Some jewelry purchases begin with a diamond size, a gold karat or a particular style.
Children’s jewelry usually begins with a story.
“My granddaughter is being baptized.”
“She just got her ears pierced.”
“It’s his First Communion.”
“She’s turning one.”
“I want to give her something she can keep.”
At Arezzo Jewelers, those are some of our favorite conversations because fine children’s jewelry is rarely just an accessory. It often represents a birthday, a religious celebration, a family tradition or one of the first meaningful gifts a child will someday remember receiving.
From tiny gold earrings and engravable ID bracelets to religious medals, crosses and birthstone jewelry, the right piece can celebrate a moment today while becoming part of a family’s story for years to come.
What Is Children’s Fine Jewelry?
Children’s fine jewelry is real jewelry designed with younger wearers in mind.
Rather than costume or fashion jewelry, fine children’s jewelry is made from precious materials such as 14K or 18K gold and may include genuine gemstones, cultured pearls, enamel or other fine-jewelry details.
The proportions are typically smaller and more appropriate for children. Depending on the piece, designs may also incorporate features such as threaded screw-back earrings, lever-back closures or adjustable bracelet lengths.
Popular types of children’s fine jewelry include:
- Gold stud earrings
- Gold dangle and lever-back earrings
- Children’s ID bracelets
- Birthstone jewelry
- Crosses and crucifixes
- Religious medals
- Personalized pendants
- Engravable jewelry
- Small gold necklaces and pendants
- Keepsake jewelry for babies and young children
The important distinction is that these pieces are chosen not simply because they are cute, but because they are intended to have lasting meaning.
You can explore our children’s jewelry collection online or visit us in Elmwood Park to see additional styles.
Why Give a Child Fine Jewelry?
Toys get outgrown. Clothes become too small. Electronics are replaced.
Fine jewelry is different.
A little gold bracelet given at a baptism may eventually end up in a keepsake box. A pair of earrings received from a grandmother may still carry emotional significance decades later. A First Communion cross may someday be passed to another generation.
That is one of the reasons families have given children gold jewelry for generations.
The monetary value matters, but the emotional value often becomes far greater.
Fine jewelry can commemorate a specific moment while giving the child something tangible that connects them to the person who gave it to them.
Jewelry for a New Baby
The arrival of a new baby is often the first occasion when families begin looking for children’s jewelry.
Parents, grandparents and godparents frequently choose keepsake gifts that can be saved until the child is old enough to wear or appreciate them.
Popular new-baby jewelry gifts include:
- Engravable gold ID bracelets
- Birthstone jewelry
- Gold crosses or religious medals
- Personalized pendants
- Small gold earrings
- Initial jewelry
An engraved bracelet can become particularly meaningful when personalized with the baby’s name, initials, birth date or another important detail.
Instead of simply commemorating the day a child was born, the jewelry becomes a physical reminder of it.
Baptism and Christening Jewelry
Baptisms and christenings have a long tradition of being celebrated with jewelry, particularly within Catholic, Christian and many Italian-American families.
Gold crosses, crucifixes, guardian angel medals and other religious pieces are popular because they connect the gift directly to the meaning of the occasion.
A godparent may choose a cross. A grandparent might select a religious medal. Parents may choose an engravable bracelet to commemorate the baptism date.
These pieces often become especially sentimental because they represent both faith and the relationship between the person giving the gift and the child receiving it.
At Arezzo Jewelers, our Italian heritage makes religious gold jewelry especially close to our heart. Many of the pieces we carry reflect generations of Italian goldsmithing and religious tradition.
Browse our religious jewelry collection for crosses, crucifixes, medals and other meaningful gifts.
First Birthday Jewelry
A first birthday deserves something memorable.
While the one-year-old probably won’t appreciate the jewelry quite yet, that isn’t necessarily the point.
Fine jewelry given on a first birthday is often intended to become a keepsake that parents preserve until the child is ready to wear it.
Gold ID bracelets, birthstone pieces, initials and small religious pendants are all meaningful options.
Adding engraving can make the piece even more personal.
Years later, being able to say, “Your grandparents gave you this for your first birthday,” gives the jewelry a story that cannot be recreated.
A Child’s First Pair of Fine Earrings
For many girls, getting their ears pierced is one of their earliest introductions to jewelry.
Choosing their first pair of fine earrings can make the experience even more memorable.
Children’s gold earrings are available in everything from simple polished gold balls and tiny gemstones to hearts, flowers, animals, religious symbols and colorful enamel designs.
But style isn’t the only consideration.
Choosing an Earring Back
For younger children, the earring closure deserves just as much consideration as the design.
Threaded screw-back earrings are popular because the backing twists onto the post rather than simply pushing into place.
Lever-back earrings provide another secure option for certain dangle-style designs.
No earring closure is completely loss-proof, but selecting a design specifically made for children can help provide a better combination of proportion, comfort and security.
As children grow older, traditional stud earrings and other fine-jewelry styles can gradually become part of their collection.
