Jewels For Mother’s Day

There’s still time to buy an exceptional jewelry gift for Mother’s Day and in the spirit of gift giving five designers have ideas on what you can purchase for this special day. 

Zorab Creations
This three-gem ring may threaten the budget of last-minute gift givers but it’s worth it. The crossing white gold and palladium mounting houses a green tourmaline, tanzanite and spessartite garnet, each surrounded by a sprinkling of white and colored diamonds. Find retailers in the U.S. by following this link.

Etienne Perret
This pendant features 14mm blue-grey Tahitian pearl rests comfortably in its circular 18k rose gold frame. It’s made by jewelry designer Etienne Perret. His jewels are available at a number of independent retailers around the country. 

Alex Soldier 
The colorful Astra collection (including the ruby and diamond rings pictured), are well-designed and crafted by the jewelry artist. You can contact the jeweler directly to learn where to purchase.

Jewels With A Message
The U.S. jewelry brand, Lagos, now provides engraving services with its Caviar line of jewels. The customer has the option to engrave a monogram, significant date or message on the inside of select Caviar pieces. The brand’s products are available at major department stores around the country but the engraving service is offered exclusively through Lagos.com.

Colorful Flower Earrings
These earrings by Rita Fusaro are made of 18k white gold with yellow or pink –pear-shaped sapphires and diamonds. They can be ordered by contacting the company directly through its website. 

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A Dozen Blooming Jewelry Gifts For The Mother Who Loves You

Lydia Courteille rose earrings in 18K white gold with tsavorites and fancy sapphires.  www.lydiacourteille.com

To this day whenever I board an airplane my mother has a mild conniption. That’s just the way it is—mothers worry about their kids no matter how old. It’s part of who they are.

McTeigue & McClelland Dandelion Earrings with crystal drops (each set with one round brilliant-cut diamonds). The earrings are in 18k bloomed yellow gold and platinum with hand applied green enamel. www.mc2jewels.com

So instead of doing the easy thing of giving her flowers this year, why not by her a bouquet of jewelry, or at least a rose-themed jewelry piece?

Dannini Victoria rose ring with a ear-shaped ruby, wrapped in rose gold petals, accented by pavé-set diamonds atop a heart-shaped stem of white gold. www.dannini.com 

Below are 12 flowery suggestions along with links to the websites on how they can be purchased. They range in price and availability but not in quality.

Piaget 18k rose gold set with two brilliant-cut diamonds and a carved pink opal. www.piaget.com

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14k yellow gold Art Nouveau Enamel Rose Pin Pendant is shaded from soft cream at the center to dusty rose, and set at center with a 0.10 carat diamond. Available at Aaron Faber Gallery, New York. www.aaronfaber.com

Mary Esses Rose Ring features a bouquet of roses, in a signature knot ring, framed by oval pavé-set diamonds, set in 18k rose gold. www.maryesses.com

Mattioli Arcimboldino ring in rose gold, with citrine, amethyst, rhodolite and tourmaline. www.mattioligioielli.it

Sara Weinstock Gold Flower Stud earrings with white diamonds. www.saraweinstock.com

Le Vian Strawberry Gold Florets Ring in 14k gold with Chocolate and Vanilla Diamonds. www.levian.com

Borgioni Garden Rose Stud Earrings in 18K rose gold, pave diamond rose stud earrings. www.borgionis.com

Leibish Multicolor Couture Rosecut Diamond Bracelet with 112 diamonds (54.84 ctw.) set 18k gold. www.leibish.com

Montblanc Boheme Date Automatic Watch in 18k rose gold and 62 small diamonds. www.montblanc.com

Blue Nile Launches Facebook ‘Click for Mom’ Campaign

Online diamond and jewelry retailer, Blue Nile, is giving its Facebook fans an opportunity to get mom something special for Mother's Day this year with its "Click for Mom" campaign.

Launched under a custom tab on the company's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bluenile), fans can enter for a chance to receive $25 off a $50 purchase, or gift certificates valued at $50, $100, or even $1,000. All prizes can be redeemed instantly on www.bluenile.com. The Seattle-based company also says that everyone who enters wins something for mom.

The campaign ends at 3:00 p.m. (PDT) on Friday, May 6.

Mother’s Day Jewelry Sales Expected to Reach $3 Billion

Jewelry is expected to be the second most popular gift category this year for Mother’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation.

More than 31 percent of persons responding to the NRF’s 2011 Mother’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey said they are planning to buy mom silver, gold or diamonds, a 19 increase from last year. Total spending on jewelry is expected to reach $3 billion.

Total spending for Mother’s Day is also forecasted to rise, according to the survey conducted by BIGresearch. The average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $140.73 on gifts, up from $126.90 last year, and a return to 2008 spending levels. Total spending is expected to reach $16.3 billion.

Men will spend an average of $168.84 on the women in their life this Mother’s Day, compared to $114.01 women will spend. Adults 25-34 years old will spend the most ($191.35), followed by 18-24 year olds ($183.38) and 35-44 year olds ($155.97).

“Americans are in a much better position to spend this year and will push the daily stresses of high gas and food costs aside for one day to celebrate the most important women in the world to them,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO.

Electronics will be the most popular gift this year, with 13.3 percent saying they will purchase a smartphone, camera or tablet device for Mother’s Day, up 48 percent from last year. In addition, those buying electronics will shell out $94.91, up 8 percent from last year.

When it comes to where people will shop, the survey found that 32 percent of gift buyers will shop at a department store, the most in the survey’s history. Others will shop at discounters (29.6 percent), specialty stores including jewelers, florists and electronics stores (31.8 percent), online (21.5 percent) or at a specialty clothing store (7.1 percent).

Of the 83.1 percent celebrating Mother’s Day this year, most will shop for their mom (59.9 percent), followed by their wife (19.6 percent), daughter (9.6 percent), grandmother (8 percent), sister (8.4 percent), friend (7.3 percent) or godmother (1.8 percent).

Restaurants and other businesses will also benefit from the billions of dollars that come in for one of the biggest holidays of the year. Nearly 55 percent of all celebrants will treat mom to a nice dinner or brunch, spending a total of $3.1 billion, according to the survey. Nearly 32 percent of Americans will buy mom clothing or accessories ($1.3 billion total), and 65 percent will buy mom flowers ($1.9 billion). Consumers will also shell out $1.6 billion on gift cards and $1.2 billion on personal services such as a trip to a day spa.