Jewelry has long been a token of love and appreciation you have likely given and received. However, have you ever considered buying jewelry for yourself and thought...can I really do that? Is it appropriate? Our research shows a resounding “yes!” is your answer! Read on to explore reasons people buy jewelry for themselves, occasions and events to mark with a jewelry purchase, and five tips to consider before shopping for yourself.
Why Buy Jewelry for Yourself
It’s important to start by saying: If you want to buy jewelry for yourself—DO IT! You don’t need permission, and you don’t need to wait for a special occasion (ok, maybe you will if you live with a partner or are on a tight budget!). There are dozens of reasons why you could and should. But, if you’re curious why people do, here are the secret truths behind these indulgent purchases that we uncovered in our recent jewelry self-purchasing survey conducted to understand the buying behaviors of self-purchasers.
- Self-celebration: Have you recently received a big work promotion or perhaps reached a fitness goal? Maybe you just earned a school degree or overcame a personal challenge, such as an illness, addiction or heartbreak. Treating yourself to jewelry is a rewarding way to acknowledge personal achievements, both big and small. It's a reminder that you are worth celebrating.
- Self-worth: Receiving beautiful jewelry just feels good. But there’s no need to wait for someone else to give it to you to feel this good! Self-purchased jewelry can be a powerful, tangible expression of the love and worth you feel for yourself.
- Empowerment: Buying yourself jewelry that makes you feel beautiful and confident can be extremely empowering. You’ve saved up some cash and splurged on a purchase for yourself. Good for you! Self-purchased jewelry can give you a feeling of pride that gifted jewelry doesn’t always provide (and possibly more of your style, too!).
- Self-expression: Self-purchasing jewelry allows you to outwardly display your style and who you are on the inside. Just as clothing, makeup and other accessories can help you tell your story, jewelry can also help you express your uniqueness, values and passions. A vintage locket can express your passion for history and nostalgia. A nature-inspired ring can showcase your love for the environment, spirituality or a connection to the natural world. A pendant of a religious or spiritually-based figure can reflect your faith or spirituality. Whatever it is, it’s 100% you.
- Stress relief: Ever heard of retail therapy? While some claim that "money can’t buy happiness,” others believe that buying jewelry for yourself can reduce stress. Choosing, wearing and admiring your jewelry can release your happiness hormones and bring you joy, contributing to your overall well-being. Also, taking the time to slow down and admire the sparkle of a diamond or the shimmer of some new bling can serve as a daily mindfulness practice and bring back those happiness hormones all over again!
- Commemoration: Life is full of significant milestones you want to remember for years to come—having a baby (called “push” presents), getting married, or starting a business, to name a few. Buying yourself a gorgeous piece of jewelry to commemorate these special moments can be a great way to create unique keepsake jewelry pieces that can serve as a reminder each time you see and wear them (and maybe even passed on for generations to come). It can also be a conversation starter, representing a story about your life that you can share each time someone admires your purchase.
Occasions and Events to Mark with Jewelry
Every day can be considered a special occasion. You don’t need to wait to finish running your first marathon to reward yourself with a special piece of jewelry. But as special events make the perfect excuse for purchasing yourself a new piece of jewelry, here are some popular occasions according to our research:
- Birthdays: Holidays (including celebrating another trip around the sun!) are the leading catalyst for consumers to buy jewelry for themselves, selected by 67% of respondents in our recent survey. Whether it becomes an annual tradition or you reserve the honor for milestone birthdays, use this opportunity to reflect on your life and choose a piece that resonates with your feelings.
- Travel adventures: Going on a memorable family vacation? Or on your first trip overseas? Traveling provides an excellent opportunity for self-purchasing jewelry, according to nearly 30% of respondents who reported purchasing themselves jewelry while on a vacation or work trip. But always make sure you’re traveling safely with your valuable jewelry. Try to refrain from wearing overly flashy pieces that draw a lot of attention, properly packing your valuable jewelry to prevent damage, and ensuring the jewelry you leave at home remains safe.
