Gift Ideas for Best Friends 40th Bday

[daboyzmomi]

Hi All!

I am looking for some ideas and knew this would be the place to get them. My best friend is turning 40 in July (GASP

) and I want to get her something unique and special for her big day. Now, she has a 3ct Princess Cut I1/J wedding ring, so I am sure I can''t top that, but she is definately not diamond savvy. So, any pictures you have hanging around of things that might fit my bill, please pass along. I am up for all suggestions. She is the kind of girl that has it all,,and what she doesn''t have she buys herself so I am for once in my life at a loss as to what to get her. Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Nicrez]

Well what's the budget? I assume you want jewelry? Tanzanite is hot in pendants and rings...diamonds can be done as well in smaller ACA pendants or even earrings, but with 3cts on her finger, smaller stones may be "not enough"...?

What's her personality like? Does she wear BIG jewelery generally, or is that a ring that is proportionate to her hand or the only large piece she wears? Is she classic, fun, funky, modern?

 

[daboyzmomi]

Ok, here is the low down. Budget: $200-400 depending on the piece.

Her tastes are a bit stuck in the 80's, but she is coming around hehehe.She takes pride in how she looks though, to an extreme sometimes. She is a very loyal friend who would do anything at a moments notice for anyone she loves. I wouldn't say she is traditional or classic by any means, but definately a little more "old school" in her jewelry thoughts if that makes sense. Definately not a modern girl, although with a 14 year old daughter she is trying to get "hip" once again,,,lol. She enjoys hanging out with friends and going to the river is a must in the summer.

Jewelry tastes- The big hunk of a diamond is her only large piece. Her finger size is a size 4, so you can imagine how huge this thing with side stones looks. Her other main pieces she wears is a bezel set 1/4 princess pendant set on a yellow gold omega and a ruby/diamond 5 stone band her hubby got her last year for her bday. Oh and also a yellow gold filigree leaf design thumb ring from Hawaii. Earring taste is still 80's though. She does want a pair of diamond studs, but that is what hubby will be getting I am sure.

Ok, so there she is, my best friend in a nutshell. She would kill me if she knew I posted this,,lol. Thanks guys!

 

[pyramid]

I got a lovely pair of oval cut aquamarine studs set in white gold baskets for my 40th birthday last year. Sorry I do not have the tools to post pictures. I would say mine are about .50 carats each and have quite a lot of blue to them (not the clear looking ones you sometimes see). They cost about $200, £100 UK. They were bought from a small local jeweller.

Just thought they may be a lot less than .50 carats each ear as being oval they look bigger, they may only be about .25 carats each ear.

 

[fire&ice]

The gift was a no brainer as I gave her something from my own jewelry collection that she had admired. Looked better on her anyway.

But, I did do something unusual. I set up a savings account w/ $100.00 in it. I gave her $100.00 & asked her to do the same. I explained that this was "our" mad money account & we were to add $1.00 a day to it. When we turn 50 we will have a nice sum of money to either buy a special piece of jewelry (which of course the other would be involved in the process) or go on a cruise together. Four years into the process, we still contribute & talk about what we are going to do at 50. Lately, cosmetic surgury has been bantered about - by her - not me.

 

[Nicrez]

Well, does she like white gold or yellow? You say she's old school, so something like an 80's cluster look would be up her alley? I think it can make a lovely pendant when used with either small well cut stones or even small sapphires or colored stones.




On www.signedpieces.com, there are a pair of yellow gold Tiffany scribble earrings that may look nice...?

 

[Mara]

I still vote for SPA DAY. I am a huge spa fan. You could do something together, make it an entire day. If she likes that kind of thing that is.




I like the signedpieces Scribble earrings idea. Love the F&I idea too on the savings account. Very unique.




I'm not super creative today, sorry

I am also trying to think of a cool special birthday gift for my MOH in April...kind of like a combined 'thanks for the help on the wedding and bday gift'. At a loss.

 

[Nicrez]

Mara, is that the gal with daddy's diamonds and that cute little nose stud? Describe her, maybe we can help you find something...Did you have any ideas? What would she like? jewelery? Scuba lessons? a weekend getaway to a nice spot in CA? Sky diving? a great designer bag she wanted? a simple Tiffany silver necklace?

