How old to appreciate an heirloom piece?

[Stophle]

I agree with the others who've said she's too young. I bought a necklace for my future niece (who is 11) when I was traveling. It wasn't expensive or anything, but within 2 weeks of receiving it, she lost it. Most children just aren't responsible enough to keep track of things like this. I have a pearl necklace that I want to give her, but I will be waiting until she is much older.

Perhaps give one to her before she starts her freshman year in high school. See how she does with it before giving her the others. My future stepson is 12, aomost 13 and I see how irresponsible he is with things, just like the 11 year old niece, so I wouldn't feel comfortable giving either of them anything of real value yet.

 

[surfergirljen]

My niece is turning 4. She is a very little thing and extremely girly -- loves pink, sparkles, unicorns, etc. She even picks out her own clothes and shoes and knows her shoe types. She actually once asked me where my "sandals" are -- at three years old -- and they were indeed sandals.

I am not going to have any children of my own and this is my brother's daughter. She is also the only grandchild that three sides of the family has, so she is absolutely swamped in gifts for every holiday. It's kind of ridiculous. But these gifts are mostly clothes, fairy/princess stuff, and books.

Anyway, I have a couple of Tiffany necklaces I bought for myself that I wouldn't mind giving to her as a gift. To me these are very small, inexpensive pieces that I don't really want to bother with eBay for. And I know that the jewelry I love the most are the heirloom pieces or the ones with personal meaning -- I always wear the locket my husband gave me on our wedding day when I travel, and I have my grandmother's charm bracelets.

One of my favorite memories is my grandmother buying me a pin on bird with "a diamond" (it wasn't real gold and it wasn't a real diamond but it was soooo pretty to me). I considered it my first real piece of "jewelry" but for the life of me I don't know how old I was. Maybe 7ish?

So I would like to give her something but I don't know when a proper age would be. She is not going to break it, that I know. But would she appreciate it?

Can anyone give me some advice? I was maybe thinking her 5th birthday (next year?) Or should I do it when I go visit them in February for her 4th?

So sweet! I have a 4.5 year old and honestly - she'd never appreciate it. I'd wait until she was 10 at least. I've bought my daughter sweet little necklaces (not of any value) and she gets bored of them almost immediately - I find them on her dolls and stuffed horses as tackle... LOL... wait and it'll be so special to her!!