If you're buying for a jewelry aficionado this holiday season, by all means go to town—fine jewelry makes for meaningful and memorable gifts. But if you're not sure you'll nail the perfect precious piece for your loved one (jewelry is, after all, very personal and the aesthetic tastes of even your closest people can be difficult to construe), a gift card to the recipient's favorite jewelry store is perhaps your best bet.
But another gift workaround is this: find a non-jewelry gift that aligns with their passions but doesn't command the same supersized budget as something forged in 18k gold and diamonds.
Whether your jewelry-loving giftee is a seasoned collector or a magpie forever drawn to all things shiny and glamorous, this gift guide is full of bright ideas. None will have the impact of a D-flawless diamond ring but all say, “I see you” in infinitely delightful (and occasionally deluxe)
ways.
When is a single dinner plate an appropriate gift? When it’s a magnificently illustrated and gilded design by jeweler-to-the-stars Irene Neuwirth. $1,200; Irene Neuwirth
It’s a handbag. No, it’s vanity case. It's the Annabel, and it’s a charmer in pink sateen and gold hardware. It’s also the result of a collaboration between jewelry designer Stephanie Gottlieb and heritage British leather company, Tanner Krolle, who once crafted a similar vanity case for Princess Diana. $2,295; Stephanie Gottlieb
A beautiful table piece, the Marquetry Butterfly Centerpiece is from a master of marquetry-centric jewelry design: jeweler Silvia Furmanovich. Similar designs from the designer are at Bergdorf Goodman
Like jewelry for your dining room or entryway. All this gleaming gold Jonathan Adler Nixon Centerpiece Bowl with a fretwork base needs is a pear or two (or a pile of keys). $198; Jonathan Adler
What they want: Louis Vuitton high jewelry. What they’ll get instead (and love): A dazzling coffee table book, Francesca Amfitheatrof: Fantastical Jewels, by the woman who designs it. $95; Amazon
For a jewelry lover, the best scented candles also center aesthetics. Enter Amber Sakai’s Upland candle housed in a lustrous brass holder that bears grantLOVE’s signature iconography (grantLOVE is an art project started by Los Angeles-based artist Alexandra Grant to help raise awareness and money for various arts nonprofits). $175; grantlove.com
From a British confectionery that just launched in the U.S., jewel-like edible rose petals conceal artisan chocolate truffles made with ingredients like “ceremonial grade matcha,” cardamom ganache, Valencia orange, and saffron. Bonus: the packaging is giving Cartier vibes. $90 for box
of nine; Noshy
The only thing that even comes close to jewelry designer Jacquie Aiche’s sublime opal inlay pendants: the new NSF X JA (Jacquie Aiche) sweatshirt in white, $285; Jacquie Aiche
Literally can’t think of a single jewelry lover who wouldn’t want to wear one or both of these
tees! $32.99 each; Harpoon Holly Brand
When they’re the queen of diamonds in more ways than one: Watercolor rendering on archival
matte fine art paper, $35; Julers Row
These hand-carved Lucite boxes by NYC-based artist Joyce Francis, whose jewel-like works are part of the permanent collections of both the Victoria Albert Museum of London and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, are exactly where your jewelry lover wants to stash their treasures. $350 each; Blue Tree NY
Faceted gem or functional wine decanter? Inspired by jewelry brand Foundrae’s astrological jewels, this glass carafe was designed with air signs in mind and hand-engraved in collaboration with Fy-shan Glass Studio in Istanbul. $1,320; Foundrae
Made in collaboration with the historic Italian brand Dal Negro, these Buccellati playing cards know your jewelry lover's number. They are presented in a leather case detailed with a small silver plate that can be engraved and personalized. $300 for set of two decks plus accessories, $300; Buccellati
A sterling silver “statement ring” for your finest napkins: It’s part of Jardin, a recently-released collection by Danish fine jeweler Elhanati and Argentinian sculptor Conie Vallese. One is almost certainly not enough. Price on request, Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery
California-based jeweler Jamie Geller produced this adult coloring book, Manifest Jewelry in 50 Pages, featuring designs by Retrouvai, Brent Neale, and other big-time talents. More good news: the pages will help you relax and destress while “manifesting jewelry.” Yes, please! $32; amazon
A whimsical vegan leather jewelry box from the leading little-kid jewelry brand that grown-up jewelry lovers will appreciate, too. $295; Super Smalls x Wolf 1834
