The Cultural Norms of Gifting Jewelry

If you're planning to give jewelry as a gift AND you're not certain about the recipient's cultural background, you're smart to do a little research first. In this post we provide an overview of how gifting jewelry is perceived by different cultures. If you have additional questions please leave a comment and we'll do our best to answer.

Cultures Where Jewelry Gifting Is Common

There are many cultures that commonly gift jewelry, but some of the most notable include:

• Indian culture: Jewelry is a very important part of Indian culture, and it is often given as a gift for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and festivals. Indian jewelry is often made with precious metals such as gold and silver, and it is often decorated with gemstones such as rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
• Chinese culture: Jewelry is also very important in Chinese culture, and it is often given as a gift for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and the Lunar New Year. Chinese jewelry is often made with precious metals such as gold and silver, and it is often decorated with gemstones such as jade, pearls, and coral.
• Japanese culture: Jewelry is not as common in Japanese culture as it is in Indian and Chinese culture, but it is still sometimes given as a gift for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and New Year's Day. Japanese jewelry is often made with precious metals such as gold and silver, and it is often decorated with gemstones such as pearls and coral.
• Arabic culture: Jewelry is also very important in Arabic culture, and it is often given as a gift for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and the month of Ramadan. Arabic jewelry is often made with precious metals such as gold and silver, and it is often decorated with gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.

There are a few cultures that do not typically gift jewelry. These cultures include:

• Western cultures: In Western cultures, jewelry is not as commonly gifted as it is in other cultures. This is likely due to the fact that Western cultures are more individualistic, and people are more likely to buy jewelry for themselves rather than receive it as a gift.
• Some African cultures: In some African cultures, jewelry is seen as a symbol of wealth and status, and it is typically only gifted to people who have achieved a certain level of success.
• Some Native American cultures: In some Native American cultures, jewelry is seen as a sacred object, and it is only gifted to people who have earned it through their actions.

It is important to note that these are just generalizations, and there are always exceptions to the rule. There are many people in Western cultures who do gift jewelry, and there are many people in African and Native American cultures who do not. It is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid gifting jewelry if you are not sure of the cultural norms.