Jewellery

No, if I couldn't afford something (and it wasn't an essential), I'd stick to window-shopping (after the shops were closed.

I love semi precious stones and silver.I wear a chunky amber necklace with a silver head most days and a bracelet which my daughter made.She always makes something special for my birthday and D2 gives me lovely antique brooches.I made a charm bracelet,using bits of jewellery from their teenage years.
A silver necklace inherited from my mum is always worn on her birthday.
A photograh of myself at 8yrs old has me wearing shorts and a beaded necklace.
As a child I loved to sift through grans button tin....I have always been a magpie.
I love the way Berber women are piled high with jewellery.

If I had lots of money,I would buy a diamond,Art Deco cocktail watch,but that will never happen.

I have a silver pendant, made from an old desert spoon, hammered flat and carved with moon gazing hares. I love it, and get many compliments on it.......cost a ruinous amount, paid for it myself and hope that one of my grand daughters will wear it in years to come.

Sometimes, even if it is a struggle to afford something, it is worth it just to befriend yourself.

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I have to come clean here and say that I am a total jewellery=holic! I have at least 40 really good rings, 13 bracelets, at least twenty gorgeous necklaces and pendants and lots of loose gemstones. No earrings - I have never liked the idea of pierced ears (or pierced anything!!!)The TV jewellery channels have me enslaved! And I buy them purely because I am the only one who knows what I really like!! Just some of my "hoard" !!!

Now I LOVE silver jewellery and especially Silver & Amethyst.
I have a collection òf silver bracelets.which I wear on each wrist day and night....I've gone off wearing a watch for some time.
As I've been somewhat housebound for a couple of years I now buy Silver and Amethyst jewellery online. I've found a very good website for Gemstone jewellery and very good website for Sterling Silver chain jewellery. So when I'm fed up or bored I have a mooch on both. I've learned what I like so have a good search for something I haven't got in my collection. Fortunately I have all girls to pass them on to !

I never buy jewellery myself, DH has been more than generous over the years. DD designed and had made for me a necklace for my 60th birthday, it is lovely to have a unique piece of jewellery.

As for women on cruise buying pricy jewellery for themselves, it might not be my taste but why not, so long as they can afford it? Would it be OK/ unsurprising if their partner bought it? Surely everyone on this thread accepts that many women work nowadays and some may earn more than their husband. Some posts seem to hark back to a different time, almost pre-feminism.

I really do not have any interest in owning the kind of jewellery sold by jewellers. My engagement and wedding rings came from antique dealers. I do like rings, and I do have a couple of valuable ones, but those I have drifted my way over the years as family members have died. On occasion I wear earrings but most of those come from Accessories and other similar shops. Otherwise I do not wear jewellery.

DH, thankfully, has never really bought me jewellery. He knows I prefer more practical presents and the completely unexpected gift of a Kindle some years ago, caused me more delight and has given me more pleasure than any piece of jewellery could.

What I would not do is buy something, anything, if I couldn't afford it.

Especially if they turn your fingers green ...

Yes of course if I could afford it. Can't really believe anyone in this day and age could possibly think, even as a joke, it's a man's 'job' to buy jewellery for a woman. Can't get my head around it at all. Can anyone explain it?

Luckily for my credit card, I'm not a fan of 'real' jewellery anyway (except for my engagement and wedding rings) - generally prefer 'costume jewellery' and then only really like necklaces. I like designs which are modern and often a bit boho. Pick them up in small shops and boutiques here and on holiday and occasionally places like Hobbs or the White Company. None cost more than £100, most much less.
I also wear only Swatch watches and have no interest in expensive watches.

Joan Collins' book says you can wear cheap jewellery except on your hands. Rings should be the real thing.

I have bought "junk" jewellery though which I couldn't really afford!

I always believed that husbands or special friends should buy good jewellery, I would always buy costume. So was amazed on a recent cruise to see there was a jewellery 'consultant' selling pieces costing a couple of thousand and more to women.

I have some good jewellery, which DH has bought, sometimes by himself. I love most of it. The problem has been, if I'm with him, that he gets embarrassed if I take a long time to decide, and this has resulted in a couple of poor choices - a waste of money really. However, I do wear the good stuff all the time. It makes me feel good. For people who are worried about losing it, insure it. Enjoy it!

No, I wouldn't. What a daft way to get into debt! I have a sister who does.

I did once buy myself a diamond ring. I'd just been promoted at work and was feeling very happy. It sparkled at me from a shop window. I quite suddenly thought 'I love it. I can afford it. I'm worth it'. I just went straight in and bought it. It fitted perfectly. I wore it happily for years until I gave it to my god daughter who was setting off for London to work. Because I'd bought it myself there was no sentimental attachment so I could tell her to just sell it if she ever needed the money. She's still got it though!

When our children were little the DH and I forewent presents to each other to save cash. The deal was that I had the year's Tesco Clubcard points to spend and, as they feature Goldsmith's Jewellers, I had some lovely, fancy bling. Otherwise I haven't spent money on jewellery (or anything else for that matter) or treats for myself.

