When it comes to giving gifts to women on memorable occasions like birthdays or anniversaries, there is one gift that tops the list for both men and women: jewelry. Long hailed as one of the most romantic gifts to give or receive, jewelry is a very intimate gift. Whether it’s a ring or a necklace, a jewelry gift is always worn close to your skin and is a reassuring visual connection to the one who gave it to you.

Jewelry is a very personal gift and for this reason it is traditionally exchanged only in the closest of relationships. But how do you know that the garnet ring or double-strand pearl necklace you gave her really hit the mark? Was she really excited or did she smile as she did it? It doesn’t matter if you spent two months salary on it; If she didn’t like it, she didn’t like it and she doesn’t wear it! End of matter.

here are some Guidelines for choosing the perfect jewelry gift for her.

1. Do you know your allergies? Many women are allergic to silver or even gold. So if you have no idea about it, then mining a small fortune on a 24 karat gold bracelet would certainly backfire. Not to mention make her wonder how much you know about her.

2. What metal do you prefer? Is she a gold or silver person? Or is she moving away from metal and towards ethnic things like beads, glass and resin?

3. Don’t give him what he already has? There are so many gold rings or pearl earrings that a woman needs, you know.

4. What is your secret passion? Does she covet diamonds, pearls, gold? Bohemian trinkets do it for her?

5. A small but significant point: what kind of jewelry does she want? In other words, do you like hoop earrings or stud earrings? Is she a ‘ring person’ or does she love long, dangling necklaces and chains?

6. Finally, you sure want to impress her. But don’t spend her money in cash if she really can’t afford it. Unless she’s a gold digger (in which case you’ll be better off without her), she’ll appreciate the kindness and sensitivity behind the gift rather than the cost of the gift.

An important distinction: exclusive vs. expensive gift

Most men equate exclusivity with cost. The irony is that all the unique gifts don’t have to cost the earth. On the contrary, an expensive gift does not have to be exclusive.

An exclusive gift must have these boxes checked:

• It has to be something you haven’t seen on all the main streets

• More importantly, his friends haven’t seen him either, and the compliments are quickly pouring in.

• Has a rich pedigree (handcrafted in a small Welsh mining town, etc.)

• The icing on the cake: It tells her the real effort you put into tracking down this gift for her.

So, keep these guidelines in mind, and you’ll be fine!