Gifts for Grads: Signature style

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It’s graduation season, and while that sheepskin confirmation of work well done may be all the newly minted diploma-holder needs, we know you want to add your bravos in a tangible way too. This week, we’re sharing some ideas to inspire your gift-giving.

Forget gift cards. Get personal with an engraved signet ring — so timeless and completely chic that it’s a win-win gift pick, whatever the grad’s age or style. Sarah Chloe recently released a new elongated signet shape — a fresh take on a classic that’s also oh-so-affordable. It comes in pink gold and yellow gold vermeil or sterling silver. From $98 at sarahchloe.com or LifeSize at Fred Segal in Santa Monica, (310) 458-1160.

Mannin, a Santa Monica-based line, offers sturdy, heirloom-quality signet rings and other Monogram Series jewelry that’s eco-friendly— handcrafted of custom-blended, recycled 18k gold. Designer Suzanne Donegan’s collectible styles include cufflinks and cuff bracelets, platelet necklaces and earrings. Something for everyone who should be so deserving on your list. Solid 18kt gold engraved ring, $2,875 or $2,975 for the slightly larger men’s version, at Jenni Kayne in West Hollywood, (310) 860-0123.

Or maybe numbers, rather than letters, are more significant for your recipient? Lisa Salzer reinvented estate jewelry with her Lulu Frost line of costume baubles made from New York’s original Plaza Hotel brass room numbers. While the one-of-a-kind pieces sold out in a matter of months back in 2005, bronze replicas are the collection’s top-sellers.

Fittingly, the label’s newly launched first fine jewelry collection, CODE, offers customizable 14k gold and 18k gold-and-diamond rings, studs and pendants in digits 0-9. Give the grad a favorite digit or mix and match to create a graduation year, birthdate or other lucky number. Lulu Frost CODE “1” rings of 18k gold with a single diamond, $660 each, or $440 each in 14kt gold with no diamonds, at
www.lulufrost.com or Ron Robinson Fred Segal as of June 1.

--Ingrid Schmidt

Monday: On top of the world

Photos, from top: Sarah Chloe signet rings (credit: Sarah Chloe); Mannin engraved ring (Mannin); Lulu Frost CODE “1” rings (Lulu Frost).