First Communion Jewelry
A First Holy Communion is one of the most traditional occasions for giving a child fine religious jewelry.
Gold crosses and crucifixes remain classic choices, but families may also consider:
- Miraculous Medals
- Guardian angel medals
- Saint medals
- Religious bracelets
- Cross earrings
- Personalized religious jewelry
For many families, these pieces become permanent reminders of the child’s faith and an important moment in their upbringing.
Italian gold religious jewelry is particularly meaningful for families who want to combine faith with Italian heritage and tradition.
Confirmation and Other Religious Milestones
As children get older, Confirmation and other religious milestones provide an opportunity to choose something they can wear well beyond childhood.
Instead of a very small children’s piece, families may begin selecting jewelry that can transition into the teenage years and eventually adulthood.
A timeless gold cross, saint medal, birthstone pendant or classic bracelet can commemorate the occasion while becoming part of the recipient’s permanent jewelry collection.
Birthdays, Graduations and Personal Achievements
Not every milestone has to be traditional.
Children accomplish things worth celebrating all the time.
Maybe she completed her first dance recital. Maybe he made the honor roll. Maybe she won a competition.
Perhaps it is a milestone birthday, graduation or simply a moment when a parent or grandparent wants to say, “We’re proud of you.”
Fine jewelry can mark those moments without feeling temporary.
Birthstones, initials, symbolic pendants and small gold bracelets are especially well suited to achievement gifts because they can be personalized around the individual child.
As children become teenagers, these gifts can gradually evolve into more sophisticated fine jewelry.
Why Italian Gold Makes a Meaningful Children’s Gift
Italian gold holds a special place at Arezzo Jewelers.
Our store takes its name from Arezzo, Tuscany, one of Italy’s historic centers of gold jewelry manufacturing, and Italian-made jewelry has been an important part of our family business for decades.
Italian jewelry manufacturers are known for combining traditional goldsmithing with precision manufacturing, detailed finishing and distinctive design.
That craftsmanship is especially appealing in children’s jewelry, where even a small piece can contain beautiful detail.
A tiny pair of enamel earrings, a delicate religious medal or a miniature bracelet may be small in scale, but it can still reflect the craftsmanship associated with Italian fine jewelry.
For families with Italian heritage, the connection can make the gift even more personal.
It isn’t simply gold jewelry.
It can be a small piece of tradition.
Learn more about our passion for Italian gold jewelry .
Is 14K or 18K Gold Better for Children’s Jewelry?
Both 14K and 18K gold are genuine gold and can be excellent choices for children’s fine jewelry.
14K Gold
14K gold contains approximately 58.5% pure gold and is widely used for everyday fine jewelry.
Because it contains a greater proportion of strengthening alloy metals than 18K gold, it generally offers a good balance of durability, beauty and value.
That makes 14K gold a practical choice for children’s earrings, bracelets and jewelry intended to be worn regularly.
18K Gold
18K gold contains 75% pure gold.
It has a richer gold color and higher precious-metal content and is particularly popular in fine Italian jewelry.
For a special keepsake, religious gift or piece intended to carry significant sentimental value, 18K gold can be a beautiful choice.
There isn’t one correct answer.
The better option depends on the design, how frequently it will be worn, the child’s age, the occasion and your personal preference.
For a deeper explanation of karats, purity and different types of gold, see our Gold Jewelry Guide .
What Should You Look for When Buying Children’s Jewelry?
When shopping for a child, look beyond the appearance of the jewelry.
Choose the Right Size
Children’s wrists, ears and necks are obviously smaller than adults’, so proper proportions matter.
A bracelet that is too loose can snag or fall off, while one that is too tight will quickly become uncomfortable as the child grows.
Whenever possible, have the child measured or ask a jeweler to help determine an appropriate size.
Pay Attention to Closures
Look at how earrings, bracelets and necklaces fasten.
Secure clasps, threaded earring backs and properly constructed closures can make a significant difference, particularly with jewelry that will be worn regularly.
Consider How the Child Will Wear It
A keepsake that will only be worn for special occasions can be approached differently from earrings intended for everyday use.
Age, activity level and maturity should all be considered.
Very young children require particular care because jewelry components can be small. Always follow the manufacturer’s age recommendations and product guidance, and remember that children’s jewelry is jewelry—not a toy.
Ask About Metal Allergies or Sensitivities
If a child has experienced reactions to jewelry before, mention it to your jeweler.
Gold jewelry is made from gold combined with other metals, and the exact alloy can vary depending on karat, color and manufacturer.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
Children don’t need a jewelry box full of fine jewelry.
One thoughtfully chosen piece with a meaningful story behind it can be far more special than a collection of inexpensive accessories.
Personalizing Children’s Jewelry
Personalization is one of the easiest ways to transform a beautiful piece of jewelry into something uniquely theirs.
