A bat mitzvah is one of the moments a family remembers. Many parents and grandparents choose to mark it with a first gold piece, one she'll wear now and keep as she grows up. A gift like that is chosen a little differently from a gift for a grown woman, and there are a few things worth thinking about in advance.
What suits a 12-year-old
At this age most girls don't wear much jewelry yet. So the first piece should be delicate, comfortable, and something she can wear to school, to prayers and to celebrations, without it feeling like "Mom's".
Three things that almost always work:
- Small and delicate. A small stone, a thin hoop, a small pendant.
- Comfortable. No parts that catch on hair, a scarf or a sweater.
- Modest. A piece that suits any place and any outfit.
Earrings: the most popular gift
If her ears are already pierced, earrings are an excellent choice. No size needed, and she'll wear them every day.
- Studs with a small stone. The most classic. They look pretty without standing out too much.
- Small, thin hoops. Gold only, no stones, very comfortable for everyday wear.
- Climber earrings. A few small stones running up the ear. A bit more fashionable, and girls this age love them.
Note that in some of our kids' and teen earrings the stone is cubic zirconia, not diamond. It's written on every product page. If a diamond matters to you, look at lab-grown diamond earrings. And if her ears aren't pierced yet, you can choose a pendant or a bracelet and save the earrings for next year.
You'll find earrings for girls in the kids category and in women's gold earrings, which also has thin hoops that suit teens.
A pendant with meaning
A small pendant on a thin chain is a gift a bat mitzvah girl wears with pride. You can choose a shape with meaning: a Star of David, a hamsa, a heart or a single stone. Our pendant prices include a chain.
A pendant is also the best place for engraving. When there's room on the back, you can engrave the Hebrew date of the bat mitzvah, her name or one word from the blessing. Engraving is free. See women's gold pendants.
A ring? Only with some thought
A thin gold ring can be a lovely gift, but at 12 her fingers are still growing. What fits today may be tight in a year or two.
If you still choose a ring, pick a simple, thin model that's easy to size up. The first resize of a ring bought from us is free, under our terms. How do you measure without her knowing? We covered it in How to find your ring size.
A family gift together
Often several family members chip in together for one bigger piece. It's a good idea: instead of a few small gifts, she gets one piece she'll keep for decades. You can write everyone's names on the card, and engrave one word on the piece itself that sums it up.
What suits less
Even if the budget allows, some pieces suit a 12-year-old less:
- A thick, heavy chain. It feels heavy on a young neck, and it looks grown-up.
- Big drop earrings. They catch on hair and clothes, and they're not comfortable for school.
- A ring with a high stone. It catches on everything, and at this age rings still get lost.
One small, quality piece she wears every day is better than a big piece waiting for special occasions.
Why 14K gold
Every piece on our site is made of 14K gold, yellow or white. For girls this matters even more: 14K gold is harder than higher-purity gold, so it holds up better against school bags, sport and play. We wrote about the differences in 14K gold.
Still, gold needs care too. Explain to her that she should take her jewelry off before PE, showering and sleep. The full guidelines are on the jewelry care page.
Before you order
- Plan the timing. Delivery takes up to 14 business days, and usually much less. If there's an event date, order early and write it to us.
- Gift wrap. The piece is gift-wrapped, free of charge.
- You can pick up from the shop in Rehovot, free of charge.
Choose together
Often the most fun is choosing the piece together with her, as part of the celebration. Come to the shop at 64 Bilu St., Rehovot, and she can try on a few models and choose herself. Want it to stay a surprise? Write to us on WhatsApp with your budget and what she likes, and we'll suggest a few options. You can also use the gifts by budget page.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give for a bat mitzvah?
A first gold piece is a popular and moving gift: small earrings, a pendant on a thin chain or a delicate bracelet. Choose something small and comfortable that she'll wear every day.
Is a ring a good bat mitzvah gift?
Yes, but at this age her fingers are still growing. A simple, thin model that's easy to size up is better. The first resize is free with us.
Can the bat mitzvah date be engraved on the piece?
Yes. You can engrave a date, a name or a short word, and engraving is free. The easiest place is the back of a pendant, when there's room.
Is there a difference between earrings with cubic zirconia and earrings with a diamond?
Yes. Cubic zirconia is a diamond simulant, and a lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. Every product page on the site says which stone is in the piece.
What gold suits a 12-year-old?
14K gold, because it's hard and stands up to everyday wear. Yellow or white, depending on what she likes.
How long before the bat mitzvah should I order?
Delivery takes up to 14 business days, and usually much less. If you want engraving or the piece matters for a specific date, order a few weeks ahead and write the date to us.
Can I pick up the piece from the shop?
Yes. Pickup from the shop in Rehovot is free.
A pendant or earrings for a bat mitzvah?
Both are excellent. Earrings suit her if her ears are already pierced. A pendant is the best place to engrave a name or a date, and our pendant prices include a chain.
