Jewellery News and Reviews

As you begin shopping for holiday gifts this Christmas, start out with an organized list and a budget. Next, consider the person on your list for personality traits and do a Google search for something like “Gifts for readers,” “Gifts for travelers” or “Gifts for engineers.” For an excellent resource where you can search for the men, women, seniors and teens in your life, try www.gifts.com/ideas/holiday.

Electronics are big for Christmas gifts, making up 4/10 of the top wish list items for 2008 (Consumer Electronics Holiday Purchase Patterns Study). Nearly 80% of adults and 84% of kids said they’d like an electronic gift this year. So what’s hot for this Christmas season? Computers, video game consoles, portable MP3 players, mobile phones and digital cameras topped this year’s Christmas wish list. For computers, check out laptops at www.dell.com, where you can find products for as low as $376.

The Nintendo Wii is still the game console of choice this year, with its wide array of fun virtual-reality-type games. The price has come down a lot over the years, retailing for around $300. The X-Box 360 is another good option for the gamer. In the world of portable MP3 players, iPods still reign supreme, retailing between $149 and $300. The iTouch is the most coveted mobile phone on the market for 2008, known for its touchscreen, application support and versatility. For cameras, check out the Canon PowerShot series, where you can find great value for under $300. The Nikon SLR cameras have come down in price a lot and the Sony CyberShot is said to be a good buy as well for that perfect Christmas gift.

Even if you’ve been with someone for years and years, finding holiday gifts for a spouse or long-term partner can be difficult. While a thoughtful, personalized Christmas present is always preferred, there are some gifts that just can’t fail. For that special lady on your list, a Movado watch is a timeless gift that functions as a piece of jewelry, a symbol of your enduring love and a functional item. Girls also like gadgets just as much as guys, so something like the Canon PowerShot series camera, the Apple iPod Touch or a Garmin auto GPS system are always cool gifts. If your lover is a merry baker, then every woman deep down craves a KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer. Women also love a thoughtfully planned trip, whether it is a cruise or a gift certificate for www.bedandbreakfast.com. A day at the spa gift certificate and show tickets are also big winners for the high-powered, successful woman in your life.

A 2008 study by Home Electronics Journal found surprising similarities in affluent holiday gifts lists and the under $100,000 income bracket lists. A quarter of those making more than $100,000/year are hoping to receive flat panel plasma TVs this Christmas season. Another quarter would like a laptop and 25.1% would like a DVR/TiVo. For those making less than $100,000, the preferred gifts are flat panel LCD TVs (31.4%), laptops (27.2%) and flat panel plasma TVs (23.9%). “Consumers have more interest than dollars to spend,” says Roy Weiss, publisher of Home Electronics Journal.