Granddaughter graduation gift help needed

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diane278

diane278

Minimalist Wannabe....
O.G.
Apr 1, 2012
7,927
43,852
#1
So...I have a "granddaughter" graduating from high school next month and am planning on a piece of jewelry for a gift. Last year, another one graduated and I did the same thing. These girls are daughters of very close friends and I am an "adopted" grandmother but I try to supplement the less involved (real) ones.

The first one had seen a necklace in a Tiffany catalog, and since it was reasonable, I got it for her. She was surprised and thrilled. This one is more mature and less likely to lose things. I always ask, and they usually prefer money for gifts but she said she wanted me to select something for her. She is tall, about 5'8" so I am considering either the Tiffany 1837™ circle pendant or the Return to Tiffany® heart key pendant. They don't live near a TCO store (returns are unlikely) and she wants to be surprised. She's only 18, but I'd like to give her something that she will wear as she gets older and won't feel that she's outgrown. (The other one chose an infinity necklace.)

Most of you are much younger than I am and I'd like to know which of these you'd recommend. Until they get older and I am absolutely convinced that nothing will be lost, I am limiting purchases to less than $500. Also, she will be leaving for college and living in a dorm where, I have heard from parents, theft can happen. I want to give her a meaningful token for passing all those AP classes and earning early admission to college, but since I am also helping with their college expenses, I am not prepared to spend a lot of money on this.

In other words, I want to be generous but I also have to be practical. Any insight will be appreciated!
 
#3
Other suggestions: the bean; the teardrop; the Notes initial pendant. I think necklace is best, b/c bracelets get so much wear and look older faster. One caveat: there will inevitably be other girls in that down with beans & heart tags--(I teach college--trust me on this one!)--so it depends on her personality whether she'd like that or not.

Another possibility, more unique, would be a dots pendant & chain--I believe the pendants start at $300; the chain might put you over budget. They're beautiful pendants!
 
#5
Thank you all for your input. I now feel I have a better picture of where I should be headed. I have several weeks before I need it and I think I will ask her sister if she's mentioned anything. I have a great SA in the Stanford Center store who will be able to help me, as she knows which pieces are the best sellers for teens. I am also thinking I need to get her their polishing kit since I will be buying her silver.

At her age, I collected Native American Indian jewelry so tarnish (patina) was fine. Of course that was in the late 60's. Anything and everything was fine. Yes....bell bottom pants, hair parted down the middle, and other fashion trends best left forgotten!
 
#6
#7
I really love the Return to Tiffany Heart Key Pendant. Speaking from someone who is a bit closer to your granddaughters age (I'm 20), the heart key was actually the first Tiffany piece I bought myself. I love how classic it is and it was my favorite out of the silver collection. I now own quite a bit of more expensive jewellery however I still wear the key pendant from time to time.
I think it's a really great starter piece. Personally, I don't think you should overdo it or spend too much on her first piece. You also don't want the other granddaughter to be offended if you spent a lot more on this granddaughter than you did on her.
A lot of people have said that silver tarnishes fast, I only really found this happened with my Tiffany silver bracelets because they take much more wear. My necklaces still look great.
 
#8
With the point I made about one "granddaughter" getting something more expensive than the other, you didn't mention if the girls knew each other or if they were from the same family. So that may not apply.
 
#9
#11
At this point, I'm pretty sure that I'm going with the Return to Tiffany Key Pendant. I did ask ask whether TCO was her first choice and it is, as she does not have anything from Tiffany's....yet. I have known one granddaughter all her life and the other for about ten years.

The girls are step-sisters, which could complicate things, I guess, if allowed to. However, I don't ever differentiate as that would be unfair to both since they did not create the situation. They had no control over any choices made by the adults in their lives. Both parents have done their best to blend the families and create a strong family unit. Today's families come in so many shapes and sizes, ya just gotta roll with it. :smile1:
 
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#13
Sterling doesn't usually tarnish if you are wearing it. She can store it I a ziplock to help prevent tarnish.
I have two girls; one college senior and one HS freshman. They are half sisters ( he died). One set of grandparents makes no differentiation. The other doesn't accept both girls. Kudos to you for keeping things equal.
Anything Tiffany is always an excellent choice. Both my girls have "real" jewelry with no problems. The college girl either wears her pieces or locks them in her safe.
Hope this helps!
 
#14
diane278 said:
At her age, I collected Native American Indian jewelry so tarnish (patina) was fine. Of course that was in the late 60's. Anything and everything was fine. Yes....bell bottom pants, hair parted down the middle, and other fashion trends best left forgotten!
Click to expand...
LOL! I remember those days.............................

diane278 said:
At this point, I'm pretty sure that I'm going with the Return to Tiffany Key Pendant. I did ask ask whether TCO was her first choice and it is, as she does not have anything from Tiffany's....yet. I have known one granddaughter all her life and the other for about ten years.
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Sounds perfect!
 
#15
Murphy47 said:
Sterling doesn't usually tarnish if you are wearing it. She can store it I a ziplock to help prevent tarnish.
I have two girls; one college senior and one HS freshman. They are half sisters ( he died). One set of grandparents makes no differentiation. The other doesn't accept both girls. Kudos to you for keeping things equal.
Anything Tiffany is always an excellent choice. Both my girls have "real" jewelry with no problems. The college girl either wears her pieces or locks them in her safe.
Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Yes...thank you. I will remind her to keep it secure when she is not wearing it.

On the grandparent thing, I think it's inconsiderate to treat the girls differently. Some adults are not very "adult" in their behavior. But there's no way to "make" anyone change.....
 
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