Bring on the bling: Shiny rings, stackable jewelry make great Valentine's Day gifts

Thorpe & Co.'s Jewelers' Rusty Clark said the two industries are surprisingly intertwined.

"Some seasons, fashion designers will favor long skirts over short skirts," he said inside his 501 Fourth St. store. "Engagement ring designers are the same way. This year, you'll be seeing more rose gold engagement rings over the more traditional white or yellow gold."

Gunderson's Jewelers' Breanne Demers agreed that rose gold and pink gold rings are in this season. In addition, stackable jewelry like designer Charles Krypell's "I Love You Today Tomorrow, Forever" sterling silver rings and bracelets will melt hearts this season.

Demers also said individualized charms, chains and bracelets in sterling silver, yellow, rose or white gold from designer Heather B. Moore are quite popular.

"People can personalize stackable jewelry with certain sayings," she said. "Or perhaps if you have three children, you can get your Valentine three different stackable rings."

While Christmas remains his best-selling holiday, Clark said Valentine's Day is solidly in second place.

"We call Christmas a month-long holiday because we'll see customers looking for forever jewelry throughout all of December," he said. "Valentine's Day is more of a three-day holiday because people are looking for some last-minute bling."

Some of 2017's top bling items might include something from the Mi Moneda collection. 

Mi Moneda -- which means "My Coin" in Spanish -- is a fashionable and luxurious brand inspired by vintage coins. Combining high-style jewelry with ancient spiritual ideas, Mi Moneda comes with a unique pendant and several different coins. 

"Depending on a woman's mood or the color of her dress, she can switch out coins to create a very personalized necklace," Clark said. "It's like having several necklaces instead of just one."

Demers said Valentine's Day means more than just bling. She said with a purchase of $150 or more, customers at Gunderson's Jewelers will receive either three dozen roses or gourmet caramel apples.

"People who've ever tried to buy roses in February know how expensive they can be," she said, inside her 4830 Sergeant Road store. "If you ask me, this will be a win/win for everybody." 

So, what do guys want for Valentine's Day?

Demers said masculine bracelets allow guys to make a fashion statement. 

"My husband has three or four bracelets (from designer John Hardy)," she said. "He likes them a lot."

Clark said men will also want to be on the cutting edge with a William Henry pocket knife.

"These knives are truly a work of art," he said, showing off a pocket-sized piece.

From William Henry's "Jurassic Park"-like handles made of such materials as fossilized wooly mammoth teeth to the surgical instrument-sharp blade -- forged from three types of steel which take as many as 16 months to manufacture -- speak to the knife's quality.

"And since each knife is hand-carved, no two William Henry knives are ever alike," Clark said. "That makes it a must-have for collectors."

But don't tell collectors what Clark uses his own William Henry knife for.

"They make for an excellent letter opener," he said. "That makes them fancy and still practical."

Other gifts that are both fancy and practical for men and women alike are wristwatches.

"Watches went away for a while," Clark said. "If people wanted to tell time, they'd simply look at their cellphones."

However, trendy twenty- and thirty-somethings are discovering something their parents knew all along. 

"Watches aren't simply timepieces," Clark noted. "They're also pieces of jewelry that have plenty of bling."

Which, he said, is the key to Valentine's Day shopping.

"Shopping for Christmas or anniversary jewelry can be serious business," Clark said. "Valentine's Day jewelry is all about fun and it's all about the bling." 

Demers agreed that Valentine's Day is lighthearted and fun.

"Other holidays are serious," she said. "Shopping on Valentine's Day is less formal and more entertaining."