40th B-day...suggestions

[4themrs]

Looking for some jewelry for my wife’s 40th birthday, any suggestions?
I wouldn’t be in this mess if the my friend or should I say potential ex friend, got ring for his wife’s birthday a few weeks ago.
Not that I don’t want to get her something, but how do you handle keeping up with the “Jones”.
Yours truly, the angry neighbor! ☺

 

[Dee*Jay]

Tell us about the neighbor''s wife''s ring and we can better judge what you should get for your wife.

 

[anacgarcia]

that and budget, so the experts can find something amazing, your neighbor''s wife will be

 

[:)]

Ditto above - details on what "Mrs. Jones" received, and on your budget!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Really, what you should do is tell your wife to go and look for a few things she really loves and make a list. Surprise her from the list of things SHE really loves! To me, that is the most thoughtful gift of ALL!

 

[diamondfan]

I agree. I am happiest when my dh tells me a price range and tells me to go choose a few options. Then I know I will get what I like and he gets the element of surprise...

 

[jayreneepea]

I just celebrated my 40th birthday in September. My dh got me a 1.74ct RB. It was the perfect 40th birthday present! However, he did as was suggested above. He told me to find a new diamond and setting. He didn''t give me a budget, but I wish he had! I had a harder time trying not to spend too much money rather than getting exactly what I wanted. I''m not complaining though, just suggesting setting a budget together so everyone is comfortable!

Good luck!

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I agree with the previous posters...ask her if there is anything that she has her eye on and go from there.

 

[decodelighted]

I think asking HER what she might be yearning for is worth TONS more than pure $$$. Though, if you give US a budget ... we''d surely give you lots of IDEAS.

 

[darling]

Does your wife want jewelry for her birthday? One of my friends got a scuba computer for her 40th (that''s what she wanted), I am getting a trip to Rio. One way to not worry about what the Jones'' do is to not follow the trend. You can always get your wife jewelry "just because" .

 

[4themrs]

There is some great thoughts on this thread.
Thanks so much for replying, I am not sure what her friend''s ring looks like, she saw it when she was over there house and I was golfing.
Before I forget, since I am not up on the lingo, what does "dh" or "dL" mean, someone wrote that my " dl" got me ...

Darling I think I like your idea the best, she is starting to go golfing and may join a club next year, I think I will get her lessons and then throw in a babble or some jewelry, "just because"

 

[pyramid]

I would not get her golf lessons for a 40th birthday, I would think she would want something she could keep i.e. diamond ring or something exotic like a holiday where you could spoil her and she could relax, golf lessons would be like school. Darling mentioned a Scuba computer but that is something her friend could keep and was her interest. I just feel if your wife has seen her friends diamond for her 40th birthday that golfing lessons would be blah to that. Just my opinion ofcourse, you would know better, is she really into the golf and talking about it all the time?

 

[bae7]

Your wife golfing reminded of the time my hub took me to a REALLY nice restaurant that was part of a VERY nice hotel for my birthday. The meal was excellent. When we got up to leave I headed toward the door. He said, "You''re headed the wrong way." I was totally confused as I remembered how we came in. Well, he had booked us a room! When we got upstairs he told me I had a gift in the shower. It was a golf bag with a full set of irons - neither of us knew anything about golf clubs but come to find out he bought me top of the line. Anyway, I was thrilled with the night, the gift and the little bit of trouble he went through. He was a resident at the time so he had to leave early the next morning. Boy, did I feel sheepish checking out the next morning in the same clothes with no overnight bag!!

Anyway, I think it will be more meaningful if you get her something she would like or is interested in rather than something to compete with the Jones. Good luck!!

 

[Phoenix]

Hmmm!! What's the most appropriate 40th birthday present for your wife?

Well, I turned 40 last November and my DH (that's short for Dear Husband or Darling Husband or as someone recently said "Doomed Human"

) asked me what I'd like. Seeing that there are 4 things that really interest me i) properties, ii) travelling, iii) diamonds and iv) foods - not necessarily in that order!

, DH took me to Australia and New Zealand and we travelled across Sydney, Melbourne as well as the South Island in NZ. We stayed at the most fabulous hotels, ate the most gorgeous foods and saw the most amazingly spectacular sceneries! He then surprised me with a 2-carat diamond which was not certified (but still very nice and subsequently complemented it by purchasing me a 3.02 carat GIA cert diamond this year for my 10th wedding anniversary present). As for properties, we purchased an investment property in Melbourne 3 yrs ago and we bought our first marital property this year.

Ok ok, I know I am spoilt

but the thing is that DH knows me very well and in addition, he specifically asked me what I'd llike. So I am happy as a clam!

.

What particularly stuck out to me in what you said was that your wife actually mentioned to you that she'd seen the neighbour's ring. This to me means that this other woman's ring has some significance in her (your wife's) mind and most likely she would like one too. I'd ask her what she would like and go from there. She may have just mentioned it in passing, but most women, at least those I know, wouldn't mention something like that or even notice something like that if it didn't at least register some interest to her. You could ask her outright and judge from her reaction whether she'd really like a diamond herself too.

When we first started out (back in the days when we didn't have much), I would never ask my DH for pressies, or mention anything no matter how beautiful or desirable these things might be, and I always meant it if he asked me whether I'd like something and I'd say no. But the point is we've always kept our communication open.

Perhaps you could ask yr wife what she'd really like and surprise her with another small present. Whatever you decide, I am sure she wouldn't want you to go out of yr way just to keep up with the Joneses. If you do decide in the end to buy her a beautiful diamond, I am sure she would just be very happy and appreciative of your thoughtfulness, never mind the neighbours!

 

[susi]

Of course, you know your wife better than any of us....but, many ladies love romance...... They love it when you plan something special....romantic....flowers, candles, time alone with her.....and if you top that all off with a diamond......say.... a diamond eternity band. Those are very romantic....with white lively diamonds that flash ( in the neighbor''s face

) hee hee

 

[4themrs]

interesting insight.
reading through the responses, I think I am leaning toward not going with the golf lessons/clubs thought. I think that it could be more "work" or "school" that she may not want to follow through with.
I do like the idea of a possible trip and a ring. It really clicked with me that she(and women) would not have brought up my neighbors ring if there was not some interest in it.

I think at this pace I will be able to give Dr. Phil a run for his money, if I keep reading and learning!