What I would really like is a two carat diamond ring but I am whistling in the wind on that one!

I love earrings & treat myself if I see something I like - that was the reason I had my ears pierced at age 30 as I fell in love with a pair of Ruby & Cubic Zirconia earrings, my expensive ones only get worn on "occassions".

After my DH died & I had sold our house & moved I found I was in danger of losing my Eternity ring & possibly Wedding ring so I bought another Eternity ring in a smaller size which keeps them firmly on my finger. Ruby is my Birthstone so all my jewellery is Ruby (real) & Diamonds (real or fake), & Diamond type earrings for everyday wear. I wear 2 Gold chains, one I bought myself in a little Antique shop which was closing down, it is Rose Gold which I love & my DH's Gold chain which he always wore.

I've no-one to buy my jewellery now so if I want anything I buy it within reason (& when I can afford a treat)

After I started this thread yesterday I noticed an article in the Telegraph about a trend for buying oneself an 'engagement' ring as a celebration of self. I thought this was a bit odd.

I bought a pair of mock amethyst studs (£8) yesterday and I love the colour so I might just convert them to the real thing next time I'm out shopping.

Does anyone buy jewellery from the any of the shopping channels?

I bought myself a good ring in memory of my mother nearly 20 years ago, and earlier this year bought one in memory of MiL. Neither of the mothers owned any expensive pieces but both these items just caught my eye at the time and made me think of the deceased. I do wear them but the rest of my 'collection' is mostly costume stuff. These are the only items I've ever bought in a jewellers for myself.

You should wear your real pearls Violette.They need the oils from your skin to 'thrive'

DH has bought me several pieces of jewellry I really like,usually for anniversaries , birthdays or Christmas (some chosen without me, others with a DD 'briefing ' and assistance)and occasionally wear. Some bought on holiday as a souvenir (we often go away for my birthday ) .I did choose and 'buy' my maternity ring on my own but DH knew I'd seen something I liked .But I tend to 'stick ' to certain pieces-my25th anniversary diamond studs, a silver necklace and a silver bracelet .I also have my MIL emerald and diamond dress ring and a cameo my brother bought me for my 21st .And my mum's very modest engagement ring .
We were once taken ,much against DH will ,to a jewellry workshop in Bangkok.Saw a fabulous pink sapphire ring. I knew DH would not buy it on principle He hates being put in that 'obliged'position ..It was £500. I knew I could buy it for myself but didn't as I realised I didn't want it that much! Bought some seed pearls instead (£6) .The only piece of real jewellry I have ever bought myself .They are very pretty and I have restrung them twice .
To be honest most of our money is joint funds anyway(I have an allowance for frivolities but use the joint account also if I need to ) so it's irrelevant where the money came from. It's more a matter of it being chosen for me with love .But if I absolutely fell in love with something and DH wasnt there I might buy it .I would like some rubies for our 40th but there is only so much jewellry one can wear ....
i have a very well -travelled friend who makes a point of saying coyly after every trip 'DH bought me.. 'She has some lovely (but rarely worn as she is afraid of losing them!) pieces but seems to see them as her reward for Good Wife -Dom which I find slightly weird .Slightly old fashioned concept?
She also delights in collecting charms for a Pandora bracelet.I see them very much as something a much younger woman would wear I'm afraid (apologies to those who love /have them Each to their own )

I am not a great fan of jewellery to be honest, occasionally I might buy a necklace or bracelet, loathe rings. DH doesnt but me jewellery as he knows what I am like, anyway I wouldnt trust him to buy anything, it probably wouldnt be my choice, so things are good as they are.

Ah yes ! love the look of jewellery, especially ear rings ! I have some good ones, but never wear them as I lose an ear ring regularly ...how and where I never know, just that I go out with two and come back wearing only one ....it is not in the car, not on the drive ...I did once go back to a bank cash machine, and lo and behold, there was my lost ear ring, still on the floor ....and the DIY shop found another ....now I stick to having loads of different pairs, and never pay more than 6 euros for any ! They are colours to match what I am wearing, and it doesn't matter if I lose one....so sadly, the good ones stay in their boxes ! I do have a nice gold necklace and a set of real pearls,,,haven't worn them for maybe 20 years ...don't have the lifestyle for jewellery anymore !

I love costume jewellery and have lots of it, often make my own bracelets, necklaces and brooches too, wear some jewellery every day. Wouldn't spent a lot of money on a piece as I'd rather spend it on something else like travelling but some fun and colourful brightens up the day. I try to buy a piece of locally made pieces when we travel and have some associated memories then, love some bits and pieces I bought from street traders in India and Nepal, a couple of bracelets made from the fruits of a tree in Ecuador, a ring and silver and enamel ring and necklace from Rhodes for example. I have some nice bits and pieces from charity shops, bought a lovely ceramic pin with forget me nots in a charity shop for £1.50 yesterday which will look lovely on a jacket, 1950s Cara in its box. Not really a diamonds girl, don't want anything I have to worry about.