 

[Mara]

Yeah that's her. Definitely the gal who has it all. She loves jewelry...I am looking on shopintuition.com for something for her...and also getting ideas from InStyle.com since she always sees stuff on there she wants. I thought it'd be cool to get her some sort of necklace or similar...hmm that reminds me, she saw one she liked beautiful chunky round pendant at this store in LG, but I don't recall how $$ it was. My budget for the birthday gift would ideally be $150.




While I was searching for a gift for her, ran across these:


http://www.shopintuition.com/Adina/silver-tiny.html




For my bridesmaids which I am also thinking about as well. I am thinking of getting them the tiny silver one each (2 young gals and 2 gals who don't wear alot of jewelry) and then getting Nicole the 'small' one which is alot more expensive, but she likes big jewelry.




So I may do something like that for her, give her the larger necklace as a combo gift (though I also have a matron of honor who doesn't like big jewels and we took her to La Fondue for her bday in early March which was super expensive but so fun so I think she's covered) AND take her for a dual massage with me on her birthday. She *loves* the spa.




Hmm any other ideas?

She's very trendy, but has expensive taste and I can't afford half the stuff she'd buy for herself (diamonds and LV's). It doesn't have to be hugely expensive if its cool, one of the cute gifts nowadays for people is the 'Make a Wish' necklace showcased in all the mags and on shopintuition.com but SHE gave that to ME for Christmas so I can't give that to anyone now. Hehee.




For BM's was thinking of the necklace and also possibly this awesome photo album at Tommy Bahamas, its made of leaves and rattan and it's perfect for Hawaii, has a wooden palm tree on the front and the rest is sage leaves.

 

[Nicrez]

Have you tried www.redenvelope.com yet? They have some cute, less expensive jewlery pieces sometimes...




Mara, I presonally like these pretty opal earrings (but they may not be substantial enough for her) They do have a matching necklace for $300..

You can even see the cute little doggie carrier (not LV) on page 2... Or even the Chelsea Jewlery Armoire for her bling without a home...? (not quite what I'd give..)




I will most likely get my MOH a nice piece of jewlery from Tiffany's (although she literally has almost everything from there already!)




How about a single black Tahitian pearl drop from a necklace like this one:


http://www.islandweddingshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=w310&Category_Code=MAIDS




David Yurman has a real lovely one with tiny pave diamonds between the pearl (cultured) and the necklace for $199...(but that was one I saw in USVI)

 

[strmrdr]

Is she married? have kids at home?

If so take the kids for a weekend along with gift certs to a fancy restraunt worth enough to cover 2 and take her to the spa on the friday :}

 

[daboyzmomi]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas.

We already have a Spa Day planned as a getaway for the both of us so that is out. We also have a trip to Palm Springs planned for the two of us which is nice. Love the idea of the account for the two of us, but her new hubby is weird and wouldn't get it if you know what I mean.

So, what I think I have narrowed it down to is something from Tiffany's. She has never had anything from them and I know that she would be floored if I got her something from them, so I think that is what I am going to do. At first I wasn't thinking Tiffanys because I usally think silver for them, but she is starting to mix her jewelry now, has a two-tone watch and a few other silver accesories now, so I think this will work out nicely.

Thanks for the ideas everyone! If anyone has any favorite Tiffany pieces go for it! Thanks!

 

[hoorray]

I don't have an item to suggest, but there is a brand new Tiffany's on El Paseo in Palm Desert at The Gardens, so maybe you can stop in on your Palm Springs weekend and pick something out. El Paseo is a fun shopping trip on a Palm Springs weekend......lots of great shops, galleries, and few good restaurants, etc... Less "touristisy feeling" than Palm Canyon.

 

[daboyzmomi]

Thanks for the suggestion Lop! We have been to El Paseo on several of our trips to PS. She was just married 2 years ago in Palm Springs and we also enjoy going up a few times a year for a mini-vacation away from the kids and hubbies hehehe. Might have to take her in to the Tiffs and let her see what she likes then surprise her with it on her Bday in July. Thanks!

