In this edition of The Gift, we talk about how the right set of matching gifts can spark joy long after the holidays. Plus: perfectly shaped bowls, the most luxurious presents Wirecutter recommends, and what to give a hard-to-please mom.
For the past few years, on Christmas morning, my two older sisters and I have all opened the exact same present from our mom: a glittering piece of matching jewelry. And while some might scoff that she’s taken the easy way out, quite the opposite is true. This gift is often my most special present of the year.
I know—it might seem in poor taste to get the same gift for more than one person. After all, isn’t good gifting about really knowing someone and hand-selecting just the right thing for them? Sometimes, yes. But there’s also real beauty in a shared gift that reinforces a bond—something that lets your recipients feel connected to one another. (And an added bonus: Gifting this way takes a bit of stress off the gift-giver, shortening what’s often a very long list this time of year.)
For me and my sisters, who have been matching since we were toddlers, jewelry is a no-brainer. Beyond the glitz, glam, and twinning of it all, each piece serves as a grown-up reminder of our connectedness. We’ve long outgrown the identical striped henleys that came in a six-pack from Sam’s Club we used to run around in together. But—at the risk of sounding like a bad Hallmark movie—we will always be that same little trio against the world. No matter how physically apart we are or how much we get swept up in the comings and goings of our own lives, an everyday heirloom reminder on our fingers or earlobes helps us remember that.
Also, importantly: These pieces are special, high-quality, and hand-selected. We usually pick them out all together and make a day of it with my mom, which is a gift unto itself. Over the years, she has gifted us:
- This very beautiful ring with a unique star design and a glimmering sparkle. It’s eye-catching and special, but still dainty and subtle enough that I can wear it daily. I’ve dubbed this one “the compliment magnet.”
- Bespoke signet rings with engravings of our initials. You can customize each ring with up to three letters in a font of your choosing. I like that signet rings have a classic timelessness to them, so they’re immune to the changing tides of trends.
- My personal favorite: our dainty bracelets of 2022. Mine is an elegant, understated chain with a single green gem, an accessory I never leave the house without. Here’s a very similar customizable one from Etsy.
Jewelry is a fail-safe for us, but what fosters yearlong connectedness might be different for you and yours. Narrow in on what that might be, then gift from there.
For head of newsletters Sofia Sokolove’s family, for example, it’s the kitchen: Nearly a decade ago, her mom gifted her and her two siblings the same set of “perfectly shaped” low bowls and a Nigella Lawson cookbook with an entire chapter dedicated to “bowl food.” Years later and states apart, they still text each other pictures of their meals in the bowls—which have held up remarkably well—and accompanying recipes. Or maybe your yard-obsessed husband, father, and brother-in-law all need the same smart bird feeder so they can capture pictures of their respective avian visitors for the group chat come spring.
Whatever direction you choose for a matching gift, make sure it’s something actually practical that will last for a long time—not a janky tchotchke that’ll get a few chuckles and then be forgotten come January. Bonus points, of course, if it’s sparkly.
If you need some inspiration, here are 36 gifts that will last forever (or extremely close).
