Gift Giving Guy

I stunned my wife with five blue boxes from Tiffany’s for her birthday. Before you ask me which lottery I won, understand that I bought “one” item from Tiffany.com in five parts. I’ve given my wife the Blue Box many times before, but never five of them at once. Tiffany & Co. kindly wrapped each item separately in five of its classic robin-egg blue boxes.

Before she untied the first Tiffany bow, I did clue her in: the five boxes were a gift of one — not a second mortgage on our home. She opened the first box and discovered the sterling silver chain bracelet. “A charm bracelet?” she asked excitedly. “Yes,” I said. The next four boxes had silver charms, each with a Tiffany theme. My favorite of the charms was a miniature Tiffany Blue Box, a tradition since 1837.

Here is my advice for men seeking Tiffany jewelry as gifts:

• Watch for what style of jewelry she wears (and does not wear). Is her style more traditional or trendy? For example, I know my wife prefers more traditional silver or platinum jewelry to coordinate with her wedding ring.

• If you are buying Tiffany’s, visit an actual Tiffany & Co. store or shop at Tiffany.com. Avoid buying Tiffany jewelry or “Tiffany inspired” designs on eBay.com. (In 2006, Tiffany & Co. sent nearly 135,000 legal notices to take down eBay auctions.) Most women know the blue box; if you give it, make sure it’s genuine Tiffany & Co.

• Consider having her initials machine- or hand-engraved, if available for your selected jewelry design. If ordered from Tiffany.com, hand engraving will add two weeks to delivery; machine engraving adds three to five days.

• When ordering during the holiday season, remember that the Tiffany bow’s white satin ribbon becomes red.