I loathe jewelry advertising around Christmas.

[grace0418]

It always annoys me, but around Christmas it drives me up a fucking wall. The ads usually feature some dippy sounding woman either complaining that "last year he bought me a toilet brush," or gently explaining to her husband that if she were going to buy him a tool she'd go to a tool expert for help so he should go spend a zillion dollars on her at a jewelry store, or whatever stupid thing. The implication is ALWAYS that ALL women want diamond jewelry and nothing else, ALL men are stupid and unable to pick out an appropriate gift (if your husband bought you a toilet brush last year, you have deeper problems than not having enough jewelry), ALL men want tools and nothing else, and women should do whatever it takes to get thousands of dollars worth of jewelry for Christmas.

First of all, I don't even like diamonds that much (and they're my birthstone). I never wear gold and almost all of my jewelry is hand-made, art-fair jewelry. There are about 10 million things I'd rather have than a diamond heart pendant. I can pick out tools for my husband just fine without help, and would be much more inclined to ask for a tool than a tennis bracelet myself. My husband is a very thoughtful gift-giver and would never dream of buying me a toilet brush.

Well, you get the gist. I'm so sick of them and it's still only Dec. 11

[Bullwinkle925]

1. I agree and it's usually crappy-looking stuff to me.

I'm also conscientious about diamond-mining and the mistreatment of the workers who mine them.
"Blood Diamond" is the next movie on my list to see.

[AllegroRondo]

2. And I hate that Sears commercial about tools

that implies that the wife has no clue what kind of tools she just bought her husband, that she should just wrap them up, put them under the tree, and he'll like them.

[Left Is Write]

3. I told my husband he should never, ever, ever, ever, ever

buy me anything from Kay Jewelers. Ever.

"Every kiss begins with Kay!" makes me want to hurl the television out the window.

IF he is inclined to get me jewelry, he'll go to the local jeweler my anniversary band came from.

[LaraMN]

4. Yeah, the women always look they're going to cry.

It makes me sick.
Pricy jewelry seems like one of those thoughtless "she HAS to like it-it's expensive" kind of gifts. Not that that's always the case in reality, of course, but that's the sentiment I get specifically from those commercials.

[Phillycat]

5. I have never, ever seen a commercial like the one you describe.

Most of the ones around here are sappy-romantic, but nothing like what you describe. :shrug:

[bluethruandthru]

6. I don't want jewelry.

To me, it's the ultimate extravagance. I just can't see spending thousands of dollars to hang things on my ears. Don't get me wrong...I think jewelry is beautiful...but until I have more money than I know what to do with...I won't be buying any and I don't want my husband to buy me any either.

[petronius]

7. I loathe all TV ads this time of year - if I didn't know better, I'd start to think

that everyone in the country is buying cars, diamonds and $600 video games for their families, and I must be a loser for not followig suit...

[ncrainbowgrrl]

8. The Jared's commercial is driving me crazy

It keeps going over and over and over....

[SoyCat]

9. My husband knows that I'd be quite angry if he ever bought me a diamond. There's just too much bad

stuff connected with the diamond cartel/trade.

I only like/buy handmade jewelry anyway. I don't do "corporate".