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Christmas jewellery gift guide: Stock up on last-minute sparkle with these rings, earrings and bracelets
Unwrap our stylish picks, from hoops to chokers, in both minimalist and statement designs
When it comes to Christmas gifts, jewellery is hard to beat. No matter how big or small your budget, it’s an investment that can last a lifetime.
It can also offer a personal touch, with monogrammed pieces, diamond initials and birthstones all options that will add a touch of sparkle to every day. These pieces can even become keepsakes that will be passed down to future generations.
However, finding the perfect item of jewellery is no mean feat. So we’ve curated a gift guide of pieces that span styles and budgets to help you with your search.
Whether you’re shopping for your partner, relatives or friends, we guarantee there’s something to suit everyone’s taste.
We’ve also considered ethics, handpicking pieces that have sustainable manufacturing processes. So not only will your jewels look good, they’ll be a feel-good buy too.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Earrings
Ear pieces are a great place to start if you’re struggling for ideas, as you don’t need to consider ring measurements or the length of a necklace chain.
In our best jewellery gifts under £100, we loved these Stellar 79 spectrum hexagon studs (Stellar 79, £75) that straddle the line between delicate and fun.
Created by sisters Natasha and Sheena, each Stellar 79 piece is a result of their Trinidadian and Mauritian heritage.
Our reviewer said that these earrings looked “far pricier” in the flesh than they are, while the rainbow of cubic zirconia stones did “an impressive job of catching the light at every angle”.
A failsafe option is hoops – arguably a jewellery essential. These Astrid & Miyu basic large hoop earrings (Astrid & Miyu, £60) are available in silver, gold and rose gold and will match every outfit, no matter how dressed up or down.
The brand is the brainchild of Connie Nam, who wanted to create affordable jewellery that didn’t scrimp on quality.
These hoops featured in our guide to the best women’s online jewellery shops, in which our reviewer said: “While they pack a punch when worn alone, try teaming with other style hoops or studs, and even play with colour.”
Bracelets
Investing in some arm candy could be a wise move this Christmas. And, since layering has dominated jewellery trends for the past couple years, it could even be the basis for future presents too. When Valentine's Day, birthdays or anniversaries roll around, you can complement past buys.
Topping our guide to the best women’s online jewellery shops were these Daphine Moune bangles (Daphine, £75). The demi-fine jewellery brand is known for its minimal style and fashion-forward pieces.
As explained by our reviewer, all the jewellery is handmade in an atelier in Jaipur – a city in India known for its history of craftsmanship and design. “Honest pricing, ethical sourcing and sustainable production are at the heart of this brand, and each item is made with care, something that comes through strong,” they said.
This trio of bangles are all irregularly shaped, making them perfectly imperfect. Made from 18ct gold, they can also be engraved to add unique touch.
If you’re shopping on a budget, this Orelia bamboo open bangle (Orelia, £25) makes for a luxury-looking option, and there’s even a matching necklace and earrings that, combined, cost under £100.
It impressed our reviewer in our best jewellery gifts under £100, who called it “stylishly expensive and a smart choice”. Designed without a clasp, your lucky recipient will have no problems putting it on without having to fiddle one handed.
Chain jewellery has had a modern update of late – no longer limited to chunky designs, minimal links and simple styles are coming to the fore.
This Seol + Gold double link bracelet (Seol + Gold, £34.95) is perfect as an everyday statement piece that can be worn on its own or with contrasting items.
Our reviewer loved its timeless appeal and was impressed by how it arrived in a branded cotton gift bag, making it a choice that will also save you on wrapping.
Necklaces
Initials are a lovely way of creating a keepsake piece. The simplest way to do so is through a necklace, as there’s more room for lettering and longer names.
In our review of the best women’s online jewellery shops, we loved this anna + nina stellar necklace short goldplated (anna + nina, £57). All the designs are inspired by founders Anna de Lanoy and Nina Poot’s travels around the world.
“This delicate chain necklace is a true beauty, and we love the fact the star charm doesn't sit quite centre. Wear alone, layer with different chains, or do what we did and add one of the brand’s initial necklace charms to the piece,” said our reviewer.
This Inthefrow supernova choker (Edge of Ember, £185) is another beautiful choice. It has seven kite-shaped elements with white topaz stones that sit close to the neck. It’s also gold-plated and made from 100 per cent recycled silver.
Made by ethical jewellery brand Edge of Ember, all deliveries and returns are carbon neutral. It works with artisan groups across Hong Kong, India, Thailand and Germany that are committed to fair pay and safe working environments. It also carries out independent audits on its manufacturing facilities, to keep recycling methods and environmental initiatives as up to date as possible.
Fashion forward brand Missoma is also well worth your time, with a range of price points and stylish designs making fans of Meghan Markle and Gigi Hadid.
Featured in our guide to the best jewellery gifts under £100, we loved this now-sold-out Missoma Lucy Williams square malachite gold necklace (Missoma, £95), but this Lucy Williams malachite gold choker (Missoma, £79) is similar in style if the jewel has caught your eye.
It’s a dainty-but-colourful design that’s effortlessly elegant thanks to the hand-cut gemstone and simple choker shape that can be easily worn with other pieces. We love it as a standalone necklace too, and we’re sure you will score some brownie points when it’s opened on Christmas day.
Rings
Smaller pieces like rings don’t have to mean wedding bells – they can be an opportunity to buy something special for a loved one that they might not buy for themselves.
If your recipient likes simple, wearable designs, try this Bonvo erba ring (Bonvo, £120) created by Greek designer Maria Leonidopoulou.
In our guide to the best women’s online jewellery shops, our reviewer said that by “focusing on simplicity and wearability, the designs combine effortless clean lines and understated luxury, and all pieces are crafted in the London studio”.
It’s bold enough to make a statement on its own, or to be layered with slim stacking rings, but won’t weigh your hand down or overwhelm the rest of your wardrobe.
However, if you were planning to propose, we’d highly recommend this Ingle & Rhode la mer (Ingle & Rhode, £1,495) that featured in our guide to the best ethical and sustainable jewellery brands.
Founder David Rhode told The Independent: “The more I looked into the industry, the more compromises I discovered I was being asked to make. From blood diamonds, to dirty gold, to sweatshops and child labour.”
As a result, he created his own brand, offering only lab-grown or ethically-minded Canadian diamonds; recycled platinum and recycled gold from a US refinery and Fairtrade gold from cooperative producers in South America.
“The engagement ring pictured marries the beauty of an oval cut diamond with two brilliant cut Canadian diamonds,” said our reviewer.
For more jewellery inspiration, read our guide to the best ethical and sustainable jewellery brands