Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for you?

[Laila619]

Does your husband/SO pick out jewelry for you on his own, and does he share your taste? Or do you generally have to give him helpful 'suggestions?' Have you returned any jewelry he bought you?

My hub is pretty good at mostly picking out things I like, but occasionally there will be a miss. I haven't returned anything (even though I've been tempted) because I think it would hurt his feelings. Since joining PS I have become much more picky with jewelry though, and so now I like to pick out my own things for gifts.

How about you?

 

[zoebartlett]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

My husband has bought me three pieces of jewelry in the almost 9 years we've been together. Two of those pieces make up my wedding set and we chose them together (although I saw the design first and then showed it to him).

The other piece of jewelry he got was during the first year of our relationship. We had planned a trip to Ireland for a friend's wedding, and he decided to get us both Claddagh rings, unbeknownst to me. I opened the box and stared at the largest, most hideous looking cheap-o ring. I think my face actually fell as I opened the box. It was a sweet gesture and I was touched that he wanted to surprise me. The thought definitely meant a lot to me. I just couldn't bring myself to wear it though. It was huge and honestly not worth paying to get sized. I think he felt bad for a minute but he got over it. The funny thing was that he got one for himself too because he thought I'd like that he wanted to be matchy-matchy. (Like I said, it was the first year in our relationship, so I think he was in the "still getting to know you" stage. I'm not into rings on men, other than wedding rings.) He never intended to wear it. So all in all, big fail.

I'd hope that if he was going to choose something for me today, he'd be much better. I have a feeling though that it would be a joint venture.

 

[madelise]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

My guy is HORRIBLE at choosing jewelry!! I learned that our first Valentine's day together, lol!! He bought me the most hideous flower ring encrusted with tiny black and white diamonds from Macy's. He was so darn proud of himself, too. "It's real diamonds and silver, honey!!" I didn't have the heart to tell him I hated it, but I have no poker face. Lol. Then my then very loud best friend flat out said "WTF is THAT?!" in front of him. Haha. He returned it, thank god. I didn't know how I was going to pretend I like it forever. Lose it on "accident"? Get "robbed"? Lol!! And the poor guy paid $300 for it, too. I can imagine it's only worth $50.. And even the I wouldnt want it!! Diamonds are more worthwhile on light bulbs and nail files!

Ever since then, he's tried to "guess my style" at every jewelry window we pass by. He'd try to guess the few I'd like out of the bunch. He hasn't done really well, so he doesn't buy me jewelry without first checking with me, hah. It sucks cus I can't get surprised.. But at least I won't go getting robbed just to lose something so I don't have to wear it!! Lol!

 

[LoveLikeCrazy]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

Horrible !!!

I have to tell him EXACTLY what i want...which means i NEVER get surprised.

 

[lulu]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

The first jewelry he bought for me had a nautical theme. Enough said?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

Umm, let's just say that no one could pick out jewelry for me, so the best thing is for me to pick everything out myself! I got this straight early on because it would be impossible to really surprise me with something I'd like!

 

[february2003bride]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

Pre-PS, yes, DH gave me jewelry as a gift and was good at it. Blue Nile was his go to store which for the most part, I like everything there. Post PS, no he doesn't anymore. He has a couple of things but I returned them. I do feel badly that DH feels like he can't buy me jewelry anymore. It's my fault though, as since joining PS, I have become a jewelry snob. Every holiday, birthday, or anniversary where DH pre-PS would have bought me a bracelet or earrings and didn't because he was worried it wouldn't be "good enough" or what have you. I'm slowly trying to change that mentality with him and I hope by Christmas it's gone, lol.

 

[Enerchi]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

I have gift items that I will put on... and then take off pretty soon after. I am just better at knowing what I like, that's all - I don't consider that picky and obsessive, do you????

If there is a jewelry item in question, I'll narrow down the field and then pick out the top 2 or 3 that I like, but really --- just leave it to the expert (ME!). He's definitely become MUCH better at picking out things I'd like, so who knows....

 

[Matata]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

Complete fail. He has no interest. Doesn't know a diamond from an ear of corn. He thought a new pair of hiking boots was the way to commemorate our engagement. But I actually like it that way. I get to choose what I want and he graciously pays. When we went to pick up my reset from Brian Gavin, Brian and I naturally chatted about all things sparkly and DH sat there and broke out into a sweat because he didn't have a clue about anything we were discussing.

 

[Laila619]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

The first jewelry he bought for me had a nautical theme. Enough said?

LOL!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

i get to pick all my wife's jewelry... she can take it or leave it since i'm the one who is paying!!...

