Gifts for your best friend: jewellery ideas for every style

Finding a gift for your best friend is hard precisely because you know her so well: you know what she likes, but you also know what would end up at the back of a drawer. Jewellery works because she wears it, and every time she puts it on, she thinks of you. In this guide you’ll find jewellery gift ideas by style, personalised gifts, matching sets and the mistakes to avoid.

Gifts for your best friend: start with her style, not yours

Before you choose, think about what she already wears. Small earrings or big ones? A necklace she never takes off? Does she love colour or neutrals? The answers already tell you a lot: choose something that goes with what she has, not something you’d like.

If she’s a minimalist

She loves small pieces she can put on in the morning and forget about: the Plain Huggie Hoops, small shiny hoops with a click fastening, or the Solitaire Stud Earrings, with a four-claw cubic zirconia. For a necklace, the Mini Solitaire Pendant: a 4 mm cubic zirconia on a fine 40 cm chain.

If she’s a romantic

Flowers, bows, butterflies: for her, it’s all about the sweet detail. The Blue Flower Necklace has a 14 mm pendant with a blue enamel flower on a 42 cm chain plus a 5 cm extender. The Bow Earrings are bow-shaped studs with a crystal in the middle; the Butterfly Necklace has a butterfly pendant on a fine chain.

If she loves a statement piece

For the friend who loves to be noticed, go for one bold piece. The Curb Chain Necklace has links of about 9 mm that fill a neckline on their own; the Tubogas Choker, about 6 mm wide, sits at the base of the neck. For her ears, the Chunky Hoop Earrings (about 2.5 cm) or the 25 mm Maxi Flower Hoop Earrings, with an enamel flower hanging from the hoop. You’ll find them in earrings.

Personalised jewellery gift ideas: name, initial, photo, star sign

For a gift that’s all about her, or the two of you:

• Name necklace: on the Script Name Necklace, her name in script becomes the pendant.
• Initial necklace: the Initial Necklace has a 12 mm block capital on a 42 cm chain. A sweet idea: give her your initial and keep hers for yourself.
• Photo locket: the Heart Photo Locket is a heart that opens on a hinge and holds two mini photos: one of them could be of you two.
• Star sign: the Star Sign Medallion is round, 18 mm, with her star sign in relief, her birthstone and her initial, on a 45 cm chain.

Good to know: the name necklace is made just for her, so it can’t be returned for a change of mind. Before you order, double-check the spelling; for the other personalised pieces, read the conditions in our returns policy.

Matching sets: for a bigger gift

For a big milestone, a set instantly feels like a “thought-through” gift. The Dolce Vita Pearl Set pairs a 45 cm necklace with a pearl pendant and 22 mm pearl drop earrings. Or build your own set with pieces from the same line, like our blue flower line: 12 mm huggie earrings, a necklace and a bracelet with blue enamel flowers. Ready-made sets are in the Gift sets collection.

What to avoid when you give jewellery

• The ring in the wrong size. Without her size, it’s the riskiest gift. Better an adjustable ring, like the Adjustable Flower Ring (from about size L½ to Q½), or a necklace or pair of earrings, which don’t come in sizes. If you still want a fixed-size ring, read our guide on how to find your ring size first.
• The bracelet that’s too tight. Wrists have a size too: choose an adjustable style, like the Adjustable Tennis Bracelet, which goes from 15 to 22 cm.
• Earrings for someone without pierced ears. If she hasn’t got them, there’s the Twist Ear Cuff, which squeezes onto the edge of the ear, no hole needed.
• Opening the earrings “just to have a look”. Earrings can only be returned if the packaging is still sealed (unless faulty): don’t open it before you wrap it, and only choose a pair if you know her taste well.
• The wrong style. A big, colourful earring for someone who only wears tiny studs stays in the drawer. If in doubt, choose the simplest piece.

The right occasions to give her jewellery

A few occasions, with the right piece for each:

• Birthday: the necklace with her star sign is instantly all about her.
• Graduation or a new job: a simple piece to wear every day, like plain huggies.
• Her wedding, or yours if she’s your maid of honour: a matching set to wear on the day.
• When you live far apart: the locket with a photo of you two.
• Christmas: two initial necklaces, one for you and one for her.

And always add a handwritten card with a memory you share: it makes even the simplest piece personal.

For more ideas there’s our gift ideas page; for names, initials and pendants, start with the necklaces. Take your time: the right gift is the one she sees herself in.