Jewellary Designing And Love - How They Are The Same

8 women share the 19 best pieces of jewelry they've ever bought or received — from $7 Etsy purchases to $1,500 splurges they don't regret

Birthstone Ear-Chain Threader

Aurate $150, available at AUrate

I have six piercings in my right ear, and most of the earrings I wear every day are the same ones that I've had since the piercings were created. So, on the rare occasions when I buy new jewelry, I'm okay with spending a bit more for something of greater quality, more ethical production, or a unique design. I bought this Threader at a sale price in the (not-my-birthstone) White Topaz, and I wear it most often as a glimmery point of interest when I wear my hair up. It's well made, slightly edgy but still sophisticated, and not something everyone else owns. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Hand with Broken Heart Earrings

Etsy $27.52, available at Etsy

With a solid collection of everyday gold jewelry in my possession, I wanted to find some more fun, conversation-starting pieces. My first stop was Etsy, where I came across these lightweight acrylic earrings. Whether you're disillusioned by the dating scene or happily in love, they're a cool and tongue-in-cheek statement. I'm always looking for an excuse to wear them. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

Solid Circle Earrings

AUrate $350, available at AUrate

These small, yellow gold circle earrings from AUrate are my most worn pair. They're the perfect 'not too big, not too small' size. — Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy

Aurate Stackable Ring

Aurate $50, available at AUrate

This simple and stackable plain band is perfect for layering with other rings. It's probably slightly too thin to wear on its own, but I usually wear it stacked with a twisted band (the one in the next slide) from AUrate. Just be careful if you're super rough with your hands, and remember to take it off at the gym. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Stackable Twist Ring

AUrate $60, available at AUrate

Simple as it is, this is my absolute favorite ring (behind my engagement ring, of course. Shoutout to my partner for the best jewelry gift of all time!). It's just a thin twisted band, but it catches the light in a way that makes it look shinier and more substantial than its price would suggest.

If you want to stack it with the plain band from the last slide, I recommend buying them as a set ($95) instead of separately — you'll save $15 that way. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Chauné Hoop Earrings

Rocksbox $35, available at Rocksbox

I don't really like wearing traditional hoops. Instead, I'm drawn to slight variations like this style. They're my fallback whenever I'm not sure (or don't have enough time to ponder) what earrings to wear, and they've made appearances at my office, parties, and casual brunches. On the practical side, I also like them more than traditional hoops because they have posts and backs, ensuring they won't fall off my ears no matter how hard I shake my head. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

Chloe Mini Choker

Gorjana $55, available at Gorjana

Sometimes I wear this choker on its own, other times I layer it with a longer piece. Either way, it's the perfect length and doesn't shift around on my neck like other chokers. I love the small circles that dot the whole necklace and draw more attention to its daintiness and my neck. It's not solid gold (instead, 18-karat gold plated), but after two years, it still hasn't shown any signs of wear. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

Small Hoops

Mejuri $50, available at Mejuri

I love a tiny hoop, and these 14-karat gold ones from Mejuri are perfectly petite. I have four of them because I like to mix and match (I have three holes in one ear and two in the other) but I always have at least one pair on at all times.

The one annoying thing about them is that they're not so easy to put on. One side has a hole for the other to fit into, which is great because it creates a full circle and won't ever fall out, but it can be hard to get them aligned on your own. Sometimes I get impatient and just press them close enough that I know they won't fall out, but they aren't fully secured into the hole. They've never fallen out and you can't really tell they're not fully threaded so it doesn't bother me.  — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Sweet Nothing Bracelet

Catbird $94, available at Catbird

In my humble opinion (as a former jewelry editor), Catbird makes some of the best affordable fine jewelry you can buy. The Brooklyn-based jewelry studio's simple and dainty yellow-gold bracelet goes with everything — and it's less than $100. — Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy

Shashi Circle Necklace

Shopbop $40, available at Shopbop

I usually don't change up my jewelry (I wore the same pair of earrings for almost six years), but wanted a simple gold necklace a few years ago and purchased this one Shashi. I specifically chose this piece because I wanted a necklace featuring a circle. I really love that there are two thin chains, making me believe that it's a bit more durable than a single chain. The tassel charm on the back is also a nice touch. — Ciannah Gin, Insider Picks editorial fellow

Maria Tash Gold Hoop Earring

Net-a-Porter $340, available at Net-a-Porter

I got my cartilage pierced a few years ago, and while I love the look of the piercing, it's honestly in a pretty annoying location. I'm always tucking my hair behind my ears, which led to most of my earrings getting tangled up in a hairball. I tried cheaper hoops, but many caused infections, irritations, or quickly were ruined because I forgot to take them out before showering. 

