Please help me choose a gift for my niece!

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hopingoneday

hopingoneday

O.G.
Aug 4, 2006
1,068
289
#1
My much adored niece is 30 years old and pregnant with her first baby. She and her husband have good jobs, but not ones that allow them to indulge in much, if any, jewelry although she does love it. They are a wonderful couple.

I was thinking of buying her a pretty piece of jewelry when the baby comes as a special gift for her. I have two questions about this: one, do you think her husband might feel that I was usurping his role at all? Do you think it is odd for an aunt to purchase a piece of jewelry for her niece in the situation? Please be brutally honest.

Second question is, what to buy? If I had known she was pregnant at Christmas time, I would've thought of getting her the limited edition VCA pendant as it would look beautiful with her coloring. That is about the price range I am thinking of – somewhere around $3500. However, I am a little bit hesitant about VCA because I wear a ton of it and I don't want to "impose" my jewelry taste on her.

She is a sweet and easy-going girl – honestly, I think she would love just about anything, if I do buy her a piece of jewelry. She wears a Helen Ficalora necklace almost every day that I bought her when she graduated from college. She had some pretty Tiffany pieces from around that time, as well as a few family heirlooms (nothing too crazy) but her apartment was broken into some years ago and everything she wasn't wearing was stolen. I don't think she has brought much to replace it.

Anyway, sorry for the long screed but I would very much appreciate everyone's candid thoughts. The baby is due in July so I do have some time :-)
 
#2
I'm speaking from my own experience and do not think that it is odd for an aunt to purchase a piece of jewelry for the niece. In my instance, I recently got married last year and my aunt wanted to get me some jewellery. She ended up picking a bracelet and matching pair of earrings for me after checking that I'm OK with the design/style. And no, my husband did not feel that his role was usurped at all. I suppose we were both just very delighted in my aunt sharing in our joy and were happy with any gift she were giving!

Back to what to get for your niece, the fact that she wears a necklace that you gifted her everyday shows that she loves your gifts too? I wouldn't worry too much about having your VCA taste "imposed" on her though I'm sure you could sound her out before you made any purchase? She's truly blessed to have such a loving aunt like you!
 
#4
ek9977 said:
I'm speaking from my own experience and do not think that it is odd for an aunt to purchase a piece of jewelry for the niece. In my instance, I recently got married last year and my aunt wanted to get me some jewellery. She ended up picking a bracelet and matching pair of earrings for me after checking that I'm OK with the design/style. And no, my husband did not feel that his role was usurped at all. I suppose we were both just very delighted in my aunt sharing in our joy and were happy with any gift she were giving!

Back to what to get for your niece, the fact that she wears a necklace that you gifted her everyday shows that she loves your gifts too? I wouldn't worry too much about having your VCA taste "imposed" on her though I'm sure you could sound her out before you made any purchase? She's truly blessed to have such a loving aunt like you!
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Thank you so much for your reply! I guess I was wondering if it might be odd because all of the so-called "push presents" I have ever encountered seem to have come from a DH. But as you say, perhaps jewelry gifts are always welcome! :-)

Another option s that I do have a loose 1-carat RB diamond in my jewelry box.... The color and clarity are decent- I think it is F VS1-- although the cut is not phenomenal. I could potentially have this set into a DBTY style short necklace for her too.

One of the pieces she lost in the robbery those years ago was a Tiffany DBTY 18" my mother had given her, her favorite piece and something she was very upset about losing.

Hmmmm... :thinkin:
 
#5
I think it is a sweet idea & that she is lucky to have an aunt like you!

and your option to have your diamond set in a necklace similar to her favorite piece that got stolen is a great idea. it has sentimental meaning and i`m sure it`ll also look very pretty
 
#6
Can you be my aunt too? Lol I think she would appreciate anything coming from you. Its better if you gift her with a heirloom or anything from your personal collection. Im sure it would be more sentimental to her thinking you have used it too. my mom got some jewelry from her mom and her favorite was the one my grandma wears all the time when she was alive. You are such a generous aunt! Its good you dont have any jealous daughters huh? Lol
 
#8
hopingoneday said:
My much adored niece is 30 years old and pregnant with her first baby. She and her husband have good jobs, but not ones that allow them to indulge in much, if any, jewelry although she does love it. They are a wonderful couple.

