8 Best Holiday Jewelry Gifts from Brilliant Earth

Holiday shopping for jewelry gets harder every year. There are hundreds of styles, half a dozen metals, and prices that jump from $100 to $10,000 in a single scroll.

I’ve spent over 25 years reviewing diamond and jewelry stores, and Brilliant Earth is where I keep sending people for holiday gifts. The selection covers real budgets, not just the high end. The pieces are well made. And every diamond meets Brilliant Earth’s Beyond Conflict Free™ standard, a sourcing bar most stores don’t even try to clear.

I went through Brilliant Earth’s holiday collection and picked eight pieces that cover different styles, prices, and people on your list. Here they are, starting at $250 and topping out under $1,700.

A few of these work for almost anyone on your list. A couple are built with him in mind. One ties into a conservation partnership if you want the gift to carry a little more meaning. None of them need you to already know a ring size or a favorite designer, which is what makes holiday shopping stressful in the first place.

Bottom Line Up Front

If you only read one section, read this one.

For a first gift or someone hard to shop for, the Hydrangea Bouquet Pendant ($395) packs four genuine stones into one necklace and works for almost anyone on your list.

For the guy on your list, the Homme Engravable Round Cufflinks ($250) can be personalized with initials and cost less than a nice dinner out.

Want to go bigger? The Sol Starburst Diamond Ring ($1,650) and the Perfect Solitaire Lab Diamond Pendant ($1,495) both make a real statement without crossing $1,700.

Now let’s get into all eight.

Here’s What We’ll Cover:

• Necklace Gifts
• Bracelet Gifts
• Ring Gifts
• Charm Gifts
• Cufflink Gifts
• In Summary
• FAQ

Necklace Gifts

A necklace works for almost everyone on your list. It layers, it stacks, and it doesn’t need a size. That makes it one of the lowest-risk categories on this whole list.

Hydrangea Bouquet Pendant

Price: $395

Available in: silver, 14K yellow gold

This necklace clusters four different stones together. London Blue topaz, a sapphire, an aquamarine, and a natural diamond. The mix of color gives it more depth than a single-stone pendant, without looking cluttered.

At $395 in silver, this is one of the more affordable pieces on this list that still uses a genuine diamond and genuine gemstones. It also works as a birthstone gift if she was born in September (sapphire) or March (aquamarine). Even if she wasn’t, it holds up as a necklace that looks different from everything else out there.

The design comes from Brilliant Earth’s own design team in San Francisco.

Jane Goodall Leaf Lab Diamond Pendant Necklace

Price: $1,095

Available in: 14K yellow gold

This pendant is shaped like a banana leaf and was designed as part of Brilliant Earth’s collaboration with conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. It’s made from repurposed gold and lab grown diamonds grown from carbon captured before it reaches the atmosphere. The chain adjusts to 16, 17, or 18 inches.

For every piece sold from this collection, Brilliant Earth donates 10% of net proceeds to the Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation Fund, which supports conservation and education work.

If the person on your list cares about where their jewelry comes from and what it supports, this is a necklace with a story built in, not bolted on.

At $1,095, it’s priced in line with other pieces on this list of similar size and metal weight. The difference here is the partnership behind it, which is worth knowing if the gift is for someone who follows Dr. Goodall’s conservation work.

Perfect Solitaire Lab Diamond Pendant (1 ct. tw.)

Price: $1,495

Available in: 18K yellow gold, 18K white gold

This is about as classic as a necklace gets. A single one carat lab grown diamond, colorless with an Excellent cut grade, set on a chain that adjusts to 16, 17, or 18 inches. No extra metal, no distractions from the stone.

Lab grown diamonds are chemically and visually identical to natural diamonds. The only difference is where they come from, and that difference is what makes a one carat stone like this possible at $1,495 instead of a price that runs well past it in natural.

If the person on your list wants one piece she can wear every single day for the rest of her life, this is the one to put under the tree.

Bracelet Gifts

Bracelets are visible in a way that necklaces and earrings sometimes aren’t. That makes them a strong pick when you want a gift that gets noticed.

1/5 Coverage Petite Lab Diamond Tennis Bracelet (1/4 ct. tw.)

Price: $495

Available in: 14K yellow gold, 14K white gold

A full tennis bracelet wraps diamonds all the way around the wrist. This one covers about a fifth of it, which keeps the look light without losing the sparkle. The bracelet adjusts to 6, 6.5, or 7 inches.

Lab grown diamonds are what make a piece like this possible for under $500 in solid 14K gold. That’s a real bracelet, not a plated one, and it stacks well with a watch or other bracelets.

This is a strong pick if you want to give jewelry without spending four figures on it.

Petite Lab Diamond Tennis Bracelet (1 1/2 ct. tw.)

Price: $995

Available in: 14K yellow gold, 14K white gold

This one goes full coverage. One and a half carats total weight of lab grown diamonds wrap all the way around the wrist in a slim, low profile setting. The stones are smaller and set close together, which gives it a polished, everyday look instead of a flashy one.

A comparable tennis bracelet in natural diamonds would run two to three times this price. Lab grown diamonds are what keep this one under $1,000 while still delivering a full carat and a half of sparkle.

