It’s an unshakeable fact: jewellery gifts are often some of the loveliest things to receive. Whether it’s a special something from a special someone, or quite simply a reward you’ve waited all year to give yourself—a piece of preciousness goes a long way. There are a lot of jewellers, collections and pieces out there, so we’re here to help you cut through the muck this festive season. There’s a bit of celebratory holiday sparkle for everyone, which we’ve edited according to three price brackets that’ll suit however plush you’re feeling this year.
Let’s set the stage and organise the shopping process with a bit of romance: little treasures which can be had for up to $5,000; splendid splurges that go up to $10,000; and a third category of flights of fancy with pieces above $10,000 where you can really have some fun with your choices. These are all pieces from the most iconic jewellery brands, like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., and more, that create some of the most redoubtably beautiful things. There’s plenty to love whether big or small, and you can be assured that both inside and out, everything will be presented faultlessly. Here, our guide to the best jewellery gifts for the festive season.
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A little treasure from Cartier: Trinity necklace in white, yellow and rose gold with diamonds, $4,800
Cartier’s famous three-looped design, with a diamond-set bail and a delicate double-row ball chain necklace of yellow gold.
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A splurge from Cartier: Juste un Clou bracelet small model in yellow gold with diamonds, $7,200
Another Cartier signature: the edgy nail bracelet, perfect for starting or adding to a wrist stack, complete with 20 brilliant-cut diamonds at the head and the point.
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A flight of fancy from Cartier: Love bracelet in brushed finish white gold, $11,300
The ne plus ultra of Cartier icons is without question the Love bracelet. The latest editions come with a brushed finish, ideal if you’re looking for a more understated shine or jewellery that works for all genders.
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A little treasure from Van Cleef & Arpels: Perlée Signature ring in rose gold, $3,800
The Perlée collection by Van Cleef & Arpels makes joyful use of delicate golden beads for an utterly feminine look. This ring, suitably wide on a finger, features two rows of gold beads and a centre band subtly engraved with the house’s calligraphed signature.
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A splendid splurge from Van Cleef & Arpels: Perlée Sweet Clovers yellow gold ring with diamonds, $10,700
A step up with some diamonds in the mix, this Sweet Clovers ring combines two of the houses signature design details: the Perlée beads as well as the lucky four leaf clovers. There are five clover motifs in this, each set with four round diamonds and a centre bead.
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A flight of fancy from Van Cleef & Arpels: Perlée Couleurs transformable long necklace in yellow gold with corals, onyxes and turquoises, $33,300
How about some transformable high jewellery magic? This long necklace from the Perlée Couleurs range can be worn several ways. First, as either a long necklace with a drop length of 90cm or doubled up to be worn closer to the neck. Second, the middle row of gold beads can be swapped out and changed with circles of red corals, black onyxes or blue turquoises to match the mood of any day.
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A little treasure from Tiffany & Co: Return to Tiffany Full Heart earrings in rose gold, $2,900
The Return to Tiffany collection’s heart motif makes it a sweet gift for someone young. This festive season, the New York brand has unveiled a Full Heart rendition where the hearts are given curvy, three-dimensional life. Engraved on the hearts are the collection’s famous words, applied by hand with layers of black rhodium to give it a contrasting look.
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A splendid splurge from Tiffany & Co: Tiffany HardWear small link ring in yellow gold with diamonds, $8,200
The HardWear collection takes its inspiration from the attitudes and go-getter energy of New York City. This season, the brand’s added a touch of sparkle to its link rings by setting it with diamonds.
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A flight of fancy from Tiffany & Co: Tiffany Knot necklace in yellow gold with diamonds, $10,500
Romantic with a subtle twist, the central motif of the Knot collection is intended to symbolise connections and relationships. This choker necklace is sinuously curved, hand-polished to a brilliant mirror finish, with its jewelled knot motif set at a chic asymmetrical angle.
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A little treasure from Boucheron: Serpent Bohème Solarité XS pendant necklace in yellow gold with diamonds, $4,900
Jewellery from Boucheron is exceedingly fine. This necklace is offered with a twisted chain, with a drop of diamond-set gold beads and a snake’s head droplet that’s framed by delicate gold beads and set also with diamonds. The story goes that Frédéric Boucheron once gave his wife, Gabrielle, a necklace in the shape of a snake before he departed on a long journey—that symbol coming to represent love at Boucheron.
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A splendid splurge from Boucheron: Quatre Classique small model tie necklace in yellow, white and pink gold with brown PVD and diamonds, $9,550
The four-banded Quatre is one of Boucheron’s modern classics. It’s framed by two bands of gold shaped in a fluted double godron and grosgrain pattern, with a line of diamonds and Clou de Paris—a blocky motif inspired by the city of lights’s cobblestones—in brown PVD-coated gold. This tie necklace format is adjustable so you can wear it long or high on the neck like a bolo. For unexpected elegance, try wearing it on your back with an outfit that’s got a plunging line.
