Help my baby brother find...

[Independent Gal]

... a necklace for his girlfriend. He''s leaving for college in a week or so and wants to give her something nice before he goes. He really LOVES this girl! It''s sweet. OK, some info:

Brother is 18, and hasn''t got a tonne of money. He''s saved $150 for this so we should keep suggestions under that amount.
His gf is 19, her favourite colour is purple, she''s Spanish / Austrian, very elegant, not too ''girly'', black hair, medium dark skin, dark eyes.... so I''m thinking bright blues would look great on her too.

Any ideas? Seen any pretty, elegant, but ''age-appropriate'' necklaces around that amount or less?

 

[hikerchick]

Something amethyst?
How about . . .
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/10k-White-Gold-Diamond-and-Amethyst-Pendant/2554924/product.html


They have an okay return policy . . . charge a restocking fee but don't cause a fuss if you had to return it. They also have a ton of other amethyst jewelry. For inexpensive jewelry I have used them before and been satisfied, just read the fine print carefully.

 

[FireGoddess]

The only thing I could find were solitaire gemstone pendants in 18K at blue nile. For under $150, the choices are amethyst, peridot, citrine, or garnet. The bright blues cost more...

http://www.bluenile.com/product_catalog.asp?catid=183&track=56

Scroll down to the next to last group of pendants.

Might I add it's so sweet of your brother to do this for his gf!!

 

[FireGoddess]

From Overstock:

Blue topaz heart
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/Blue-Topaz-Diamond-14-kt.-White-Gold-Pendant/1460871/product.html

Same heart in garnet and yg
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-Yellow-Gold-Diamond-Garnet-Heart-Pendant/1459112/product.html

Bigger blue topaz
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14-kt.-White-Gold-Blue-Topaz-Pendant/22747/product.html

Square blue topaz on point
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-White-Gold-Blue-Topaz-Pendant/543978/product.html

They have a lot of blue topaz!
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14-kt-White-Gold-Diamond-and-Blue-Topaz-Pendant/1012750/product.html

Amethyst on point
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14-kt.-White-Gold-Amethyst-Pendant/543860/product.html

They have this one in 4 colors
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-White-Gold-Peridot-Necklace/2591742/product.html

This is a cute garnet one with the 4 hearts
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-White-Gold-Diamond-and-Garnet-Flower-Pendant/2540015/product.html

Pink topaz. This also comes in a light blue
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-White-Gold-Pink-Topaz-Diamond-Pendant/2283511/product.html

A neat peridot
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/14k-White-Gold-Peridot-Pendant/1673833/product.html

 

[Independent Gal]

Oooh! Thanks. Great suggestions. I''m forwarding them to him.

Keem ''em coming!

 

[Jaders731]

Most of the Tiffany Silver.. in the Elsa Peretti necklace collection in small, is $150 (or slightly under) I think... her necklaces are beautiful.. and the letters are just adorable (also 150)..

I''m slightly biased.. I just got the small teardrop for my bday.. I love it!

 

[jcrow]

for something a little different:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5079145&order=&section_id=5058855&page=1

 

[mercoledi]

This is so unique, but won't be for everyone. Sparrow ans moonstone

Also youthful moonstone

Iolite necklace

And the MFA store has several that look appropriate. I might have to get the silver links one myself.


ETA: amythest earrings on clearance

 

[mercoledi]

I posted these earlier, but some other items were against forum guidelines, so here are the compliers:

labradorite
tourmaline
cute ruby

 

[Pandora II]

Try amethyst on the uk ebay site - under fine vintage and antique jewellery. My FMIL wears amethyst a lot and I have bought her some beautiful vintage pieces in gold for very little there.

 

[Lynn B]

I second the motion for a sterling piece from T&Co... admittedly, a little overpriced for silver -- BUT darling, and many styles are definitely within his budget! (And what girl doesn''t love the little blue box?!

)

 

[DMBsGirl]

I suggest looking on overstock.com, they have some lovely and inexpensive pieces.

