Rings

When giving a ring as a Christmas present, it is important to make your gift reflect the unique qualities of that special someone who will receive it. Jewelry is such a personal and intimate gift that one could hesitate at the mere thought of trying to find the perfect gift for that person. Nowadays, jewelry, such as a ring, is often presented as a gift of affection for a loved one and can have as many symbolic reasons for being worn as there are designs of rings.

Historically, giving rings as gifts can be traced back to nearly six thousand years ago. Contrary to the current culture of offering a ring to signify a romantic engagement, or similar forms of romantic love, rings can have a variety of other reasons to be given as gifts: Here are some kinds of rings popular for gift-giving:

• Friendship ring:—These rings are given to represent a close friendship that is not romantic in nature.
• Birthstone ring:—Usually a slender, simple ring, set with the wearer’s birthstone.
• Mother’s ring:—A ring for a mother, which displays the birthstone of her child (children).
• Class ring:—Worn by students and alumni in commemoration of their graduation.
• Cocktail ring:—Any oversized ladies’ ring with a large center stone often surrounded by tiny stones is considered a cocktail ring. Most commonly this is considered costume jewelry and is also known as a dinner ring.

There are also a variety of styles of rings to choose from when considering such a Christmas gift. In addition to the band style of ring (a band of metal) there are also stack rings (rings with multiple thin bands that stack together), halo rings (a large center stone with a halo of smaller gems surrounding the large gem, like a halo) as well as the traditional anniversary bands, and engagement rings.

Contrasting the traditional is the contemporary body ring jewelry worn by young and old, male and female of today. Such jewelry consists of rings including toe rings, nose rings, belly button rings, thumb rings and arm rings (bands of metal worn around one’s bicep). In light of the increased popularity of body piercing, there are even rings made for the private parts of both men and women. Most of these rings can be found in specialty boutique stores.

In addition to the wide variety of rings as well as styles, there is another important element to consider when giving a ring for a Christmas gift. The type of metal used in the ring can be as much of a factor when selecting a ring as both reason and style combined.

One’s preference for one kind of metal over another cannot be underestimated. While one person may prefer 14 carat white gold, another person may prefer 18 carat yellow gold, or sterling silver, stainless steel, or even platinum. For this reason, it’s important to know the preferences of the intended receiver. Not as hard as once thought, this can easily be ascertained by observing the jewelry the person already wears daily!

No matter if you’re shopping for a friend, a new mother, a daughter, an aunt, a grandmother, a sister, a cousin, or a friend of the family, it’s hard to go wrong with a ring for a Christmas present.