Instead of flowers, surprise Mom with a beautiful piece of local jewellery. (We won’t tell if you shop for yourself too.)

Au Naturel
There are thousands of maple trees in Vancouver, and Justine Brooks’ maple seed necklace is a touching metaphore for motherhood. $110 from her Etsy store or Forsya, 2206 Main St., Vancouver.

Red Carpet Ready
Lolo’s Oscar Week Piece was given out at the Oscar's Red Carpet Style Lounge, but the main reason why we like it is because it is light, delicate, and versatile just like mom. $150 from Lolo’s website or available from Wear Else.

What a Gem (Sponsored)
The magical Crystal Haze collection of jewel-coloured rings, earrings, bracelets and cufflinks at PALLADIO is created from some of nature’s most exotic gemstones and metals, Melding modern technique and traditional in craftsmanship, it combines laser-cutting with materials as old as time. By joining facetted crystal over a layer of natural precious stone the colour is illuminated to produce a holographic-like haze of colour. PALLADIO, 855 W. Hastings St., Vancouver, www.palladiocanada.com

Summer Lovin'
Summer is on its way and these Fringe Benefits earrings by Keltie Leanne are made from turquoise and would work beautifully with a bikini and white kaftan for the yummy mummy. $78 online, beach holiday not included.

Four of a Kind
The problem with Leah Alexandra’s bracelets is that they look great on their own, but fantastic when you wear four or five together. $78-$180 at The Cross, 1198 Homer St.,Vancouver.

Diamonds are Forever
These diamond slice stud earrings from Biko are for the woman who likes bold, simple jewelry. Or the one who loves very big diamonds. $59 at Rowan Sky, 334 Cordova St., Vancouver. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

It is very complicated to launch a fashion line, especially when there are sizes, styles, and materials to contend with.

Which is probably why the girls behind Vancouver-based Alden Rae decided to keep things simple. Their collection features one product: a leather wrap bracelet with sterling silver beads. But it is a pretty fantastic wrap bracelet, and we are thinking we might double them up on our wrists for summer.

However if you do like having choice, there are options: the leather bracelets come in eight colours. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

$49 at www.aldenrae.ca, or at The Wish List Boutique, 2811 W. Broadway, Vancouver, 604-676-8070, www.wishlistboutique.ca

Christmas passed… Valentine’s Day is but a  memory… and we still don’t own a piece of Liz Taylor’s estate. We are now sure our partner didn’t bid on any of the jewels. Sob.

But owning a Taylor-esque piece is not completely impossible. Alan Anderson, a Canadian costume jeweler whose amethyst cuff was amongst the many pieces that sold well beyond the estimated price at the late actress’ jewellery auction, will be holding a special sale of his spring summer collection at Holt Renfrew this week. Expect rare vintage pastel coloured crystals set in 14 carat rose gold, and sautoirs of tanzenite and amethyst.

Now all we need to do is find ourselves a Richard Burton and send him down to Holts on Saturday. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

See Alan Anderson’s spring summer 2012 collection at Holt Renfrew on March 2nd and 3rd. Holt Renfrew, 777 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, 604-681-3121, www.jewelsbyalananderson.com

When our jewelry comes packaged with a certificate that says “Wear this small yet powerful Love Medal to maintain an incorruptible kinship of spirit and truth,” we follow orders, sir!

You can expect a certificate with every piece from Love Medals, a jewelry collection by Emily Carr graduate Talia Tanaka. Featuring military-style pins, necklaces, and bracelets cast in bronze, gold, or silver, with luxurious ribbon trim and the option to add Canadian diamonds, her statement jewelry is allowing us to decorate ourselves.

So after the Valentine’s Day battle to secure a date and good reservations, give yourself a medal for bravery, honour and strength. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Beloved Medal, $183, from Love Medals, www.lovemedals.com

The wise poet Robert Browning once wrote "less is more," and many designers, like legendary architect Mies van der Rohe, have followed that mantra.

But simplicity itself is one of the hardest things to achieve style-wise: it has to appear effortless. Leave it to two architects, who go by their initials HK+NP, to design a perfect bangle. And by “perfect,” we mean it has a minimal yet sculptural shape, glistening in sterling silver. Its elegant design mimicks the image of a water ripple, and also follows the ingenious Möbius strip. Available in mirror ($300), hairline ($300) or matte ($330) finishes, the Twist Bangle is the kind of bauble both Robert and Mies would approve of. —Anya Georgijevic

At Walrus, 3408 Cambie St., Vancouver, 604-874-9770, www.walrushome.com

Put away your girlie trinkets, warrior chic is all the rage these days.

