By Nicole Steina

For some, February brings to mind the nearing of the end of winter; the snow begins to melt and with the warmer weather comes only one thing…VALENTINE’S DAY! For women, it brings the hope that perhaps the significant other in your life will spoil you with an amazing gift, perhaps even…jewelry! For men, this usually means the overwhelming pressure to buy the “right thing.” For all of you men out there who are panicking at the thought of walking into a jewelry store, I bring you a comprehensive guide to the Language of Jewelry. Subconsciously, a ring may say one thing to the one you love or care about, and a necklace may say another. Before you give that passing fling a ring, take a few moments and make sure that you first establish how you feel about her. Different pieces of bling make very bold statements about your feelings!

The Necklace

In my opinion, the necklace is a perfect gift for “just starting out.” It says, “I think you are special enough for jewelry” but doesn’t make things appear overly serious. Add a few diamonds if you are looking to show her that you are more than just dating. You can find gorgeous necklaces for all different tastes and budgets ~ white or yellow gold, platinum, sterling silver, with stones, plain, etc. Just remember to take a look at other jewelry she has so that you buy something that goes with her overall look.

Diamond Earrings

The next step…Now you are telling her that she is someone very important! You wouldn’t give just a buddy a pair of diamond earrings, would you? This gift says a lot without saying anything! You can go for diamond studs if your girl is sporty, or pick out something more delicate if you’ll be taking her out to lots of nice places that require dressing up!

Watches

Ah, a timepiece ~ the mature, commitment gift! A woman can never have too many watches (or shoes!), am I right, Ladies? With so many watches out there, and so much variety in price and style, you can definitely impress her without sending yourself to the poorhouse. This is definitely a win/win situation! Fossil and Guess both make classy and contemporary lines and make a good, solid statement. On the flip side, you can always take it to the next level and invest in a Cartier or Gucci watch ~ these (pardon the pun) timeless watches will be with her forever, so spending a little extra might be worth it.

Bracelets

This gift can say just about anything depending on which style you choose. If she likes bangle bracelets and you are not ready to spend a million bucks for V day, grab some funky styles and present her with a whole variety. It is a friendly, flirty gift with no strings attached. If you want something that shows a little more thought, try going for a one-of-a-kind piece made by a local artisan ~ or even something custom-made that takes into account the metal or stones that she likes. Or, if you’re ready to make that MAJOR statement of togetherness, go for it…choose a diamond tennis bracelet tells her that she is definitely your one and only and that you want everyone to know it!

Rings

It was once thought that a ring given as a gift was most likely “The Ring.” Talk about a lot of pressure on one little piece of jewelry! Nowadays, there’s a little more leeway with the meaning behind a gift of a ring ~ but guys, still tread carefully. Just like giving The Ring comes with some serious meaning, so does just giving A Ring…if she’s expecting the former and gets the latter, you might be in for some fireworks ~ and not the good kind! Anything with diamonds definitely sends the message that you are serious; even if you don’t say the words, you are telling her she is more ~ way more ~ than just “a friend.” If she likes rings, but you don’t want to confuse her by sending the wrong message (good luck!), well, you can always opt for just a cute bauble that bears NO resemblance to an engagement ring ~ stay away from anything diamond or CZ ~ you can find some very nice jade bands, for example, that are pretty but definitely not as romantic.

So, on this ever so romantic of holidays, remember, choose carefully ~ and as long as you select something that is reminiscent of your lady, she will love it!