from ring sizing and claw work to polishing, chain repairs and re-rhodium plating.
Have a ring checked periodically, particularly if it holds a diamond or gemstone; worn claws or a loose setting are easier to put right when spotted early. How to look after your jewellery covers what to do at home in between.
Choosing a gift with us
Tell us who the gift is for, what the moment is and roughly what you would like to spend, and we’ll help you narrow it down. If you know their ring size, bring it with you; if you don’t, we can show you pieces that don’t need one.
Book a time with us in Ashford, or read more in our gifts and milestones guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is 9ct gold good enough for a gift?
Yes. 9ct gold contains 37.5% pure gold and is hallmarked 375. It is the more affordable gold and, depending on the alloy, can be harder than 18ct gold, which is why it is a popular choice for jewellery worn every day.
Is sterling silver a good choice for a gift?
For a pendant, a bracelet or earrings, yes. Sterling silver is relatively soft and can tarnish, though it polishes back. For a ring that will be worn every day, we would usually look at 9ct or 18ct gold, platinum 950 or palladium 950 first.
Should the receipt go with the gift?
It is worth keeping the receipt, and any diamond certificate, somewhere the recipient can find them. They are useful for an insurance valuation later on, although a piece can still be valued without them.
Does a jewellery gift need insuring?
A significant piece, such as an engagement ring or a diamond necklace, may need its own insurance cover. An insurance valuation estimates the cost of replacing the piece with a comparable one at current retail prices.
Can old family jewellery be made into a gift?
Yes. Old gold can be melted down and made into a new design in our workshop. What to do with inherited jewellery goes through the options, and our bespoke page explains how a new design begins.
