By Donna Jolly, RJ, Director of Marketing, American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories
Growing up, my dad gave me great gifts: a bike, Barbies, and books to expand my mind and imagination. In contrast, every Father’s Day, I gave him socks. As I grew, the gifts got better, but I could never capture the magical feeling I felt when I opened the gifts he gave me.
Some of the most popular gifts purchased for Father’s Day are electronics, gift cards (guilty), dinner or lunch (also guilty), and clothing (socks are clothing).
Compare that to Mother’s Day, where one of the top gifts for mom is jewelry. So, why not up the game and give dad some jewelry this Father’s Day? Or at least something you can purchase from a jeweler, like great knives.
Taking the phrase “father knows best” literally, we asked three dads in the jewelry business what they would suggest for their special day:
"Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad."
“We recently had a client sell us approximately 30 pairs of cufflinks for our estate collection. Many were the traditional onyx and sterling silver designer pieces, but some were fun, like this pair. I’ve already grabbed two pairs for myself. One set I had an eye on disappeared. I wonder if they will be wrapped up for me for Father’s Day.
Many of our clients work in a conservative dress environment and struggle to personalize their accessories. Wearing a suit daily, there are very few areas where a client can add a bit of flair; the tie and pocket square combination, socks with someone’s face imprinted, and, of course, fun and funky cufflinks. I especially like this pair as it adds a pop of color to any suit and tie combination. Although cufflinks are seen as very traditional, this pair will spice up anyone’s cufflink collection.”
Bryan Moeller, CGA
R.F. Moeller Jeweler
“When I think about my own father, one of the first things that come to mind is him manning the grill for our family gatherings. I hope one day my own daughter has fond memories of me doing the same thing. While my dad would have never appreciated a fine watch or men’s jewelry, I know he would have been excited for a wonderful set of knives to use at those BBQs.”
Scott Davis, RJ
Jack Lewis Jewelers
“In the last couple of years, we have seen a major uptick in the sale of men’s gold chains, but for many dads, particularly newer ones, necklaces can pose a tricky obstacle when juggling his bundle(s) of joy. A bracelet is much easier to pull off and is very on-trend.
Like many men, I enjoy a sturdy, durable piece of jewelry with a bit of weight that I don’t need to tiptoe around in as I wear it. A bracelet could be the perfect item with a bit of heft while not “breaking the bank;” it’s a gift you could beat up, knock around, and still look great.
More and more men are creating unique looks by stacking bracelets. That’s right—this isn’t a women-only trend anymore! Getting a dad a single bracelet could open him up to a world of mixing and matching (not to mention the opportunity to buy future gifts easily and at various price points).
Bracelets, notably heavier ones, are also very low maintenance requiring little to no servicing, a feature almost all dads will appreciate.”
Marc Nanasi, RS
Nanasi Enterprises, Inc.
If you need some more inspiration, here are three pieces our team also likes for dad:
Ready to shop for your dad? Visit your local AGS jeweler and ask them to give you some suggestions. Visit ags.org/findajeweler to find a professional near you.