I was thinking of buying her a pretty piece of jewelry when the baby comes as a special gift for her. I have two questions about this: one, do you think her husband might feel that I was usurping his role at all? Do you think it is odd for an aunt to purchase a piece of jewelry for her niece in the situation? Please be brutally honest.

Second question is, what to buy? If I had known she was pregnant at Christmas time, I would've thought of getting her the limited edition VCA pendant as it would look beautiful with her coloring. That is about the price range I am thinking of – somewhere around $3500. However, I am a little bit hesitant about VCA because I wear a ton of it and I don't want to "impose" my jewelry taste on her.

She is a sweet and easy-going girl – honestly, I think she would love just about anything, if I do buy her a piece of jewelry. She wears a Helen Ficalora necklace almost every day that I bought her when she graduated from college. She had some pretty Tiffany pieces from around that time, as well as a few family heirlooms (nothing too crazy) but her apartment was broken into some years ago and everything she wasn't wearing was stolen. I don't think she has brought much to replace it.

Anyway, sorry for the long screed but I would very much appreciate everyone's candid thoughts. The baby is due in July so I do have some time :-)
Click to expand...

I think it is very sweet of you to want to buy your niece a push present. I would just suggest discussing the idea with her husband first. He may have been planning on a piece, and you can buy something to compliment his purchase.
 
#9
How wonderful of you! Even just the thought is super awesome.
I don't think her DH would feel usurped at all...he will prob be as thrilled as her esp coming from a close aunt. Jewellery can always be passed on to the next generation as well.
As she is going to have a baby, maybe a necklace will not be as suitable because I remember when I had my babies, I stopped wearing necklaces as the babies kept grabbing them at one stage. Just a thought but on the other hand, the DBTY inspired necklace would be something she would also treasure. I was going to suggest a tennis bracelet but I don't know her tastes so maybe sound her out if that's possible?
Keep us informed on what you do get her. Am super excited for her :)
 
#10
Thank you so much, everyone!!!
I will definitely ask her husband and I think maybe the idea of using a stone I already have will make it seem like less of a "big deal" rather than buying an expensive piece for her that maybe he could not afford himself. I think this both more subtle and more sentimental. I will check with him to see what he thinks!

So so exciting to have the first grand baby in the family…. i don't think my sister has quite wrapped her head around becoming a grandma, lol.
 
#13
bagmad73 said:
How wonderful of you! Even just the thought is super awesome.
I don't think her DH would feel usurped at all...he will prob be as thrilled as her esp coming from a close aunt. Jewellery can always be passed on to the next generation as well.
As she is going to have a baby, maybe a necklace will not be as suitable because I remember when I had my babies, I stopped wearing necklaces as the babies kept grabbing them at one stage. Just a thought but on the other hand, the DBTY inspired necklace would be something she would also treasure. I was going to suggest a tennis bracelet but I don't know her tastes so maybe sound her out if that's possible?
Keep us informed on what you do get her. Am super excited for her :)
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Gosh, I do remember that stage of necklace/earring grabbing like it was yesterday. Amazing to think of it as my kids are now well into their teen years and so big. Bittersweet!!!
 
#15
AntiqueShopper said:
I think it is very sweet of you to want to buy your niece a push present. I would just suggest discussing the idea with her husband first. He may have been planning on a piece, and you can buy something to compliment his purchase.
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+1

I know some people who just can't accept a gift gracefully and are mostly embarrassed if they can't make a gift of similar value in return. Of course, I don't know if it's the case for your niece and her husband, but you need to be sure it will be accepted in the way you mean it!
(that probably depends on other factors: like if you have children yourself? If she's your only niece, or you have 7 nieces and nephews, and 3 already got gifts from you when their babies were born?) (you don't need to answer to me ;) )

I got a push gift from my in-laws, which seemed strange to me, but they also got one for my brother-in-law's wife before that, so I wasn't surprised.

Anyway, it's a nice gesture :)
 
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