I know $340 for a single earring seems crazy — I was really hesitant at first, too — but this one feels worth it. The style is simultaneously edgy and polished, the hoop clasps into itself (making a clean circle) so it literally never falls out, and since it's real 14-karat gold, I haven't experienced any infections. Plus I can wear it in the shower without worrying it will tarnish — a perk as cartilage piercings are particularly annoying to be constantly taking in and out. I wish my budget allowed me to add more of these earrings into my rotation, but for now this one will do just fine.  — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter

Tree of Life Heart Stud Earrings

Etsy $7.89, available at Etsy

I'm notorious for losing earring backs in the shower, dressing room, and pretty much anywhere. After my last mishap, I wanted to purchase earrings that were inexpensive because, let's be real, I was bound to lose them at some point. These dainty "Tree of Life" earrings were exactly what I was hoping for and I love the meaning behind them. — Francesca Rea, Insider Picks content producer

Maleficent Necklace

Catbird $376, available at Catbird

I received this black diamond necklace from Catbird as a Christmas gift a few years ago, and I still wear it every day. I don't even take it off to shower, and it still looks brand new and no worse for wear. To keep it sparkling, I put it in some jewelry cleaning solution every other month or two. — Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy

Zodiac Necklace

Mejuri $80, available at Mejuri

I bought my mom, aunt, and grandma zodiac necklaces for their respective signs as Christmas gifts last year, and they were a big hit! Mejuri offers all 12 signs in gold vermeil and sterling silver, so I was able to select their preferred metal color. — Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy

Nestled Emeralds Ring

WWAKE $1,465, available at WWAKE Shop WWAKE jewelry at Catbird

I splurged on this emerald ring (my birthstone) from my favorite Brooklyn-based jewelry designer after starting a new job. I love and recommend everything WWAKE makes… the craftsmanship is next-level and the designer and her team could not be more helpful. They really want you to love the finished product. — Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy

Small Brilliant Diamond Studs

Wwake $361, available at WWAKE Shop WWAKE jewelry at Catbird

These itty-bitty diamond studs are so comfortable and matches everything that I forget I'm wearing them. I'm pretty sure I haven't taken them off in a year… or two. — Jada Wong, Insider Picks editor

Gold Aquarius Necklace

Etsy $18, available on Etsy

I wear this gold necklace in my zodiac sign often. It's a perfect everyday piece that goes with everything, but I do take it off when working out or showering because I don't want to get it caked in sweat, soap, or shampoo. — Jada Wong, Insider Picks editor

Triple Initial Necklace

Stone and Strand $265, available at Stone and Strand

I've always loved the personal touch of an initial necklace, but I've never had one myself. This year, I received this one from Stone and Strand for the holidays. I've only had it for a few days, but I'm already obsessed. It's simple and dainty enough for everyday, but the block lettering gives it a little edge. It looks great paired with a chunky gold choker or laying simply on your neck. I'm already dreaming of all the ways I'm going to wear this one. — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter

Sapphire Twin Hoops

Mejuri $190, available at Mejuri

When I first unboxed these earrings, I was slightly disappointed at how much they lacked the shine I was expecting. But over time, I've come to appreciate that they're much more wearable and easily match any outfit without overpowering it. I wear them everyday and love the perfect combo of classic-with-a-twist that I look for in my accessories.

Personalized Valentine’s Day gifts will show your significant other how special they are

Heads up: All products featured here are selected by Mashable's commerce team and meet our rigorous standards for awesomeness. If you buy something, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. By Miller Kern2020-01-17 18:51:45 UTC

Valentine’s Day is the one day a year where you have a free pass to be cheesy AF. We are officially granting you permission to indulge in the lovey dovey-ness of the holiday. (But definitely avoid the clichés. Check out 19 romantic Valentine's Day gifts that defy clichés if you need some help.) Go all out with flowers and chocolate hearts. Have a candlelit dinner. Shower your Valentine in romance. 