Well, at least according to Meagan Howard, designer behind Sleep Standing Up. This Vancouver-based jewellery line borrows from Viking culture with a collection inspired by their weaponry. Handcrafted in oxidized sterling silver, these sharp geometric objects of dangerous beauty have us thinking medieval thoughts. With the armor-like Holy Cross Ring ($170), the long and regal Saxon Breastplate necklace ($240), and the ritualistic Amulet pendant ($190), we are all set to embrace our inner urban warriors. —Anya Georgijevic

At Obakki , 44 Water St, Vancouver, 604-669-9727, www.obakki.com

I wear two simple, raw-pearl rings: one white, one a sun-bleached black. Everyone asks who made them, and I always say I can't remember. But I've had a twinge of heart, guys, and I'm ready to 'fess.

The perfectly imperfect pearls, balanced on a slender sterling-silver ring, are by Vancouver jewellery line Mindan's. She makes them in ivory, pink, grey and black; separately, they're a minimalist statement, and two together are magic. Surrounded by faddish, faux-punk jewellery, they look unfussy and—dare I say—unique.

These aren't your grandma's pearls. —Sarah Nicole Prickett

At Twig & Hottie, 3671 Main St., Vancouver, 604-879-8595, www.twigandhottie.com

Hip Vancouver-based jewellery brand Broken English makes delicate and detailed pendants featuring some our favourite animal friends.

Didn’t you know that fox stoles are all the rage these days? Well, at least animal-friendly ones are, in the form of stylish little necklaces. A fox stole and paw come in antiqued bronze and its head is presented in oxidized silver. For dog lovers, a regal hound. All are attached to a 30” chain.

No need to go hunting. —AG

From $75 at Walrus, 3408 Cambie St., Vancouver, 604-874-9770, www.walrushome.com and The Block, 350 West Cordova St., Vancouver, 604-685-8885,  www.theblock.ca

Remember when Valentine's Day meant chocolates and cute cards, not baking 30 sugar cookies for a kindergarten class and ransacking your unmentionables for a pair of underwear without an elastic waist?

Bring back that loving feeling with the Colorblock Hearts Dome Ring by Marc Jacob ($90.90). Slip this playful dome ring on your finger when you want to show the world you've got plenty of heart—and fabulous taste.

At shopbop.com

And about those sugar cookies... check out our Editors' Diary for an icing recipe from CTV anchor and uber-mom Tamara Taggart. See more here.

Whether you’re satisfyingly single or contentedly coupled-up this Valentine’s Day, these gifts go either way. Herewith, five special things from steal to splurge that don’t wilt like roses:

Fanny Brawne needn’t be the only one to feel John Keats’ heat. With Love Letters from the Everyman’s Library, we can too. Within is a post office’s worth of mad-about-you mail penned by other well-known wordsmiths. $12.40 at Amazon.ca

Smell and memory are inextricably linked, so make a sweet and spicy impression with an all-natural signature perfume by Vancouver perfumer Ayala Moriel. Have yours in a mini bottle, beautiful French flacon or pretty pendant. $48-$150 at www.ayalamoriel.com

In Victorian times, keys were signifiers of guardianship, knowledge and liberation, and what do you know, that’s the key to our heart. Pyrrha boasts a variety cast in reclaimed silver from real vintage keys (and even a medieval one). $128-$275 at www.pyrrha.com/shop

Whether you’re hot or just bothered, a duotone alpaca throw from 18 Karat, dark grey on one side, red on the other, amends to your mood and keeps you cuddled and bundled. $375 at 18 Karat, 3039 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-742-1880, www.eighteenkarat.com

A dip-dyed Agent Provocateur floor-length silk Barbetta kimono that morphs from black to crimson, with shades of aubergine in the middle, makes lounging around luxurious. You’ll feel loved up even when home alone watching The Bachelor. $2,195 (in store Tuesday), Agent Provocateur, 1020 Alberni St., Vancouver, 604-688-2712, www.agentprovocateur.com