Top 10 no-fail Valentine’s Day gifts

Ah, Valentine’s Day. Some people love it, others despise it. I, for one, don’t think much of Valentine’s Day. In fact, I was more excited last year to curl up on the couch and catch the season premiere of The Walking Dead than I was to have any kind of romantic dinner! (Chocolates and wine, however, are a must.)

But no matter how you feel about Valentine’s Day, who doesn’t love an excuse for gifts? Rather than spend your hard-earned dough on a dozen roses or an awesome tie or trinket that your partner will pretend to like so as not to hurt your feelings, consider something with a bit more thought and personalisation behind it. And yes, that might even include a cool tech gadget.

Ready to get shopping? Here are 10 no-fail Valentine’s Day gifts.

1.Watch

I have a watch I wear daily, along with my activity tracker. But just like with other pieces of jewelry, sometimes it’s nice to change things up, and wear something a bit fancier or, conversely, a bit less flashy. For the ladies, consider something like the Bulova Crystal Women’s Analog Dress Watch,which is not only a gorgeous, wristworn timepiece that’s perfect for nights out on the town, put she can also remove it from the band and pop it into the matching circle pendant and 18” stainless steel chain to wear it around her neck. Among the watch, band, and pendant are a total of 148 Swarovski crystals.
For the male, look for something a bit different from his regular wristwatch, like the Seiko Chronograph Dial Mens Watch, which comes in a sleek brown leather strap to add a pop to his look for certain occasions. As a bonus, it’s water-resistant up to 100 metres.

2.Jewelry

The go-to gift is often jewelry, and why not? If there’s any day of the year on which you should spoil your significant other with some serious bling, it’s Valentine’s Day.

A beautiful pair of diamond stud earrings is always a safe bet – a woman can never have too many of these, and they go with just about everything – from that little black dress to jeans and a coloured blouse. Be simple and safe with a pair like the Diamond Stud 14K White Gold with 0.14ctw l1-l2 White Round Diamond Stud Earrings, or show some initiative and get something like these studs that are shaped like blossoming flowers.

For him, a classic chain bracelet might be a welcome surprise. The 14K Gold Fill Marine Chain Bracelet won’t tarnish or chip, and it’s safe for those with allergi
es to metal.

3.Handbag

I can’t even count how many purses and clutches my husband has given me over the years, from dressy to casual, luxury to oversized. And the thing is, while there are a few that only get dusted off for special occasions, I use them all. When it comes to a handbag we’ll use daily, these
are pretty personal things to women – we tend to have very specific needs and desires with one. So unless you know exactly what she likes, you’re probably better off looking at something like a smartphone wristlet or crossbody bag that she might use for specific
outings, or as a secondary bag option. The Cole
Haan Magnolia Top Zip Leather Crossbody Bag is standard black and simple in design, with a main interior with side pockets, and a front zip pocket.

4.Wallet

Unless your guy carries around what has become known as a “man purse,” you might want to look to something like a wallet for him instead. The Fossil Pax Leat
her Bifold Wallet is neat in that it comes in two-tone brown leather versus one solid colour. It can hold up to eight credit cards, and
even has a small coin compartment – a feature that isn’t too common with men’s wallets. The lining has also been designed to protect RFID cards from potential thieves trying to
scan it while in your pocket or sitting atop a table.

5.Messenger Bag

Another option for him beyond the “man purse” is a messenger bag. I actually bought my husband one for his birthday years ago, and it was put to good use. Especially if he travels daily to work and back in inclement weather, messenger bags can take a lot of wear and tear, and will eventually need to be replaced. Sneak a peek at his current bag when he isn’t looking, and if it seems like it has seen better days, consider a replacement. The leather Fossil Graham Messenger Bag in attractive cognac is a stylish option. Inside
is space for laptop, along with two slip pockets and a zippered compartment.

6.Perfume/Cologne

Pick up on your significant others hints at needing to replenish a favourite perfume or cologne. Take a look at the bottle – if it’s running low, replacing it would make a fantastically thoughtful gift. I absolutely love Calvin Klein Euphoria and have been wearing it for years. A nice scent to consider for the man who’s
open to trying new ones: D&G Light Blue is subtle but wonderful.

7.Fashionable Activity Tracker

The options for fashionable activity trackers are plentiful these days, so you should have no issue finding one that fits your sweetheart’s style. If you want to go truly unique for a lady, consider the Michael Kors Access Thompson Activity Tracker, which is designed like a cuff, but can track sleep, calories burned, steps, and distance traveled using an iOS or Android device. Plus, it can be programmed to do things like trigger a selfie from your smartphone, or initiate music play back.

8.Virtual Reality headset

Imagine the points you’d score with your better half’s buds by wrapping up a new virtual reality (VR) headset for Valentine’s Day? The Samsung Gear VR is a nice starter option if he owns a compatible Galaxy smartphone. Or if he’s a PlayStation gamer, go all out and snag the Sony PlayStation VR. Sure, this might make him disappear into the depths of his man cave for the next month or so. But on the upside, you’ll get some valuable “me” time to yourself!

9.Smartphone case

Nothing says “I love you” like a fashionable smartphone case. No, I’m not being facetious – I really mean it! I swap out my smartphone case probably monthly. And sure, that might be because I work in the tech industry and thus always get new ones to try out. But anyone can appreciate the ability to use a power case when he knows he’ll be out all day in meetings, or a stylish fashion case for a girl’s night out. Kate Spade is a go-to in the latter category. I like the New York iPhone Stripe Fitted Hard Shell Case for its look and versatility – it would go just as well with an evening gown as it would with a sweater and pair of jeans. For him, there are equally stylish options in the sister Jack Spade line.

10.E-reader or tablet

While tech can make a good gift, you want to get something personal for Valentine’s Day, not necessarily for the family. A great option is an e-reader or tablet. The Kobo Aura H20 6.8” Digital eBook Reader is a great option for the book lover. Add a personal touch by loading it up with some of those titles you know he or she has been wanting to read, so it’s locked and loaded for your upcoming vacation, or his/her daily public transit commutes to work. Because it’s waterproof, they won’t have to worry about immersing themselves in a novel poolside, or even at the beach. And they might feel safer bringing this device along versus a full-fledged tablet. If they’re more into fun, time-wasting apps, e-mailing, and Web surfing than book-reading, look at something more versatile like an Apple iPad mini.  They might appreciate being able to use this device at home versus a smartphone so as not to eat up its battery. And the larger screen can come in handy for game play, photo slideshows, video viewing, and other fun activities. Again, make it more personal by setting up an iTunes account ahead of time, and pre-loading some of their favourite apps. Want to score even more points? Sign up for a Netflix account as well and add some of those titles that have been on their binge-worthy list to the My List section. Go yet another step further, and download a few titles from the streaming site so he or she can watch them offline.