The average American is expected to spend $221.34 on Valentine’s Day this year, according to Finder — why not ensure that money is going toward something special? Nothing says “I love you” quite like a personalized gift. It allows you to show your significant other just how special they are with something one-of-a-kind and unique to them. 

Finding the right personalized gift can sometimes be tedious. You have to comb through the cheap looking or overly corny options to get to the good stuff. Luckily, we did that for you, so all you have to do to find the perfect gift is read on. (But hurry: personalized gifts can take a little more time.)

CAITLYN MINIMALIST

BEST FOR CREATING LASTING SENTIMENT

Handwriting necklace

Become a jewelry designer with this customizable necklace. Send in a photo or scan of a handwritten message or drawing and this Etsy shop will turn it into a necklace pendant. This is a unique gift that your significant other is sure to cherish.

HOMESICK

BEST FOR WHEN YOU’RE FEELING NOSTALGIC

Homesick candle

Scents can take us back to a particular time and place. Reminisce about the good ol’ days with your partner with the help of a Homesick candle. Choose from either the city or state where you two met to be taken back in a cloud of nostalgia. Each candle is created with scents meant to capture the essence of its location.

PET PARTY CO

BEST FOR THE COUPLE WHO WANTS TO KEEP EACH OTHER NEAR

Face socks

Add a little humor to your V-Day this year. These socks allow you to plaster your photo all over the fabric, so every time your partner looks at their feet, they see your beautiful face. So romantic. For added fun, upload a picture of the two of you together for a sweet pair of couples' socks.

ORIENT APPEAL

BEST FOR THE SNAZZY DRESSER

Engraved cufflinks

If your partner wears cufflinks on the reg, consider creating a personalized pair. Orient Appeal on Etsy allows you to engrave custom messages onto cufflinks in your own handwriting or from a font list. You’re also able to incorporate logos and icons into the design if you choose. This unique gift will come in handy for any fancy Valentine’s Day dinner plans.

ALPHANUMERIC ENGRAVERS

BEST FOR THE WINE DRINKER

Engraved wine tumbler

Adorn this tumbler with your SO’s name or a personalized message. These engraved glasses have an extra thermal lining that keeps drinks warm for more than three hours or cold for nine. The exterior of the cup is condensation-free and the tumbler comes with a lid so no worries about messes or spilling.

MRC WOOD PRODUCTS

BEST FOR THE INTERIOR DECORATOR

Monogram sign

Turn your house into a home with this wooden sign depicting your last name and monogram. Choose to include the date your family was established or leave it off if you prefer. Your design is printed directly on the wood, so you don’t have to peel off any vinyl once your order arrives. This rustic sign makes for a great piece to tie any room together.

CIRCLE CITY DESIGN CO

BEST FOR THE COOK

Engraved cutting board

A nice cutting board can make preparing a meal more enjoyable. Give your partner’s cooking space a sweet upgrade with this engraved cutting board. Attach a note to your order with the name you want carved into the board. You can also add a date if that’s applicable to you and your SO. Choose from different sizes and woods to make this cutting board extra personalized.

COLLAGE

BEST FOR CREATING A DATE NIGHT ACTIVITY

Photo puzzle

Date night will be extra fun when you and your partner put this puzzle together and see yourselves. Change the size and number of pieces depending on your desired difficulty level. Once you upload your photo, you’re able to customize the puzzle even more. Collage offers different design, background, and text options.

LULAH BLU GIFTS

BEST FOR GIVING AN ODDLY SATISFYING GIFT

Sequin pillow

If your significant other plays with those reversible sequin objects every time you two are at the store, get them their own personalized sequin gift. You’re able to upload an image or type a personal message to be revealed when your SO swipes their hand up this pillow. This is a great opportunity to get funny or sappy.

LAUREN ELAINE DESIGNS

BEST FOR THE BEER DRINKER

Hand-stamped bottle opener keychain

This hand stamped keychain will remind your partner that you love them each time they crack open a cold one. Because this bottle opener is created using hand stamping techniques, it will not be perfect, as each letter is pressed individually. This means your order will be 100 percent unique.