It fits most wrists and wears well under a sleeve or on its own.

Ring Gifts

Sol Starburst Diamond Ring

Price: $1,650

Available in: 14K yellow gold, 14K white gold

Eight bezel-set natural diamonds sit in a starburst pattern around a 6mm band. The bezel setting wraps a thin rim of metal around each stone, which protects the diamonds and gives the ring a more solid, modern look than a row of prongs would.

This ring is part of Brilliant Earth’s Sol Collection, built around celestial and sun-inspired designs. It works as a stand-alone statement ring or stacked next to a solitaire or a plain metal band.

At $1,650 with 0.07 total carat weight in natural diamonds, you’re paying for the design and the eight-stone setting more than the carat weight, and it shows in how the ring looks on the hand.

This is a good gift for someone who already has an engagement ring and wants something to wear on another finger, or for anyone who likes stacking rings but wants a piece with a little more personality than a plain band.

Charm Gifts

Heart Diamond Charm (1/10 ct. tw.)

Price: $495

Available in: 14K yellow gold

A solid gold heart with five flush-set natural diamonds across the face and milgrain detail around the edge. The bail clips onto most chain styles without tools, so it works with a chain she already owns or a new one you give alongside it.

Flush settings sit the diamonds flat and even with the gold surface. That’s a design choice, but it’s also practical. Flush-set stones don’t snag on clothing and they hold up well to daily wear.

At $495 in solid 14K gold with natural diamonds, this is the kind of charm that actually gets worn instead of stored in a box. It’s also different from what most people would buy for themselves, which is part of what makes it a good gift.

Cufflink Gifts

Homme Engravable Round Cufflinks

Price: $250

Available in: silver

These round cufflinks have beveled edges and a flat face you can engrave with initials, a date, or a short word. They’re part of Brilliant Earth’s Homme collection, a men’s line built around clean bevels and high polish edges.

Cufflinks are one of the easier gifts to get right, since there’s no sizing involved and they work with any suit he already owns. The engraving option is what turns a nice accessory into something he’ll actually hold onto.

At $250 in silver, this is the lowest price on this list, and it still delivers a solid, wearable gift that fits in a stocking.

In Summary

Holiday jewelry doesn’t have to be complicated. Figure out who you’re shopping for, set a budget, and pick something built to last past the season.

Brilliant Earth’s holiday collection covers a real range, from $250 cufflinks to a $1,650 diamond ring, with strong options in between. Every piece here uses genuine diamonds or gemstones and solid precious metals, not plated ones. None of it is a novelty gift.

Brilliant Earth also has 40+ stores across the US where you can see any of these pieces in person before you buy. If you’re not sure about sizing, or you just want to hold it in your hand first, you can book an appointment and a jeweler will walk you through it.

And if the holidays sneak up on you, Brilliant Earth ships fast enough that most of these pieces can still land under the tree.

FAQ

Is jewelry a good holiday gift?

Yes. Jewelry lasts well past the holidays, unlike most gifts that get used up or forgotten by January. A well made necklace or bracelet will look the same in ten years. It’s also the kind of thing a lot of people don’t buy for themselves, which makes it feel more thoughtful.

How much should I spend on holiday jewelry?

That depends on your budget and who you’re buying for, but you can find solid options at almost any price. Brilliant Earth has pieces starting at $250, like the Homme Engravable Round Cufflinks, and strong choices up through $1,650 for something like the Sol Starburst Diamond Ring. Spend what fits your budget. The quality holds up across the range.

What are good holiday jewelry gifts under $500?

Look at charms, small pendants, and partial-coverage tennis bracelets. The Hydrangea Bouquet Pendant ($395), the Heart Diamond Charm ($495), and the 1/5 Coverage Petite Lab Diamond Tennis Bracelet ($495) all come in under $500 and use genuine stones and solid metals.

Are lab grown diamonds a good choice for a holiday gift?

Yes. Lab grown diamonds are chemically and visually identical to natural diamonds. The only difference is where they come from. That difference is what makes pieces like the Petite Lab Diamond Tennis Bracelet or the Perfect Solitaire Lab Diamond Pendant possible at a lower price than a comparable natural diamond piece.

What jewelry makes a good gift for someone hard to shop for?

A charm or a pendant with several small stones tends to work well, since it’s personal without needing you to know an exact style or ring size. The Hydrangea Bouquet Pendant is a good example. It combines four different stones, so it works across birth months and tastes.

What are good jewelry gifts for men?

Cufflinks, chains, and simple bracelets are the safest picks for men, since they don’t require a ring size and work with clothes he already owns. The Homme Engravable Round Cufflinks are a solid, affordable option that can be personalized with initials.

Can I see these pieces in person before buying?

Yes. Brilliant Earth has 40+ store locations across the US where you can book an appointment and see any of these pieces in person. A jeweler can walk you through sizing, metal options, and how a piece looks in hand before you commit.

About the author

Mike Fried Mike Fried has over 25 years experience in the diamond industry working with Leo Schachter Diamonds, Moshe Namdar Diamonds, and joining The Diamond Pro in 2007. He is recognized as an industry expert and has been quoted in publications such as Us, People, Page Six, The Next Web and more.