It is easy to make a mistake when buying jewellery, and what may seem like an simple present can easily turn out to be a minefield.

Getting it right

Before shopping for a jewellery gift, taking the time to establish the style and tastes of your partner could prevent disaster later on. If you are set on buying her a ladies watch, for example, make sure you choose one that suits her lifestyle and her tastes. Don’t buy her a sporty number with lots of technological gadgetry if she is into vintage fashion. The repercussions of this go beyond the fact that she will never wear your gift, disappointing both of you, because she will also interpret the incidence as evidence of you ‘not really knowing her’.

Don’t go over the top

Similarly, have an idea in your head about how extrovert and ostentatious your partner is likely to be when it comes to wearing jewellery. If you buy her a large solitaire diamond ring, will she be ecstatic, or embarrassed?

Size is everything

There is no excuse for getting the wrong size ring – just ‘borrow’ one from her jewellery box and get the same size. Ditto for necklace chains. If you don’t have access to her jewellery box, maybe you should stick to diamond earrings instead.