The crystal gift guide for every occasion

The mistake people make is choosing the shape first. Choose the photo first, then the occasion, and the shape follows almost automatically.

Weddings and engagements

The heart, every time, unless the photo is a group. A close-up of two faces fills a heart the way nothing else does. For the wedding party shot, use the Rectangle Wide or the Notched Wide so nobody at the ends gets cropped. Medium is the size that suits a mantelpiece; small disappears on one.

Anniversaries

Older couples usually want the photo from the day, not a recent one, and those are often prints rather than files. Bring the original in and we will scan it. A Rectangle Tall in Large, with the date engraved for $25, is the most common order we take for a fortieth or a fiftieth.

Milestone birthdays

The Cut Corner Diamond does something the flat shapes cannot: it throws light in every direction from the LED base, so it reads as an object rather than a picture frame. Good for a sixtieth, a seventieth, or anyone whose house is already full of photos.

Retirements and work milestones

The Prestige at $210. Faceted shoulders, a broad flat face, and enough room for a name, a title and the years. If you are ordering more than a couple, ask for bulk pricing before you order.

Mother's Day and Father's Day

Our busiest weeks of the year, and the ones where people leave it too late. Around 5 to 7 business days is normal; in those two weeks, order earlier. A Heart in Small or a Rectangle Tall in Medium is the price point most people land on, and a keychain at $45 is the one grandchildren can afford themselves.

New babies

Newborn photos have soft contrast, which engraves gently rather than sharply. That suits the subject. The Rectangle Tall in Medium works, and parents often add the name and the date of birth.

For a pet who has passed

The Dog Bone Tall at $179, or the Heart if the bone shape is not right for the animal. There is more on this on our pet memorial page, including which photos work when all you have is a phone snap.

When you have no idea

Bring the photo into Shop K33 and let us look at it with you. Five minutes at the counter settles it, and you will not spend money on the wrong shape.