People find many reasons to celebrate, as they should, and there are many things to be happy about in life. But sometimes it can be an overwhelming venture to find the most appropriate gift since the occasion can be formal, informal, personal, family, work-related… And something in between.
Of course, there are always those select few individuals who always know what to buy, to be a little sentimental and creative, have the wow factor, and still be appropriate to the occasion. But with so many choices, how can you possibly narrow down the potential gift for the event?
A little sneaky strategy is to always have a supplier and an ace up your sleeve that can be a good fit for your lover, partner, family member, and colleague- bracelets! It is the perfect accessory that has so many variations that it can be easily adapted to any type of celebration, especially milestones. Those rounded numbers, or is it a half-decade celebration?
A Special Occasion vs a Milestone
Yes, occasion and milestone are synonymous by nature, but there is just that little bit of a difference. A special occasion, for example, can be a first date that you would talk about secretly with some friends without wanting to share too much information just yet. A favorite cousin’s birthday, as well as a well-deserved work anniversary (you know, the one after which you are lucky enough to retire), can all be special occasions. Still, out of all the mentioned- not all of them are considered milestones.
Many gift-giving guides will consider a milestone an important part of life. On average, every person can mark five milestones during their lifetime:
- Starting school and getting the first independent experiences as a child
- Entering adulthood (this can be anything from the first signs of puberty to moving out of the parental home, getting a first job, etc.)
- Finding a long-term romantic partner (getting married)
- Having children
- Retiring
Each of them marks a longer time in the individual’s life and is a representation of going over a certain threshold, entering a new era, and leaving something behind. But it is important to keep in mind that this is not set in stone, and these milestones are different for everyone and do not have to be in this order or ever to happen to be able to celebrate special occasions.
Marking Milestones in Life
Drawing from those five important stages of life mentioned earlier, some important milestones are often numbered in a specific way, starting with the first anniversary and then continuing every 5 years. For example, a couple can mark their wedding anniversary milestones and will usually mark it a little more extra for the years 1, 5, 10 up until 30. After this, milestones are considered decadal achievements, so if you manage to stay with someone for 30 years, you will have a wedding anniversary milestone every 10 years.
Why Are Bracelets the Best Universal Gift?
It is known that people have worn arm and leg jewelry since the beginning of time, and bracelets have different meanings in different cultures. As a piece of jewelry, it can hold deep and hidden meanings or can simply be given as a celebrative gift to a coworker, marking a milestone or achievement in their career and representing elegance.
When it comes to jewelry in general, bracelets are the most commonly worn, both among women and men. Here are some of the reasons why you should have your preferred choice of bracelet options ready for any special occasions:
- It is an extremely versatile accessory that can vary styles, materials, and purpose of wearing. Those that are considered more luxurious items are usually made from some types of precious metals or other durable legures that are resilient to external factors and are less prone to wearing and tearing compared to some other materials like leather, wood, etc.
- Bracelets are easy to personalize if necessary. A chain link bracelet with diamonds can be impressive on its own and a great gift for a coworker who is retiring after 15 years of working for the same company. On the other hand, a simple chain bracelet can be enhanced with charms for a specific milestone for that favorite cousin mentioned earlier- enrolling into elementary and high school, passing the driver’s test, getting a first job, or whatever it is you can mark as an intimate and personal tradition, where each charm can represent a part of their life.
- Personalization comes hand-in-hand with tradition. Charms, engraved numbers, words, or letters of significance can commemorate a special moment or person. Combining this with specific colors or designs that the recipient loves can make a gift more personal and meaningful.
- The story behind each bracelet can tell a certain story or carry one sentiment that allows you to share emotions and give the person a gift that represents your relationship. A milestone bracelet can be a representation of your appreciation and support to the person you intend to give the gift.
- A good quality piece of jewelry, like a platinum bracelet, can be a classic accessory for a person during an entire lifetime. It can be a statement piece for every day or those special and semi-formal occasions.