Depending on the piece, engraving possibilities may include:
- A child’s name
- Initials
- Birth date
- Baptism date
- First Communion date
- A short message
- A religious symbol
At Arezzo Jewelers, we offer professional engraving services and can help determine what personalization will work best for a particular piece.
Even something as simple as a name and date can turn a small gold bracelet into a family keepsake.
Children’s Jewelry Can Become Tomorrow’s Heirloom
Not every piece of jewelry needs to be an heirloom when it is purchased.
Sometimes it simply becomes one.
A bracelet gets tucked away after a child outgrows it.
Years pass.
One day that child becomes a parent.
Suddenly the little bracelet sitting in a jewelry box has meaning all over again.
That’s one of the wonderful things about fine jewelry. Its story doesn’t necessarily end when the original wearer outgrows it.
Well-made children’s jewelry can be preserved, restored and potentially passed from one generation to the next.
Fine Children’s Jewelry at Arezzo Jewelers in Elmwood Park
At Arezzo Jewelers, we believe children’s jewelry should be chosen with the same care as any other piece of fine jewelry.
Our collection includes children’s earrings, bracelets and meaningful gold gifts, including a variety of 14K and 18K gold and Italian-made styles.
Whether you’re shopping for a new baby, birthday, baptism, First Communion, Confirmation or another important milestone, our team can help you compare materials, sizing, closures, engraving options and styles to find something appropriate for the child and meaningful for the occasion.
We are a family-owned jeweler serving Elmwood Park and the greater Chicago area, with a particular passion for Italian gold and jewelry meant to celebrate the moments families remember.
Frequently Asked Questions About Children’s Jewelry
What is the best jewelry gift for a child?
The best choice depends on the child’s age and the occasion. Children’s gold earrings, ID bracelets, birthstone jewelry, crosses, religious medals and personalized pendants are among the most popular fine-jewelry gifts. For milestone occasions, choosing something connected to the event often makes the gift more meaningful.
Is 14K gold good for children’s jewelry?
Yes. 14K gold is a popular choice for children’s fine jewelry because it combines genuine gold with good durability for regular wear. It contains approximately 58.5% pure gold.
Is 18K gold good for children’s jewelry?
Yes. 18K gold contains 75% pure gold and has a richer gold color than 14K. It is frequently used in Italian fine jewelry and can be an excellent choice for keepsake pieces and special milestone gifts.
What jewelry should I give for a baptism or christening?
Gold crosses, crucifixes, religious medals, guardian angel pendants and engravable gold bracelets are traditional baptism and christening gifts. Godparents and grandparents often choose pieces that the child can keep as a lifelong reminder of the occasion.
What jewelry is appropriate for a First Communion?
A gold cross or crucifix is the traditional First Communion gift, but saint medals, Miraculous Medals, religious bracelets and cross earrings can also be meaningful options.
Are screw-back earrings good for children?
Threaded screw-back earrings can be an excellent option for children because the back threads onto the post rather than simply pushing into place. Proper fit is still important, and no earring backing should be considered impossible to lose.
At what age can a child wear fine jewelry?
There is no single age that applies to every child or every type of jewelry. Consider the child’s maturity, the size and design of the jewelry, how it will be worn and any manufacturer age recommendations. Small jewelry components require particular caution with very young children.
Can children’s jewelry be engraved?
Many children’s bracelets, pendants and keepsake pieces can be engraved with names, initials, dates or short messages. Engraving is especially popular for birthdays, baptisms and other milestone gifts.
Is Italian gold a good gift for a child?
Italian-made gold jewelry can make an especially meaningful children’s gift because of Italy’s long goldsmithing tradition and reputation for detailed craftsmanship. For families with Italian heritage, an Italian-made piece can also connect the gift to family culture and tradition.
Where can I buy fine children’s jewelry near Chicago?
Arezzo Jewelers offers fine children’s jewelry from our showroom in Elmwood Park, Illinois. Our selection includes children’s earrings, bracelets, fine gold jewelry and Italian-made pieces for birthdays, baptisms, First Communions and other milestone occasions.
Find a Gift They’ll Remember Long After They Outgrow It
The best children’s jewelry doesn’t have to be the largest or most expensive piece in the jewelry box.
It simply has to mean something.
A first pair of gold earrings. A bracelet from Nonna and Nonno. A cross from a godparent. A birthstone from Mom and Dad.
The jewelry is only part of the gift.
The memory attached to it is what makes it priceless.
Explore Children’s Jewelry at Arezzo Jewelers or visit our Elmwood Park showroom and let us help you find a piece worthy of the occasion.
About the Expert
This guide was prepared with the expertise of Vincent Spilotro, GIA Graduate Gemologist, second-generation jeweler and owner of Arezzo Jewelers in Elmwood Park, Illinois.
Vincent has more than two decades of experience working with fine jewelry, Italian gold, diamonds, gemstones, custom jewelry and meaningful milestone gifts. At Arezzo Jewelers, he and his family continue a Chicago-area jewelry tradition focused on craftsmanship, education and personal service.