 

[madelise]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

i get to pick all my wife's jewelry... she can take it or leave it since i'm the one who is paying!!...

Lucky for her, you know the difference between an AGS 0 vs a Zales diamond.

 

[ame]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

DH doesn't ever buy me jewelry without my total involvement. For obvious reasons.

 

[missy]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

When we were dating he bought me beautiful jewelry and I only had to return one piece. Unfortunately it was his wedding gift to me and I momentarily debated not saying anything at the time (I mean it was the night before the wedding LOL) but I decided it was the best thing to do. He wasn't surprised because when I opened it he could tell I didn't love it- it was a beautiful necklace but just not my style- and the only thing he ever bought for me that I didn't love. So right after the honeymoon we went back to Saks and returned it and I ended up finding a beautiful necklace to replace it that I wear to this day. Just gorgeous.

Nowadays, I pick every piece for myself (sometimes he is with me and sometimes he isn't) and same for him. He picks out all his gifts from me as well. It works best that way since we are both uber picky. Though when we were dating he (almost) always seemed to get it right so maybe I should let him start picking out stuff for me again since being surprised is one thing I do miss. Years ago we started writing down what we wanted and putting it in a grab bag so we would *sort* of be surprised but we have long given up such pretenses and now we just say what we want and buy it. I guess after 13 years of bling buying we have perfected our very picky tastes. LOL.

In general he has great taste though in all things- I mean he ended up with me didn't he...

 

[April20]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

I have him purposely terrified to buy jewelry for me on his own. I am very particular in what I like and I'm also not predictable. I shutter to imagine what he might buy thinking I'd like it and it would hurt his feelings if I didn't. He's smart enough to not try to buy me jewelry on his own.

 

[star sparkle]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

I have him purposely terrified to buy jewelry for me on his own. I am very particular in what I like and I'm also not predictable. I shutter to imagine what he might buy thinking I'd like it and it would hurt his feelings if I didn't. He's smart enough to not try to buy me jewelry on his own.

This, exactly!

Only bad part, though, is that his mom wanted to get me a piece of jewelry for my bday a couple months ago and he told her not to because I'm "way too picky." She has excellent jewelry taste and I know she'd have picked something great! I wanted to shake him after she told me how it went down. haha

 

[Amber St. Clare]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

He doesn't even try anymore. He says I am too picky. When Ipick something out he always askes me WHY--and I point things out--the setting, the stone work, etc--and he just shakes his head and says he would nver have picked it out on his own...

We are coming up to our 30th anniversary and I told him I wanted a purple sapphire and diamond ring and he told me just to pick out whatever I wanted and charge it, he wasn't going to walk thru any minefields.

 

[Jennifer W]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

I don't know. It just isn't the sort of gift he'd give me. Our gifts to each other tend to be very small things (in monetary terms) and jewellery wouldn't fit with out gift 'vibe' at all. He has excellent taste though, so I'm pretty sure he'd buy beautiful things. He is interested in diamonds and colored stones, and very interested in design, so if he did buy jewellery gifts for me, I'm pretty sure I'd love them. We either choose things together though, or I buy for myself.

 

[Rhea]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

He's pretty good!

He's given me 2 items I don't wear, but treasure. They are unique and mean something to us. He's given me one item I wear nearly daily in the summer. I think he's given me other things, but I just can't remember. The only fail was my engagement ring, and I think that's only because of all the belief and hope, on both sides, that it'll be my treasured piece that I wear forever. Pieces without all that emotion are very appreciated and sentimental.

 

[diamondringlover]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

My hubby has bought me some beautiful jewelry over the years and some that I was wondering what the heck he was thinking...now I am a little to picky to buy for...so I just buy it for myself.

 

[yennyfire]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

My guy is HORRIBLE at choosing jewelry!! I learned that our first Valentine's day together, lol!! He bought me the most hideous flower ring encrusted with tiny black and white diamonds from Macy's. He was so darn proud of himself, too. "It's real diamonds and silver, honey!!" I didn't have the heart to tell him I hated it, but I have no poker face. Lol. Then my then very loud best friend flat out said "WTF is THAT?!" in front of him. Haha. He returned it, thank god. I didn't know how I was going to pretend I like it forever. Lose it on "accident"? Get "robbed"? Lol!! And the poor guy paid $300 for it, too. I can imagine it's only worth $50.. And even the I wouldnt want it!! Diamonds are more worthwhile on light bulbs and nail files!