- The best thing about bracelets is that they can go anyway and are the most inclusive piece of accessories a person can have. A thing to consider when choosing the perfect milestone bracelet should perhaps be the circumstances in which the receiver might wear it- regular daily jobs should require a sturdier design, like a chain link bracelet. At the same time, those thinner elegant pieces are for events that need small details that elevate a suit or night dress to a gala outfit.
- The gift is easy to give as any bracelet can be packaged in small items. This means that they can be a part of the display, especially for milestones, and a subtle centerpiece when expressing your gratitude or support to the person the gift is intended. In addition, bracelets come in a wide range of designs and materials, which means that the budget for a bracelet milestone present can go up and down depending on your needs, preferences, etc.
Choosing the Appropriate Bracelet Style
There is no right or wrong choice when giving bracelets from precious metals, especially if they are further enriched with diamonds or other gemstones. However, it is always advisable to consider the personal style and age of the person receiving the gift, as well as why you are giving it to them.
For example, young people usually prefer minimalistic and simple bracelet designs, like bangles, that they stock one another. In contrast, more complex and intricate works we can see on bracelets are usually associated with more mature individuals who are likely to wear color block pieces. Bracelets will be the statement piece that ties the entire outfit all together.
Vintage
Finding actual vintage bracelets can be an interesting experience for the buyer. Cleaning old bracelets that their previous owner has not maintained can leave marks, indentations, and other unwanted marks on the accessories’ design (unless this is a thing that the person enjoys). It can be a risk to get. The other option is to choose a vintage design that is always a bit more complex but still unique to some extent when compared to simple ring bracelets or heavy diamond ones.
Simple
A minimalist style with small diamonds and a simple clasp or an easy chain link bracelet can be a base that balances out the more pronounced features of a certain look. Compared to a vintage, potentially large, and bulky statement piece, simple bracelets often feel like the final and subtle touches to the outfit. These bracelets vary in quality and weight but can essentially achieve the same effect even with a smaller budget in mind.
Modern
Since the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, a modern bracelet can be any bracelet that you think might be noticed and gain some attention. Or it could be minimalist and just add a little bit of flair to a look… It all comes down to personal preferences since modern rules are constantly being changed, adapted, and reinvented into something completely new.
Diamond or Gemstone?
From the perspective of durability and predetermined scalable value, diamonds are a solid and secure investment. However, what many people tend to forget is that some gemstones easily surpass the market value of diamonds simply because they are rare or fragile.
Diamonds come in an array of colored combinations, but they are not as close to variable patterns as their gemstone competitors.
On the other hand, on the Mohs hardness scale, some softer gemstones are not suitable for use in jewelry making. For those who are particularly interested in using some stones as part of the bracelet design, please consult with the matter expert on the possibilities, maintenance, and whether or not something can be worth the investment.
Types of Bracelets
While there are many variations of bracelets, their names, and types in this list, you will see the most common names, and they can serve as a navigational guide through all of the possibilities to choose from:
- Bangles are uniform and usually don’t have a clasp. Their rigid structure makes them sturdy and easy to combine with other pieces. Usually, they can be simple and elegant or enhanced with some detailed diamond or gemstones.
- Tennis bracelets are another alternative, a statement piece of luxury and casual elegance, since many sportspeople wear them. Formerly known as the diamond line bracelet, it got its specific tag after Chris Evert served a ball on the 1987 US Open with a swing that her diamond bracelet flew off her wrist.
- Chain bracelets are the classic base that can easily be upgraded or downgraded. If the designs are monochrome in color, or there is a specific style of chain bracelet that the person loves, it can be an amazing start of a tradition if you add in one or a few charms to go with it.
- Slider bracelets are gaining popularity since their design is elegant and can easily fit on a different wrist due to their adjustable mechanisms.
How to Make the Final Choice?
As we covered, many factors come into play. Depending on the person, their personal preference, the occasion for the gift, type, and number of the milestone… It can get a bit out of hand, which is why a safe solution is to opt for a bracelet and, in your free time, think about the people and look through the different amazing designs of bracelets that are available. This way, you will notice some interesting pieces, and you can always be prepared, add them to a cart, or even order them ahead of time!
