Custom Designed Jewelry - a Truly Personal Anniversary Gift

The number of magnificent and dazzling diamond jewelry pieces you can select right out of the jeweler's case is undoubtedly infinite, and represents the work of well-known jewelry designers with brilliant styles from classic to ultra-contemporary.

However, if you want to create custom designed jewelry as a unique anniversary gift for the woman you love - a piece that is somewhat more personal and reflects your sentiments and feelings for her in a very special way - it's not as difficult a process as you might think.

Step one in designing a unique anniversary gift: Decide on what the piece will be and how much you can spend

A diamond anniversary band? A three stone diamond ring? A diamond anniversary pendant? 3 stone diamond earrings? A diamond brooch? It's a good idea to look at some of the diamond anniversary jewelry that's out there to get ideas, and set a budget you can be comfortable with. (A thousand dollars for each year you've been married is the rule of thumb, but rules are made to be broken!)

Be sure you consider what jewelry pieces your wife already has. Look at the style of the jewelry she wears to get a sense of what she likes. Does she prefer an antique look or something more modern? Does she wear yellow gold, white gold or platinum? A piece that's in keeping with her existing jewelry collection is more likely to please her. You may even want to take a piece she has - such as a single-stone diamond engagement ring - and customize it by adding more diamonds.

Step two in designing a unique anniversary gift: Buy the diamonds first!

In any piece of diamond jewelry, the quality of the diamond or diamonds should be your first consideration. A pretty setting can never make up for a lackluster diamond. Not only is it the beauty of the diamond - its fire, sparkle and brilliance - that will light up her face when you present it to her, but it's the diamond that you're really paying for.

That's why is makes sense to choose the diamond first. You can select a loose stone, and then have it set in any setting you like. Branded diamonds are a good way to go to assure you of quality and authenticity. See which brand names are in demand.

You'll want to choose a diamond of superior cut, clarity and color. Be sure you learn what makes a diamond brilliant and beautifu l . Then, you can select the setting that shows it off best and suits your personal preference for style.

Step three in designing a unique anniversary gift: Consider a semi-custom piece as a possibility

Once you've selected your diamonds, you can have them set in a variety of mounts (settings) that are already available. (Ask your jeweler to show you what he has or can order for you.) Choose the setting, the precious metal, perhaps some additional colored side stones. Your jeweler can then put the piece together for you, and in effect you have designed your diamond anniversary piece to suit your own tastes and hers.

Step four in designing a unique anniversary gift: Come up with your own design ideas

If you need inspiration, thumbing through a few fashion magazines with lots of jewelry ads in them can get you off to a good start. Pull out the ads you like and take them with you to a reputable jeweler. If you are artistic, you can make some sketches of your own to show him. If not, many fine jewelers work with jewelry designers who can draw up some ideas based on your input and show you the possibilities. Some men like to include their wives in the process; others prefer the element of surprise. But, remember, a custom designed piece of diamond jewelry is not going to be returnable.

Once you've agreed on the design, the jeweler will go ahead and have the piece made. If it's a ring, make sure you know her ring size!

The resulting piece will be an anniversary gift from the heart &ndash one that says " I forever do " in a very personal way.

Have you thought about what kind of celebration will set the mood for presenting your custom designed anniversary gift? We have some suggestions as to how you can know what kind of anniversary she is dreaming of .