Ever since then, he's tried to "guess my style" at every jewelry window we pass by. He'd try to guess the few I'd like out of the bunch. He hasn't done really well, so he doesn't buy me jewelry without first checking with me, hah. It sucks cus I can't get surprised.. But at least I won't go getting robbed just to lose something so I don't have to wear it!! Lol!

This. No Macy's horror story, but DH knows that he has no clue about jewelry, so while there are no fun surprises, at least there are no awful ones either!

 

[Mayk]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

My DH will not even try... I just tell him about my next project and he smiles and asks all the right questions a good DH would.... and then I explain my plan to fund my project... and I know he's thinking "EXCELLENT I will be funding my own project soon... I will remind her of the bling budget then." (He wants an old car... 60 something Mustang.. one day!)

We just celebrated our first anniversary and he gave me this awesome little spice jar he painted (Mr. Architect he so creative) for me to collect shark's teeth in when I'm at the beach. I always have a handful and complain because I have to go find a cup to put them in... AWESOME gift... loved it!!!!

 

[pregcurious]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

No good...but then again I struggle to set stones.

 

[canuk-gal]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

The first jewelry he bought for me had a nautical theme. Enough said?

LOL!

lulu: your posts are always halir!

cheers--Sharon

 

[marcy]

My husband has picked out quite a few pieces of jewelry for me and I like them. Sometimes we will stand in the store and keep looking for something we both like but generally our tastes are similar.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

The first time he bought me jewelry, he bought me the doppleganger of a necklace I already owned. He figured if I liked that one, I'd like his as well, after all, they practically look the same... Ah, male logic at it's best.

The next time he bought me jewelry was my ering. I gave very basic parameters: Round diamond, white gold. He picked out a lovely diamond (engineer that he is), but then when it came to the setting, he didn't realize that settings came in so many styles, and wasn't really prepared when the sales person asked what he wanted, so he defaulted to the closest thing they had to a traditional solitaire. Very safe choice, but I'm very much not a traditional type gal, and so I recently had it reset!

I've let him know not to buy my jewelry as I enjoy the shopping process myself whereas he rather hates it, so it works out for both of us!

 

[Haven]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

My husband has bought two pieces of jewelry for me on his own in the eight years we've been together.

The first was a Tiffany silver bangle bracelet. I don't wear bracelets, they get in the way of my writing.

The second was a white gold necklace with a little heart pendant covered in melee. About a week after he gave me the necklace, we were watching The Office, and it happened to be the episode where Pam said that Michael's girlfriend definitely didn't buy the earrings she was wearing for herself because they had hearts on them, and women never buy heart jewelry for themselves. Because women don't like heart jewelry. DH looked at me for confirmation, and I didn't have the heart to tell him she was right. But he knew.

Now I just keep a wish list with our local jeweler, and if he ever feels the need to buy me something, he knows where to go.

 

[PintoBean]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

Fi gets a list from me, so he's GREAT . I ask for a combined anniversary, Christmas, birthday and valentine's day present . I realized that combining all 4 special occasions can afford me some NICE jewelry!!! Fi likes that he gets the present giving over in ONE shot!

I give fi a list of things I like, and very explicit directions. "If you would like to get me X item, please call this PS vendor and ask for Y person. If you are hesitant about anything, they will know EXACTLY what I like..."

And if he wants to "wing-it" on his own (not that he would... ) The go-to reps are:
Denise for BGD (preferably diamonds)
Jade and Yekutiel for IDJ (preferably for in-person, in-store purchases), and
Chris for ERD (preferably for jewelry purchases via e-mail/online).

(Psst... Fi is currently corresponding with Chris at ERD for a WEDDING PRESENT for moi!...hint hint... it's 18" long, and something that I've discussed before in a past thread...!!! yay yay yay yay!!!)

 

[aviastar]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

He's excellent; so much so that I trusted him to surprise me with something to wear on our wedding day and surprise me with a wedding band. They are both perfect. To be fair, I also surprised him with his band and he loved it, too. But we both work in an artistic, designy field and we spend a lot of time looking at and discussing concepts, shapes, colors, designs we like/dislike together.

My dad, on the other hand, had an upgrade designed for my mom this year and he turned it completely over to me, which was a GREAT idea since she and I had already talked about exactly what she wanted and he never would have come up with it.

 

[Laila619]

Re: Ladies, how good is your guy at picking out jewelry for

The first time he bought me jewelry, he bought me the doppleganger of a necklace I already owned. He figured if I liked that one, I'd like his as well, after all, they practically look the same... Ah, male logic at it's best.

Hahaha! Well, I guess technically he was correct, right?