COLLAGE

BEST FOR DAILY REMINDERS OF YOUR LOVE

Photo calendar

Keep track of important dates and your day-to-day lives on this customized calendar. Add birthdays and anniversaries when creating the calendar so that they are printed in it when you receive your order. Each month can feature a single photo or a collage of pictures, so feel free to get creative.

MYNAMENECKLACE

BEST FOR 'SEX AND THE CITY' FANS

Name necklace

Personalize this necklace with either the recipient’s name or your name to remind them of your love. You’re able to choose from different lengths and metal types to make sure the necklace is perfect for your loved one. As an added bonus, this jewelry arrives in a pouch or gift box.

UNCOMMONGOODS

BEST FOR REMEMBERING WHERE YOU’VE BEEN

Map serving tray

Whether you no longer live where you first met or there’s just a location that means a lot to you as a couple, this tray is a nice way to commemorate a place. The laminate vintage map covers three square miles surrounding your location of choice and places a star on the address provided. This tray is complete with a personalized legend explaining the sentiment of the location.

SHELLY KLEIN

BEST FOR THE COFFEE DRINKER

Cartoon mugs

These mugs are like caricatures but with functionality. They are personalized through your choices of skin tone, hair, and clothing color and also depict a name. There’s honestly no better way to ensure that your SO’s coffee mug never gets mixed up with someone else’s than putting their name and face on it.

SHUTTERFLY

BEST FOR KEEPING MEMORIES ALIVE

Photo book

No one has time to scrapbook anymore, but you can still have a personalized photo book with the same sentiment. Shutterfly gives the option to design your own book or have one of their designers curate it for you if you aren’t as artistically inclined. You have seven different sizes of photo books to choose from.

KASEY AND JUSTIN PEARSON

BEST FOR COUPLES WHO LOVE GAME NIGHT

Four-across game

This gift is for the ultimate cornballs. This personalized game gives Connect Four a love-filled makeover. Heart-shaped slots replace the traditional circle ones and your name and anniversary or a personalized message can be carved right into the middle of the game. The four-across game is great for some friendly competition.

LENOX

BEST FOR CLASSY DRINKING

Monogrammed glassware

Choose script or block letters for this monogrammed glassware to fit your style. The collection features a variety of glasses and drink accessories, so there’s something for your significant other no matter their drink of choice. Plus, drinking cheap wine or liquor instantly feels classier when consumed out of a monogrammed glass.

THE PAINTED PRESS

BEST FOR THE JEWELRY WEARER

Jewelry dish

This dish is minimalistic yet personal, making it suitable for virtually any Valentine. You have a few different personalization options with the dish — choose from initials, a name, phrase, or date. This gift is ideal for anyone who wears jewelry and doesn’t want to misplace it after taking it off.

MIGNONANDMIGNON

BEST FOR THE ASTROLOGY BUFF

Zodiac constellation necklace

Choose from three different metal hues when customizing this zodiac necklace. This piece comes with or without a charm depicting its recipient’s initial, so you’re able to add an extra touch of personalization. The unique design accentuated by crystals will add eye-catching bling to your SO’s neck.

SHUTTERFLY

BEST FOR GETTING COZY WITH YOUR LOVE

Photo blanket

Snuggle up this V-Day with a personalized photo blanket. Choose from two different size options (50" x 60" or 60" x 80") and three different material options (fleece, plush fleece, or sherpa) to create a cozy gift. Add a background, photos, and text to make something special and unique for your partner. 

ARTSYVOICEPRINT

BEST FOR THE MARRIED COUPLE

Sound wave print

This sentimental gift immortalizes your wedding day by depicting the sound waves of the song you and your spouse had your first dance to. Or you can choose any other song that has a special meaning to you. The song choice can be printed as text on the canvas as well. This would definitely be an interesting focus point to hang up on your wall. 

LOVEBOOK

BEST FOR BOOK LOVERS

Love story book

Everyone enjoys a good love story, whether it's Romeo and Juliet or Carrie and Big. So why not write one about your great love? Lovebook is a company that lets you build your own book of reasons why you love someone and you can even customize it to look like you. It's a super unique gift and one thing is for sure: There's no way your significant other already has one! (Unless they have one from an ex and in that case — awkward!)

