When it comes to gifting jewelry, it’s hard for an ordinary man to compete with certain celebs.

Consider David Beckham, who once gifted Victoria Beckham a Bulgari-made diamond and ruby necklace valued at roughly $8 million. Then there’s soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, who gave his longtime girlfriend and now freshly minted fiancée a soccer ball-size oval diamond engagement ring, and other jewelry gifts, valued in the millions.

These guys are taken, but there are plenty of others who may have smaller wallets, but their loving expressions pack just as much meaning. For inspiration, look to Taylor Swift’s own wardrobe of sentimental jewels—minus the new big rock on her hand (that’s another $$ number). Swift has a TNT necklace for Taylor and Travis, a T heart charm, more T initial jewels, ruby hearts, diamond huggie hoops, diamond tennis bracelets—all looks well within reach for the rest of us from a wide variety of makers.

Ostbye

Initials are one of the most popular items out of all forms of personalized jewelry, say manufacturers. Aadesh Zaveri, owner of Treliss Worldwide Inc., is among them.

“We make a lot of initial pendants with a lot of modifications like specific total weights, [initials] on lockets, and names as well—those are more custom,” he says. “Personalization is one of the most important categories because if someone is spending a certain dollar value, they are expecting quality and perceived value based on what they want and expect. Because we have a factory and design team, any design is possible and can be modified if it makes sense.”

Another unique type of initial jewel that’s gaining market momentum? Lab-grown diamond (LGD) initial necklaces, which are “a consistent best seller” for Paris 1901, a division of Prime Art & Jewel, according to Susie Wilty, director of sales.

“LGD initials, birthstone jewelry, and religious iconography continue to lead sales across all of our lines,” she continues. “These pieces offer a personalized blend of emotional significance and symbolic meaning, making them universally appealing.”

                Original Designs / ODI

After initials, birthstones and symbols—infinity silhouettes, love knots, zodiacs, crosses, hearts, and evil eyes—are meaningful options with wide appeal.

At Ostbye, birthstone pieces sell “very well,” according to Theresa Namie, merchandise manager, telling stories about family, friends, and events that when stacked and layered “have multiple meanings.”

Meanwhile, Original Designs/ ODI’s Precious Crush gemstone designs (crushed gems as opposed to solid individual stones) cover many colorways at even more accessible price points.

Specific colors, too, like red and pink, routinely send silent messages of love and warm thoughts. This is why Lali Jewelry has added ruby, pink sapphire, and morganite pieces—and some rose gold—to its line.

Other jewelry sentiments include phrases and titles. Consider Original Designs/ ODI’s Impressions line of customized pendants featuring laser-engraved fingerprints in a range of sizes. Original Designs/ ODI’s  ‘I Love You to the Moon & Back’ collection features “universal expressions of love that can be used in a variety of relationships, from romantic to familial to platonic,” explains Valerie Fletcher, vice president of design and product development. “You are my Sunshine is a close second in popularity.”

Prime Art & Jewel

Designs for parents, too, fall into the wide spectrum of personalized gifts.

“The script Mama necklace is a beautiful and heartfelt choice,” observes Wilty. “Jewelry becomes more than an accessory—it tells a story or represents a relationship. Even if it’s a gift for yourself, these moments of self-expression are an opportunity to show the world around you who you are and what’s most important to you. Looking ahead, we’re excited to be developing a more direct and immersive personalization experience—including innovations like 3D imaging and AI-generated artwork that can be visually customized in real time.”