Man-gagement Gift Tips from San Diego Jeweler's Exchange

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The whimsical month of February was undoubtedly filled with numerous romantic engagements - literally.

He popped the question, dropped the year's salary, and now she is showing off her new sparkly ice about San Diego. But, besides the woman of his dreams, what does he have to show for the pending wedding ceremony?

The 2008 era of romance in San Diego announces the all new man-gagement gifts, just a touch of bling for the modern man.

Man-gagement gifts are presents women can give their fiancés to show how much the engagement means in return. Following Valentine's Day in San Diego, this old American tradition is coming back into style with many more choices than the latter days. Man-gagement gifts have typically been given either a couple months before the wedding or actually at the wedding ceremony. But we say there are no rules or limits to how or when you should treat your man in 2008.

Knowing that your new rock set your man back a year's salary, or more, and putting the sweet proposal into perspective - it's time to ask yourself: What price are you willing to pay for a gift for your new fiancé?

Expert jewelers from the San Diego Jeweler's Exchange in Downtown San Diego gave us some hip and trendy tips for gifts women can purchase to pamper their fiancés, from high-end Rolex watches to the more modest and personalized cufflinks. No need to worry if the bling you eye for your man isn't matching your bank - the Jewelry Exchange offers most must-have items for far less than you will find at a big name jewelry stores in San Diego.

Mo and Arash Massimi at Mayssami Diamonds offer gifts for both men and women including watches, bracelets, rings, chains, cufflinks, and money clips. These men are very knowledgeable about the current and classic trends in jewelry and can assist in making the perfect choice for your man-gagement gift.

Mayssami carries various brands of watches, catering to different budgets, ranging from new high-end watches to gently worn second-hand watches as their main focus. Rolex watches are very popular in San Diego, and the Swiss-made Patek Philippe watches are also rising in popularity. Philippe watches take one to three years to build, and have a varied amount of imbedded jewels, making the mechanism operate smoothly.

Mayssami Jewelers recommends the Submariner Rolex watch for a man-gagement gift this year. The Submariner is a trendy diving watch that is not too flashy, appealing to your subtle man. This watch comes in the following designs: stainless steel with a jet black face, steel with a green rotating bezel or a two-tone version with 18 karat gold in the center, surrounded by stainless steel with a blue face. The Submariner comes complete with a wetsuit extension link, quickset date calendar, and a sapphire crystal. Not only will these watches keep your man in style, they can also survive 1,000 feet below the ocean's surface. Did someone say honeymoon?

The Daytona Rolex is an extremely rare design and comes in stainless steel (which can withstand the harshest of environments) with a black dial, luminous hour markers, and a sapphire crystal. A favorite of professional drivers, hence the name "Daytona," it calculates average speeds and lap times to satisfy your athletic beau. Other versions of this favorite include an 18 karat white gold Daytona with diamond-paved dial and baguette-set bezel, the 18 karat white gold with a leather band, meteorite dial, and steel accents, and the 18 karat yellow gold Daytona with engraved bezel.

For a sentimental touch, visit Jack Family for dependable engraving services. Bring your man-gagement gift to Jack Family and communicate your engraving desire. Whether you buy your man a piece of jewelry, a money clip, belt buckle, picture frame, or flask - Jack will find the perfect fit for a personalized sentiment.

Choosing either block letters or script, Jack engraves notes such as "Love Will Keep Us Together," "Now We Are One," and the Hebrew phrase "I am my beloved and my beloved is mine." Jack has a book of phrases through which you can peruse, although you are encouraged to dream up your own phrase. A great man-gagement gift to give your fiancé is to get his ring engraved with a phrase to remind him of your special day. For extra shock-factor - surprise your man with personalized engravings at the ceremony.

For custom jewelry to fit your unconventional hubby-to-be, visit Tim Meir at Timothy Meier, who creates edgy designs for men who are businessmen by day but live a youthful lifestyle by night. Cufflinks are making a huge comeback this year and he makes heavier dark silver cuff links, which are a nice alternative to the traditional ones. Dave Navarro and Sting can even be seen wearing his jewelry. Cufflinks that act as lockets to fit pictures make great man-gagement gifts, allowing him to stay forever with you and wear his heart on his sleeve.

The San Diego Jeweler's Exchange can supply you with the perfect gift for you main man, whether you choose a watch, cufflinks or an engraved piece of jewelry. Though he may not have been dreaming of this moment since he was a little boy, receiving a man-gagement gift from the woman of his dreams will mean more to him than you know.

861 6th Avenue

San Diego, CA 92101

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Photo credit: Ramona D'Viola