When it comes to gift buying, one of the most moving and personal gifts to give is jewellery. There is a fine art to choosing this type of present for someone, for a start you have to know them well, to understand their taste and make sure you get them something they will want to wear. As a gift, jewellery is something that is accepted and treasured and will last a person a lifetime, quite possibly becoming an heirloom. Precious stones are a favourite addition to good quality gold, but with so many settings and stones to choose from, how exactly should one go about finding the perfect gift for a loved one?

As a fashion editor I have over the years come to understand and appreciate the difference between novelty costume jewels and a timeless accessory. For fashion purposes, it is okay to pick up the occasional piece of cheap jewellery with mock stones as long as the quality is high. When it comes to a more grown up, or treasured item, then quality and authenticity is a must. Always use a reputable jeweller that deals in certificated stones and has a history of creating beautiful and classic yet unique designs. As far as gifts go, my favourites to give are diamond bracelets.

A diamond is regarded as a timeless and classic stone that holds its value as much as it's sparkle, and everyone remembers their first. For this reason a diamond bracelet as a sweet sixteen present is ideal ; it will catch the heart and eye of the birthday girl and remind her forever of the moment she felt grown up.

If you are looking for something a little more personal than just diamonds and the occasion is incredibly special, then the ultimate personalised gift is a birthday stone bracelet. Each sign of the zodiac corresponds with a certain gem, and each person has three of these signs in their birth chart at the time of birth (it is easy to find out what these are as long as you know the time and date of birth), and each stone has its own attributes. This makes a truly unique and personal gift that will be treasured forever.

Here is a list of the traditional birthstones with their holistic essences described; you can use it to create a birthday bracelet or to construct one with another meaning, bringing the wearer health, vitality, luck or love.

January, Garnet: Balances emotions and enhances the imagination. February, Amethyst: Good for meditation, brings inspiration, love and intuition into the wearers life. March, Jasper: Brings about spiritual grounding and is has rejuvenating effects on internal organs. April, Diamond: Symbolises purity and brings clarity to the wearer by enhancing energy levels.

May, Agate: This stone brings the wearer the courage to succeed and acceptance of one's fate. June, Emerald: Said to inspire love, this stone also brings prosperity to the wearer. July, Onyx: Good for bringing balance in a relationship or in a confused mind. August, Sapphire: Give this stone to inspire loyalty and enhance the psychic mind of the wearer.

September, Peridot: Reduces stress and stimulates the mind whilst bringing opportunities for success. October, Tourmaline: Good for those who suffer from bad dreams by dispelling fear and bringing calm. November, Topaz: This stone aids meditation by bringing tranquillity, allowing esoteric expression. December, Ruby: Strengthens mental health and fires up passion for an overall mind and body balance.