Expressing love and affection through gift-giving can be daunting at times since, as we all know it too well, it's impossible to put emotions into things. However, you can never go wrong with a beautiful piece of jewelry for the special ones in your life.

Picking out the perfect one can be a bit challenging to those who lack confidence in gift choosing. But you are not alone. Many people have no idea where to start when picking out perfect presents for the precious women in their life. Of course, this especially goes for jewelry, especially since there are so many gorgeous choices.

What do you choose, and from which material? Unfortunately, it's not always easy to decide. That's why I made this comprehensive guide to help you choose the perfect gift for your special someone when it comes to the type of metal.

Gold vs. Silver

This debate has been going on for decades, so there was always some confusion about which metal to choose for jewelry. Traditionally, the color of the metal to wear was determined by skin tone and color. However, nowadays, you can go ahead and break such "style rules" if you wish. That said, you can still use these factors to help you get started.

Skin Tone and Color

Typically, skin tone has always played an essential role in choosing to wear gold or silver. Warmer skin color goes beautifully with gold metal, while cooler skin tones look incredible with silver metal.

I suggest looking at the veins of the person you are buying this gift for. People with blue veins on their wrist usually have cool skin color, while people with green veins ad darker skin tones are considered to have warm coloring. Rose gold works fantastically with every skin tone and color.

To be concise, the complexion of people with dark or olive skin tones radiates more with gold. That, of course, does not mean that fair-skinned should avoid wearing prestigious gold. Instead, they should look for the right shade of gold to complement their skin tone. Luckily, gold is such a versatile jewelry metal, and it comes in many styles and forms.

If you want to accentuate the beauty of a fair complexion, silver is undoubtedly the perfect way to go when it comes to jewelry. It will stunningly accentuate the skin. However, that does not mean that dark and olive-toned should avoid this metal. As it is with gold, mostly it's the matter of choosing the proper peace to create a beautiful, striking contrast.

So, the method mentioned above is an excellent way to choose the right metal type for your jewelry gift. However, not all of us can determine someone's skin tone and color quickly. Fortunately, there are several other factors you can consider to make the perfect choice. Some of those require that you've paid some attention to the lady and her style. If not, I'm hoping you're not doing this at the very last minute, so you can do your homework before choosing. So, pay close attention, and take note of the following.

What does she wear?

Look at the jewelry she typically likes to wear to grasp the idea of what she prefers. Then, make some notes; are her jewelry small and subtle, or does she choose statement, eye-catching pieces?

• Does she prefer silver or gold, or maybe a mix of those?

• Is she prone to wearing colored jewelry or simple plain metal pieces?

• Is there a dominant color on her jewelry choices? Does she have a preferred theme for designs?

• What specific styles does she typically choose when it comes to jewelry? For example, does she wear long or short, plain, or decorated jewelry?

Look at her make-up style

What type of make-up does this woman usually wear? Matching jewelry with make-up really is a thing, so it matters when choosing between silver or gold necklaces. As it is with metal, make-up is also determined by skin tone and color.

The key is to make sure that the make-up and jewelry complement each other. So, if you're a guy, you might have some problems with this. So let me help you.

If you're choosing a piece of jewelry for a woman, try and remember whether she is the one to go for a bold make-up look or prefers subtlety? If it's the latter, a bold statement piece might be a fantastic idea.

Additionally, you can try and match the jewelry by minding the tones of her make-up. If she uses warm and rich colors, trust me, gold could be such a beautiful addition.

On the other hand, if the woman you're gifting goes for cool colors for her make-up, you cannot go wrong with silver. Just be careful not to choose complicated designs that would look overwhelming with metallic make-up.

Think About Her Character

What type of person is the woman you're gifting? It might be very constructive to think about her character when picking out the perfect piece of jewelry. Why? Well, it plays a massive part in how she feels while wearing it. So, when choosing an ideal necklace for your extraordinary women, try answering these questions:

• Does she ever buy something special for herself? If not, how can you make up for that?

• Is she an outgoing, extrovert person, or she likes to keep to herself more? Is she a woman that wants to attract attention, or the opposite?

• Is she a woman that loves sentimental presents?

• What do you think she would love to get more - something to wear daily or a statement piece to wear on special occasions?

• Is she a type of woman that likes to dress up and go out, or is she more a stay at home with family and friends type of person?

What Does She Do in Life?

Think about this woman's day-to-day activities.

• What type of job she has? Is it even possible for her to wear dangly jewelry or statement pieces?

• Does she have small children that might make things a bit complicated when it comes to statement jewelry?

• Are there any potential special occasions coming up for which she's likely to dress up? (That is an excellent opportunity for you to swoop her off her feet with a nice piece of jewelry.)

All the factors mentioned above will help you make the best choice between gold and silver. However, there is still some technical stuff about these materials that you should consider when making a choice.

Which Has Better Quality - Silver vs. Gold

There is no denying the prestige of gold jewelry. It's common knowledge that gold is more expensive than silver because it's a more precious metal. It's as simple as that.

That said, there are less costly options for gold, such as gold filler or gold vermeil.

However, that does not mean silver can't be a perfect jewelry choice. There are different types of silver jewelry on the market, and some of those will undoubtedly grab the attention.

Sterling silver (.925) jewelry is an excellent example of that. It contains a high purity of sterling silver and just a tiny amount of metal alloys to strengthen its natural softness. Additionally, sterling silver is very durable, hypoallergenic, and, most importantly, timeless.

Durability

If you're looking for a gift to wear every day for a lifetime, you should opt for yellow or white gold. It's the best bet for long-standing durability and resistance to wear. On the other hand, if you're looking for an engagement ring, I recommend gold wholeheartedly.

Silver is much softer and prone to scratching. Also, with time, silver can change its shape, while gold is resistant to both impacts and wear and tear.

Affordability

If you're looking for a piece of perfect costume jewelry that goes great with any type of style, you cannot go wrong with silver. It's among the most affordable jewelry choices, with solid durability. However, if you need extra durability, choose white gold. It's more expensive than silver but cheaper than platinum.

Maintenance and Care

Owning a piece of jewelry does not go without care and maintenance every now and then. For example, both gold and silver require some sort of maintenance every few years. However, there is much more work to do to keep the silver jewelry looking new and sparkly.

Silver jewelry will require regular cleaning and polishing to prevent a tarnished look. But, if you choose sterling silver, you will avoid rusty jewelry, so that's a huge plus.

Why Not Mix and Match?

There was this old-style "rule"; never mix gold and silver jewelry. However, this one is out the window. Gold and silver together can look amazing! To start, pick a dominant color and then add highlights with another. Combining colors in layered necklaces are trendy nowadays, so don't be afraid to get crazy while picking. Good luck!