Naturally, the gift comes wrapped by the jeweler. It should be left that way. A precious jewel will be encased in a fine leather or velvet box. To this, the jeweler has given considerable thought, selecting shape, size, color, and material that will display the particular jewel to best advantage. Often, when I design a piece of jewelry, I am asked to suggest how to package it for presentation. The box, then, is a carefully chosen background for the jewel.
For an especially significant gift, it can be arranged to have the box embossed in gold with the initials or name of the person receiving it, and the date of the special occasion.
Without taking the jewel out of its wrapping and box, there are many ways in which an added personal arrangement may grace the giving. The jewelry box, for instance, may be adorned with a single rose, or a few of the lady’s favorite flowers, or flowers associated with a mutual memory. Or the florist may be asked to place the jewelry box inside the cellophane box that holds a corsage or an orchid. The flower brings its own pleasure, then multiplied by the surprise of the jewel.
The sweet tingle of surprise may also be increased by enclosing the jewelry box in a larger one, which disguises the typical shape of the gift box. If the gift is a bracelet, it might well be tucked into a glove box, along with a pair of gloves. Or the jewel may be innocently placed in a drawer of a little antique jewelry case; on opening the attractive case, behold! the attractive jewel.
At Christmas time, the box can be set upon the tree. Still more appealing would be a separate tree, such as those little artificial ones, the sole ornament of which is the box with the proffered jewel.
In the Middle Ages, when jewels were thought to have special powers to preserve health, to ward off evil, they were thus effective only when received as a gift. The gift of jewels still has a special power, beyond the intrinsic value of the gems carrying the weight of love, establishing a memento and sustaining the sentiments that build into happy lives.
48. PORTRAIT OF H. H. INDIRA DEVI. The Maharani of Cooch Behar holds a famous necklace of rare ruby beads with two large clasps made of diamonds.