The Gift: I want this heart necklace

January 29, 2026

Good evening. Tonight we’re making the case to give everyone a Valentine’s Day gift. Plus:

Roxanne Assoulin; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter

I want this heart necklace, please

Brittney is a newsletters editor at Wirecutter. She’ll never turn down the gift of jewelry — especially if it’s matching.

Please meet my latest obsession: This glossy, bright red heart necklace on a gold cable chain. I can already picture adding some pizzazz to my otherwise dainty stack with its wonderfully chunky details. Do I want this necklace from my loving partner? No. I want it from myself. And I also want to give it to every gal I know.

Years ago, a friend told my grumpy, single self to snap out of my angsty anti-Hallmark attitude. “Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday,” she said, “because pink is my favorite color and I get to see it everywhere today.”

Once you start seeing February 14 through the lens of this simple boundless optimism, it’s hard to take off the rose-colored glasses. Adorable, non-saccharine, heart-shaped, treasures abound. And who better to bestow them upon than the people in your life that may not get your public and private declarations of love the other 364 days of the year?

Which brings me back to my necklace — and nine other perfect, loving treats we’re doling out to everyone but our partners (no offense) this year.

These intricate, whimsical cards unfold to reveal a pop-up cat sitting in a little scalloped box — lovely for writing a love letter that can double as a display on a bland windowsill or shelf. Each of newsletter coordinator Isoke Samuel’s lucky friends will be getting the one that looks most like their cat. Jealous.
If you (or your giftee) prefer to craft your own Valentines: This felting craft kit, which comes packaged in a little carton, has all the supplies to needle-felt a set of hearts. The stencils help add lettering or words, like a conversation heart, or you can freestyle your own design.
This gorgeous drinking glass, handmade in Italy, has a deep red heart poking up from its center, unveiling itself as you sip. Cheers.
Pop this sweetheart stuffie into the microwave, and it becomes a heated, lavender-scented stuffie prime for snuggling. Plus, it’s pleasantly weighty, so it has the same calming effect as a hug. It’d be a sweet gift for a kiddo — or any plushie-obsessed adult.
“If I was rich,” says gifts editor Hannah Morrill, every kid in her 8-year-old-daugther’s class would be getting one of these sweet little cards. Leaving them on your favorite co-workers’ desks would be just as darling and less pricey. Perhaps bring in a special box of chocolate to share, too?
This Sézane tee can be personalized with complimentary embroidery. Adding a tiny little heart would be cute for anyone, but you could jazz it up even more by embroidering a name or an inside joke. (Beyond the embroidery, it’s also just a great white tee — one of our style experts’ favorites, in fact.)
This dainty necklace looks like a heart-shaped, syrup-covered waffle — and it smells like one, too. On theme: heart-shaped molds to make lovey-dovey pancakes or fried eggs (that you can actually eat).
Lastly, it’s hard to find anything that lands more perfectly at the intersection of quality, practicality, and adorableness than these socks. I especially appreciate how the whimsical little heart is small enough to bring subtle sweetness year round.

24 Galentine’s Day gifts we love→

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More for Valentines of all kinds

Several different products recommended in our Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids.

Ruthie Darling/NYT Wirecutter

Valentine’s Day is for the kids. These gifts should delight ’em.

Including a multicolored heart headband, cozy pajamas, nail stickers, and pink bath salts→

An assortment of felt bouquets in various colors, shapes, and styles all sitting in unique vases.

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter

“Fake flowers are a perfect gift. I said what I said.”

These paper, Lego, and wooden blooms evoke just as much magic as the real thing→

A selection of seven products we recommend in the The Best Self Care Gifts to Buy Yourself guide.

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

The best gifts to get yourself

Consider a sweatsuit that feels like being hugged by a cloud→


What to give: A milestone birthday?

A friend’s 50th is coming up, and I want to give her a handful of things to start this new decade off right. She could use some self care after a hard year. She likes nature and soft, comfortable clothes that still have style, and she’s artistic herself, but hasn’t had the time to focus on herself and her hobbies. How can I make 50 seem like a new opportunity and not a reminder of the passing of time? — M.M.

From gifting expert Mari Uyehara:

For a vibey lady in need of a reset, performance artist Marina Abramović’s reboot-your-life cards are made for reconnecting with one’s conscious and creative self. Each of the 30 cards features a simple exercise, such as walking backward with a mirror, holding your breath 10 times in a row, and — my personal favorite — complaining to a tree.

To round out your milestone pack of goodies, this pretty wishing bracelet, which is supposed to grant a wish after falling off, can help her set an intention for the coming decade. And when blooming season is in effect, this gold-embossed, linen flower press could motivate her to get out in nature. In the meantime, these maximalist, uber-fluffy slipper socks will warm her tootsies and brighten her day.

Have someone who’s impossible to shop for? Submit your question here.

All the sparkly, timeless jewelry we love

Over the years we’ve recommended hundreds of rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Our favorites are classic and versatile: Who can argue with a signet ring or a snake-like curb chain?

One last gift (for you): This petite, hard-sided jewelry case is perfect for keeping your jewelry (heart-shaped or not) safe while traveling. Plus, you can personalize it with a gold-printed monogram. Cute!

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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