 

[valeria101]

If Tiff was not mentioned I would have... Also, the 'conservative elegant' jewelry look always includes a serious gold necklace to me (some hefty, perfectly made, always wearable day-into-night piece), but this may not fit the bill at Tiffany's. And... how about their gift cards ?

 

[daboyzmomi]

Necklace is what I am leaning towards as well. I would love to get her the gold, but the price is way out of the price range since I am also hosting a 40th Surprise Party for my husband the week before! UGH,,,you have to love everyones birthdays falling in the course of 2 weeks..lol.

Here is the one I am debating for her, my thought is, if she doesn't like it, she can take it back and I wouldn't feel bad about it and I will tell her so.

 

[Nicrez]

Another option is:

 

[Nicrez]

For $175 (I think) is this 18" bead necklace where the beads are equal size all around...




Honestly the whole proporety of Tiffany's line is lovely, but here where I live, alomst EVERYONE wears it, especially young teen and college girls, which is odd, because it's a chunkier look for I would say someone turning 40...

 

[Nicrez]

Whoops, it didn't work... let's try this

 

[Nicrez]

----------------
On 3/26/2004 12:51:48 PM Nicrez wrote:







For $175 (I think) is this 18' bead necklace where the beads are equal size all around...



----------------

here's that one...

 

[Nicrez]

And I'll be honest, I most like the 16" graduated bead necklace, because it is like a good set of pearls, and is nice and close to the neck...real lovely and simple, elegant and AFFORDABLE!

Either choice, I like the necklace you chose very much and it may serve her well. Just a few more things to look at...!

Good luck!!

 

[fire&ice]

OH MY GOSH it's Friday & a thread turned into a Tiffany one.

I have to chime in. Those pieces are really overpriced for what they are. Are you sure she'd want something from Tiffany's? These designs aren't overwhelming or inspriational. If it must come from Tiffany's, I'd look at the Elsa Perriti designs & perhaps the P. Picasso ones.

 

[daboyzmomi]

F&I,

Actually this Elsa Peritti was my second choice in a necklace. But, I did forget to mention she is a label girl. Yes, it is sad, but true. I on the other hand would rather have 2-3 of something just as nice for the price of 1, but what can you do when she is a labelaholic.

I do like the graduated beads as well. So many decisions,,,,honestly though, I wouldn't be offended if she hated what I got and returned it. We have always had opposite tastes so it wouldn't surprise me if she did. You know what they say, opposites attract and it must be true even in best friends

.

 

[Nicrez]

Daboyzmomi, I have to say I like you second choice very much. I only wonder if it's "big enough" for her...?




As for labelwhores, who cares, if it makes them happy, so what? I am not always a fan of buying something at a major premium, just for the name, but then again, I own Tiffany's stuff, and i would buy there again, so who cares! It's a Tiffany's Friday again! YAY!!!

My best friend and I are as different as night and day. She's seriously simple tastes, likes jeans and sweats, totally boyish at times, wears NO makeup, rough around the edges a bit and always blurts out the things on her mind, no care for appearances.




Me? Girly girl, loves sparklies and jewelry (she's getting into it now), and always likes to look my best, heels, hair, light make-up, etc..also try to be more "careful" with what I say than she does...But when we are together, we are like two peas in a pod! Opposites do attract in some ways, but the core heart and personality traits must be the same to have something to really share!

 

[fire&ice]

I like the Elsa necklace. But, if she truley is a labelaholic then she may not like something that subtley say Tiffany. Maybe get something w/ the name all over it.

 

[daboyzmomi]

Decisons, Decisons. Usually I have a gift in mind the year before but for some reason this time I am stumped.

One other idea I had was this anklet since she wears them alot during the summer. But I am not sure if it gives the same "Shock and Awe" effect, what do you guys think?

Sapphire and Diamond Anklet

 

[Mara]

I think I may have found the thing for my MOH's birthday in April. This box is adorable, from Tiffany. They have all the alphabet letters! I think it was $165. She would love something like this...esp since it looks very 'rich' in gold.