ETA: just saw all other pieces that were suggested from overstock, i guess we all think alike!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/23/2007 6:43:12 PM
Author: Lynn B
I second the motion for a sterling piece from T&Co... admittedly, a little overpriced for silver -- BUT darling, and many styles are definitely within his budget! (And what girl doesn''t love the little blue box?!

)

I love the Tiffany silver pieces too. I own both the floating heart & the starfish and LOVE the starfish and wear it all the time. Goes with EVERYTHING!

 

[firebirdgold]

I also vote for a silver tiffany pendant. At 18, that would have blown me away!

 

[Harleigh]

I think Tanzanite would also be lovely...it''s always been one of my favorites!

 

[JulieN]

ahh! so sweet!

*pouts*

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

well, ICE.com looks pretty decent. I ran a search here and I didnt find anything negative. I read somewhere that they have free return shipping? I am not sure if that is true, but if he spends 150 bucks it has free shipping at least.

Here is one I kind of liked, it is tanzanite: Here

and another one

another one here


If you go to there pendant homepage here: ice pendant page

you can run searches by different gemstones, looks like a nice selection to me, and I am a big fan of that very first one they show, has a real spanish feel to me

but I dont know much about spanish jewelery fashions

and if he upped his budget a little bit he coudl pick up this bad boy Bad boy with diamonds and aquamarine

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

I am also a big fan of there london blue topaz London blue

 

[Julianna]

Another vote for the Tiffany pendant. He may be able to get something more substantial somewhere else, but only Tiffany is Tiffany.

 

[lyra]

Yet another vote for Tiffany. I have 2 daughters around that age. The eldest works with a girl who buys her own Tiffany pieces! I think at any age, a woman really does love the idea of that iconic little blue box. Good luck. My personal fave is the starfish pendant.

 

[Independent Gal]

My brother thanks y''all for your great suggestions! He seems to be leaning toward swarovski. Not a huge fan here (rhodium plated stainless steel?!!?!) but he thinks it''s what SHE likes and I guess that'' swhat counts.

Now the key thing is to try to talk him out of the entwined hearts pendant (pictured below) and into....

 

[Independent Gal]

... something more elegant and I think more her taste (she is NOT cutesy) and less like an, uh, territory marker if you know what I mean! What do you think of this one?

 

[iheartscience]

That''s pretty, IG! My only concern would be that it might be a little dressy since it''s sparkly...but I don''t know if he was going for everyday wear or just something pretty. I was going to recommend one of the silver Tiffany necklaces, too, but if he''s not into them, he''s not into them!

 

[Independent Gal]

Good point about the sparkly. I didn''t think of that. I''ll mention it to him.

Now, I was also suggesting Tiffany to him as a top choice. But he seems resistant. Not sure why!

 

[FireGoddess]

I''d for sure pick a Tiffany silver piece, even though I hate silver (lazy, hate dealing with tarnish) before I picked a Swarovski piece. Tell him that.

The blue box goes a long way. I mean, heck, that''s a good part of the gift!

 

[Kismet]

While the sale is still going on, there are some nifty jewelry pieces at ACS for under $150. I particularly like this one.

 

[mercoledi]

Maybe this one from ACS?

 

[Elmorton]

A friend of mine has a similar pendant (hers is diamond and palladium though...I agree with you on the cut glass deal, but if that''s what bro wants and what she wants...then why not?) to the one you posted (which I luv, btw), and swarovski also has one like it on their site...it''s a pave solid heart rather than ball, and the heart isn''t quite as cutesy as the picture you posted. My friend is 24 and a med student, great sense of style and she wears it almost every day...so I don''t really think it would be too dressy at all, and definitely young enough for 18 but not TOO young -- maybe a good compromise between what he likes and her style?

Here''s the link: "Blink" pendant

 

[ericad]

Ok, cheese alert. This is a totally cheesy idea but I LOVE it. You mentioned he''s going away for college, right?

How about something like this, for them both to wear?

Sorry, apologies in advance if it''s dorky!

Matched Pair

 

[ericad]

Also love this. I''m feeling uncharacteristically mushy today...PMS?

T&Co I Love You