IMAGE: NUAGEPRODUCTS

BEST FOR FLAUNTING YOUR LOVE

Phone case

With Apple Pay and Samsung Wallet, our phones have basically taken the place of our wallets — which means there's no where to slip that photo of you and your loved one anymore. The new-age version is having the photo covering your entire phone instead. A personalized phone case will be a great pick-me-up for your partner so they can glance down and quickly see those that they care about most. (AKA you and the kids.)

THE NIGHT SKY

BEST FOR THE NIGHT OWLS

Star Map

Whether it's the night your child was born or when you had your first kiss, you can now replicate the stars alignment of any night you choose and hang it up on your wall. We love this gift because not only is it super personal, but the maps themselves are beautiful art pieces that look great. For a super special gift, you could even choose three significant dates and hang them as a triptych above your bed.

M&M'S

BEST FOR THE SWEET TOOTH

Personalized M&M's candy

For the cherry on top, let them indulge in some M&M's that have been printed with a special, personalzied message or even a photo. Adorable packaging options include heart-shaped tins, champagne bottles and more. 

Pop Culture May Evolve at the Same Rate as Birds and Bugs

We like to think modern culture moves at a dizzying pace, fueled by a relentless parade of new works of music, literature, and technological design. Change in nature, by contrast, seems to follow a slower trajectory as genetic mutations over generations give animals bigger teeth, say, or a better camouflage. But maybe the opposite is true, and human culture doesn’t move so fast and we consumers are less eager to embrace change than we realize.

That’s the conclusion of a new study by a group of British researchers who analyzed rates of change for popular songs, English literature, scientific papers, and car design. Using metrics designed by evolutionary biologists, they compared the rates of cultural change to the rates of biological change for finches from the Galapagos Islands, two kinds of moths, and a common British snail. The result was kind of surprising: Biology and culture move at about the same speed.

“This tells you something profound about human psychology,” says Armand Leroi, an evolutionary biologist at Imperial College London. “We are surprisingly conservative about our choices, and what we like changes very slowly.”

The idea that culture evolves like animals and plants do has been around for a few decades. Most of the prior research, however, has looked at archaeological artifacts, such as the evolution of stone tools, arrowheads, or language. Leroi and his team wanted to look at the pace of change in modern cultural artifacts instead, to see if they could see differences between today and earlier civilizations.

The researchers took 17,000 Billboard Hot 100 songs between 1960 and 2010 and picked out 100 musical characteristics—whether or not the song included guitar-driven power chords, for example, a staccato rap beat, or a swell of strings backing up a love ballad. For cars, they looked at sixteen measurements of the vehicles’ size and power. For 19th-century literature (2,200 English, British and Irish novels) and 20th-century scientific papers (170,000 reports from the British Medical Journal), they tagged each work with one of 500 topical references.

They compared the cultural artifacts to the evolution of animals that are iconic in the world of evolutionary biology. The finches, for example, were the subject of a famous 40-year study that showed their beaks changed shape as drought and rainfall on the remote Galapagos Islands altered the birds’ food supply. The moths’ color changed over time as black soot from industrial England turned their tree bark habitat black in the 19th century, and it changed again when air pollution laws came into effect and the tree trunks returned to their normal color.

For both groups, Leroi’s team calculated a value reflecting the rate of evolutionary change. Their analysis showed the rate over time was similar for both groups. He goes so far as to suggest cultural artifacts can be viewed as organisms: They grow, change, and reproduce. “When we make something new, be it a scientific paper or an artwork, we take that thing and throw it into the world and it either lives or dies,” Leroi says. “Its success depends on whether people want it or not, just like natural selection.”

The paper outlining their research publishes today in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. But not everyone agrees with the conclusions. Charles Perrault, who studies human and cultural evolution at Arizona State University, published a 2012 study based on archaeological artifacts that concluded human culture moves 50 percent faster than biological evolution. This adaptive speed, he argues, was essential to humans’ ability to thrive in new ecosystems and increase their life spans.