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A flight of fancy from Boucheron: Serpent Bohème Solarité multi motif hoop earrings in yellow gold with diamonds, $63,400
Scintillating doesn’t begin to describe these earrings from Boucheron. The drop-shaped motif of the Serpent Bohème collection is arranged on the hoops with alternating strands to create a radiant halo around the face. It’s the kind of jewellery you’ll want to invest in if you’re building up an arsenal of stunners.
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A little treasure from Bulgari: Divas' Dream necklace in rose gold with diamond and mother-of-pearl, $3,040
Bulgari’s Divas’ Dream collection pays homage to fabulous Roman women—a spirit of pizzazz that’s always good to tap on. Its fan-shaped motif recalls the mosaics of the Caracalla Baths. This season, the brand has introduced a new version, set with one diamond where the chain meets the pendant, and lustrous mother-of-pearl on the fan motif.
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A splendid splurge from Bulgari: B.zero1 ring in rose gold with demi-pavé diamonds, $6,920
One of the Roman jewellery brand’s most recognisable designs is the B.zero1, inspired by the Colosseum. The rings typically have flexible, squeezable Tubogas bands on the inside, bookended by architectural bands engraved with the Bulgari signature. This three-band version comes demi-pavéd with a line of diamonds to give it just a touch of radiance.
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A flight of fancy from Bulgari: Serpenti Viper bracelet in white gold with full pavé diamonds, $52,600
The snake is a house motif at Bulgari, and its Serpenti Viper collection turns it into a more abstracted and geometric—but no less recognisable—form. This sensuous bracelet coils around the wrist in scale-like segmented sections that are each set with round brilliant diamonds.
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A little treasure from Chanel: Coco bracelets in beige gold, $2,550; and in white gold with diamond, $3,500
Any one of these bracelets, which feature Chanel’s signature quilted pattern on gold, makes a dainty piece on the wrist. A single C makes a wonderfully fitting gift for anyone that’s got a name that starts with the letter. Or better yet, collect and stack ’em up to spell out Coco as the house no doubt intended.
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A splendid splurge from Chanel: Coco necklace in beige gold with diamonds, $8,600; and Eternal No.5 necklace in beige gold with diamonds, $13,750
These necklaces are a sure fit for fans of the house of Chanel. There’s the Coco necklace with the quilted motif that features a diamond where the chain nestles against the C motif. And if you’re looking to stretch the budget, there’s the house’s emblematic Eternal No.5, decked out with diamonds and a drop pendant. The chains of Chanel necklaces have adjustment rings so you can wear it at different lengths—perfect for layering different designs.
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A flight of fancy from Chanel: Bouton de Camélia ring in white gold with diamonds, $23,600
If a letter or number strike you as too obvious, consider a Chanel signature that’s for connoisseurs: the camellia. This flower was Gabrielle Chanel’s personal favourite, and has filtered into nearly every facet of design at the Parisian house. As jewellery, this camellia ring embodies the designer’s timeless tenet of simplicity: an open-worked metal design, set straightforwardly with brilliant-cut diamonds that total approximately 1.44 carats.
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A little treasure from Chaumet: Jeux de Liens Harmony small model pendant necklace in rose gold with diamonds, $4,130
These medallion designs from Chaumet’s Jeux de Liens Harmony line are meant to symbolise two destinies united. They feature an engraved sunburst pattern, with a crossed motif set with diamonds. On the smooth back, options for personalised engraving are available: choose from numbers, letters, or heart and infinity symbols.
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A splendid splurge from Chaumet: Bee My Love pendant necklace in rose gold with diamonds, $8,740
Chaumet’s Bee My Love collection combines the French jeweller’s naturalistic tradition with a modern, geometric edge. The hexagonal beehive motifs are shaped polished to mirrored perfection by the house’s master craftsmen, then set with diamonds for elegant flair. This lariat-style necklace, adjustable at both the clasp and the pendant, is set with diamonds at an irregular pattern so there is a feeling of organic arrangement that echoes its inspirations.
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A flight of fancy from Chaumet: Joséphine Aigrette pendant necklace in rose gold with diamonds, $42,100
Empress Joséphine Bonaparte of France was the house of Chaumet’s first great client, and has remained a muse to the Parisian high jewellery house. The Joséphine Aigrette collection draws from its royal muse to create super feminine and elegant creations. In this large-sized pendant necklace, a mix of larger and smaller diamonds are set on different pavés on a diagonal to create light and texture akin to woven lace.
