We don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but nearly all of us know that feeling of unwrapping a gift at Christmas that they know they’ll never use.
When it comes to jewellery, things get trickier still; specially commissioned or personalised jewellery gifts are usually non-returnable, and most retailers won’t give refunds on earrings for hygienic reasons. Moreover, most gifts don’t qualify for a refund or exchange without a receipt. And when the thought and effort has gone into personalising such a gift, only for it to gather dust, well…it’s not going to reflect very well on anyone.
Since you’ve probably read the title, you know where this is going; if you’re thinking about giving someone jewellery this Christmas, then why not gift your loved one a loose gemstone so they can design a piece that they’ll genuinely love? Here are 5 reasons to give a loose gemstone as a gift this Christmas.
THEY ARE UNIQUE
Did you know that many coloured gemstones are actually rarer and more exclusive than white diamonds? While it may surprise some, gemstones come in a wider variety of colours and hues than common knowledge traditionally dictates.
Take sapphires, for instance. Unbeknownst to most, sapphires don’t just come in blue; the stone in fact covers the whole spectrum of the rainbow, and as such, the colour you buy may be intricately, subtly different to every other sapphire on the planet! This applies to all manner of coloured gemstones, by the way.
If you’re keen for something truly unique, consider a Moldavite stone. These incredible stones were caused by a meteorite strike in Southern Germany and the Czech Republic some 15 million years ago, and in those preceding millions of years the shape, colour and makeup of the stone has evolved and shape shifted dramatically. The history and scarcity of the Moldavite truly makes it one of a kind…so cool!
THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANCE
People appreciate gifts with a particular significance, and this is particularly true over Christmas, when the sentimentality stakes are turned up several notches. Gemstones are often associated with the month that a person was born, which brings added significance and a personal touch to each and every gift.
If you’re wondering which stones are associated with each month, here goes:
- January– Garnet
- February– Amethyst
- March– Aquamarine, Bloodstone
- April– Diamond
- May– Emerald
- June– Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite
- July– Ruby
- August– Peridot, Spinel
- September– Sapphire
- October– Opal, Tourmaline
- November– Topaz, Citrine
- December– Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite
Moreover, the messages inherent in these stones make them even more significant than other gifts, which leads us to our next point…
THEY CARRY MEANING
Stones carry huge symbolic meaning, and can make a hugely tender and personal gift come Christmas time. Amethyst, for example, is a calming stone, said to enhance intuition and psychic awareness. It is also thought to have protective, energising, peaceful qualities. For those born in the month of February, this could make an exciting and thoughtful gift, particularly if those attributes apply to the gift’s receiver!
Or, how about opal, which is a stone representative of happiness, faithfulness, confidence and hope? Topaz, on the other hand, is a firestone expressive of nobility, love, passion, and purpose. The Spruce explains that “Because of its fiery energy, this sun-filled gemstone is certainly associated with high self-esteem and good fortune. It is a gemstone that strengthens one’s confidence and trust in one’s inner power and abilities.”. Fascinating stuff.
IDEAL FOR A CHRISTMAS ENGAGEMENT
If you’re buying a gemstone for an engagement, consider aquamarine, which symbolises courage and communication. This is a gift to both of you; since aquamarine and its gift of open and honest dialogue will mean you’ll be able to talk through those trials and tribulations…the foundation of every good marriage, don’t you think?
Decide on a moonstone and your love could last a lifetime, able to endure life’s many twists and turns. Or, opt for ruby and encourage passion; perfect for those wanting to keep the fire alive long after tying the knot. The power is in your hands; or rather, in the hands of a gemstone.
BESPOKE
As we previously mentioned, with the gift of a loose gemstone, your loved one can design a piece of jewellery that they truly love, centered around your gift, sure, but giving it their own personal touch, too. If that sense of compromise is something that particularly appeals to you, then there’s even a gemstone for that; howlite is known to symbolise wisdom, understanding and compromise. And with the bespoke gift of a loose gemstone, it feels like everybody wins!
With loose gemstone in hand, if your loved one wants to make their own piece using it, then first direct them to these 5 tips for making your own jewellery at home.