<p>I totally agree that an heirloom carries a special meaning, not a large price tag. I have my mom’s claddagh ring and it hasn’t left my finger since she passed away…certainly not expensive, but priceless to me. Also, one of my D’s nickname has been “bean” since she was little. For one of her birthdays I purchased the Tiffany bean necklace and I can imagine the joy it will bring one of her kids or grand kids to have gram’s bean!
@poliscinerd Best wishes for a speedy recovery and good luck with finding the right heirloom!</p>
<p>poliscinerd - I hope you are feeling much better. D loves her Cape Cod bracelet and wears it often.<br>
<a href=“http://www.capecodjewelers.com/index.php/cape-cod-jewelry-1/cape-cod-bracelets.html”>http://www.capecodjewelers.com/index.php/cape-cod-jewelry-1/cape-cod-bracelets.html</a></p>
<p>Those are really nice</p>
<p>BTW when I was your age I didn’t like pearls. It’s an age thing. </p>
<p>I understand the not liking pearls. (Personally, I really hate them) It’s just not always just an age thing. My mother is in her 50s and still hates pearls… which is unfortunate because we have a lot of my grandmother’s with no one to wear them. People just have different tastes. </p>
<p>Best wishes for a good recovery, polisci. I’ve designed two pieces of jewelry over the last two years that I treasure (the necklace for my graduation and my engagement ring) on a tight budget. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about custom jewelry 
</p>
<p>It’s not an age thing. My daughters love pearls. I guess I pass the love of pearls to them from my mother. My mother loved pearls, she went to Japan in the early 70s and went down to the pearl factory and selected individual pearl to make a broche and necklace that she passed to me and my sister. Beautiful pearls just enhance your skin. </p>
<p>Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Everyone on CC is so helpful! I texted my friends and they were no help, so I was like let me go to CC, everyone there is always willing to help and give great suggestions! I also wanted to mention, in case anybody was searching, that I also really dislike heart shaped jewelry. Not my style. </p>
<p>I did, however, find two necklaces I’m considering:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bluenile.com/mini-lotus-diamond-pendant-14k-yellow-gold_41802?elem=title&track=product”>http://www.bluenile.com/mini-lotus-diamond-pendant-14k-yellow-gold_41802?elem=title&track=product</a></p>
<p>^I love that one because a lotus symbolizes new beginnings, which is the path I’m on right now. I think the design is absolutely beautiful. It’s small enough where you can wear it everyday, but not too simple that it’s boring or fades into the background. I have to admit, I also like the idea of having a diamond, even if it’s singular and not the most high quality.</p>
<p><a href=“Personalized Heirloom Necklace | Sundance Catalog”>http://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/52985.do</a></p>
<p>^Funny story about that necklace. My mom offered to buy me and my sister that necklace a few years ago, probably when I was about 15. She thought it was cute and personal. I told her I hated it and thought it was hideous. I have no memory of that, but she claims the story to be true lol! Anyway, I think it’s pretty and I like how lightly the initials are sketched in. It’s a personal detail without being too overbearing. The reviews are negative because people say that it is very small. I personally love very small necklaces, so that’s a plus for me! The only issue is that it’s 16 inches and I like my necklaces to be a bit longer. I could get a chain extender though. </p>
<p>Those are both lovely and I’m sure you would get good use out of them and have fond memories of their significance. You can’t go wrong with either. Funny story about the 2nd necklace indeed!</p>
<p>This is what I got for my 16th birthday from my parents - many years ago - although not the Tiffany version (a knockoff version)- for a fraction of the price:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.yoogiscloset.com/tiffany-co-18k-gold-elsa-peretti-open-heart-pendant-necklace-34974.html?gclid=CK3IisDQyb8CFdBi7AodQygArw”>http://www.yoogiscloset.com/tiffany-co-18k-gold-elsa-peretti-open-heart-pendant-necklace-34974.html?gclid=CK3IisDQyb8CFdBi7AodQygArw</a></p>
<p>I like the Sundance necklace - different and distinctive. The cheap diamond in the other necklace is a deal breaker in my opinion, and I would caution against buying inexpensive diamonds - even small ones because the quality is so poor.</p>
<p>Lagos has high quality silver jewelry in your price range…it is unique and well designed…has an heirloom quality:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.lagos.com/results.php?class=4&rpric=500”>http://www.lagos.com/results.php?class=4&rpric=500</a></p>
<p>This are pretty:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.lagos.com/signature-gifts/caviar-ball-pendant-necklace/654”>https://www.lagos.com/signature-gifts/caviar-ball-pendant-necklace/654</a></p>
<p><a href=“https://www.lagos.com/luna/pearl-key-pendant-necklace/895”>https://www.lagos.com/luna/pearl-key-pendant-necklace/895</a></p>
<p><a href=“https://www.lagos.com/rare-wonders/starfish-pendant-necklace/1448”>https://www.lagos.com/rare-wonders/starfish-pendant-necklace/1448</a></p>
<p>Go with the first necklace. It is very pretty and it seems like you love it and the design has significance for you!</p>
<p>I’ve met a jeweler here in Maine who makes those twisted rope silver cuff bracelets, similar to the Cape Cod bracelets linked above. If they are worn, they don’t tarnish on the surface, but get darker in the grooves, so to speak, while the top surfaces stay bright, which looks great. I wish I could remember her name…</p>
<p>I’m with gourmetmom on avoiding cheap diamonds. I like the sundance necklace a lot more than the other.</p>
<p>The twisted rope designs were made popular by David Yurman years ago…they do tarnish in the grooves, which adds interest to the piece. </p>
<p>@poliscinerd those are both beautiful and you couldn’t go wrong with either one! Choose one now and definitely remember the other for another occasion.</p>
<p>I love the Bluenile necklace. In my opinion it is timeless, simple and elegant! </p>
<p>I think one of the best places to find unusual and meaningful jewelry is museum gift shops. I got my niece a beautiful stone bracelet for a bat mitzvah present at a lapidary museum in our area. If there is nothing easy for you to get to nearby, here are some online museum shops to browse: <a href=“https://www.artinstituteshop.org/subcategory.asp?subcatID=31”>https://www.artinstituteshop.org/subcategory.asp?subcatID=31</a><br>
<a href=“http://www.smithsonianstore.com/jewelry/jewelry/?lf=c”>http://www.smithsonianstore.com/jewelry/jewelry/?lf=c</a>
<a href=“http://store.metmuseum.org/jewelry/necklaces/icat/necklaces”>http://store.metmuseum.org/jewelry/necklaces/icat/necklaces</a></p>
<p>Great call! I actually ordered my wedding band from the Met. I took a photo all over town and nobody had anything like it and finally I just say to heck with it I’m getting that one. I still love it to death. It is a Byzantine reproduction.</p>
<p>My mom nixed the Bluenile Lotus necklace because she thinks it will look cheap in person. We decided to venture out one day and look in a few stores so I can see the jewelry in person. It will be fun to get out </p>
<p>Just thought I’d update everybody- I got something from Swarovski! I never envisioned myself buying something from there, but they had a gorgeous selection! </p>