- Achievements: While our study suggests men are slightly more likely to purchase jewelry for themselves following a work, athletic or scholastic achievement, it’s an excellent way for all jewelry lovers to mark such an accomplishment. This might include a job promotion, competing in (and maybe placing in the top three finishers or even winning!) an athletic challenge or graduating from school. This jewelry can serve as a reward for and reminder of your hard work and dedication and provide motivation for future endeavors.
- Anniversaries: Upgrading an existing piece of jewelry or adding a new piece to your collection can be a celebratory way to mark another year with the person you love. This doesn’t just apply to marriage anniversaries. Open up your mind to different possibilities, including the anniversary of a first date, moving to a new city or starting a new job.
- Self-care rituals: Everyone approaches self-care differently. Some take the day off to visit a spa. Others meditate, take a long walk or read a book. Consider purchasing a new piece of jewelry your form of self-care. This may even become an annual tradition for you. In fact, nearly two-fifths (38%) of self-purchasers buy fine jewelry once a year.
- New beginnings: Consider marking the excitement of a new adventure with some new bling. Some jewelry-worthy new beginnings may include buying a new home, starting a new business, welcoming a child into your home, or embarking on a new religious or spiritual journey.
- Friendship and solidarity: Buying jewelry isn't just about personal celebrations. It can also be a way to honor friendships and express solidarity with others. Think of it as an upgrade to childhood friendship bracelets but with fine jewelry. This symbolic gesture can represent a shared commitment to a cause, a belief system, or simply a shared life experience.
5 Tips for Purchasing Jewelry as a Treat to Yourself
Now that you see the benefits of self-purchasing jewelry and have permitted yourself to do so, you’ll have to determine what and where to buy. Take a look below at some of the purchasing trends revealed in our study.
- Allow ample time for dreaming. How are you currently feeling? What jewelry would bring you the most joy at this moment in your life? A necklace? A bracelet or watch? Take the time to ponder what jewelry feels most appropriate for the special occasion you may be honoring. Our survey indicates that female self-purchasers buy necklaces and earrings at a higher rate. At the same time, males tend to buy themselves watches. But this is about you - ignore outside influences and follow your gut.
- Take inventory. Before heading out on a shopping adventure, inventory the jewelry you own. If you are slowly building your capsule jewelry collection, consider what piece of jewelry might be smart for you to add next. Are there gaps in your collection you’d like to fill? Are there pieces that you may want to replace? Remember to consider trade-ins if your local jeweler takes them!
- Think about where to buy. The largest percentage of self-purchasers (45%) buy their jewelry from brand stores, with jewelry retail chains, online purchases and local small businesses rounding out the top four. Do your research ahead of time to determine which avenue may be most likely to have the specific jewelry you are looking for.
- Shop smarter, not harder. Look for money-saving opportunities by signing up for jewelry seller email lists or following their social media accounts. You may also want to consider waiting for certain holidays, like Black Friday, the Holiday Season or Valentine’s Day, when jewelers and retailers might have special sales.
- Choose jewelry that’s best for your style. The perfect jewelry looks different to different people. If you haven’t already, take the time to consider your personal style and figure out what pieces will contribute to your unique vibe and aesthetic. If you are set on purchasing a new necklace, determine what type best suits you. Lastly, make sure you are prepared to style your soon-to-be new jewelry properly. For example, if you’re buying a new watch, review tips on how to style a watch to ensure your new purchase can be properly styled with the clothes and accessories you already own.
Make Sure Your Jewelry is Protected with Jewelry Insurance
You’ve taken the time to thoughtfully and meaningfully purchase jewelry for yourself. The next step is to insure your self-purchased jewelry with a personal insurance policy from Jewelers Mutual. Two-thirds of jewelry self-purchasers have insured their self-bought jewelry, and nearly half protect their newly acquired jewelry at the time of purchase. It’s an affordable option that covers the cost of repairing or replacing your piece if it ever gets lost, stolen, or damaged, and it’s easy to get online with a few simple clicks. Check your rate by clicking the button below.
