Yofair Birth Flower Gifts

The flower is chosen by month, not by taste, which is what makes it a present rather than a decoration: it says somebody knew when you were born. The twelve are fixed by the old florists' calendar and every piece here uses the same set, so a January carnation on a case matches a January carnation on a plate if the two are bought together. On the necklace the stem is cut in outline and stands beside the name at about the height of the capital letter; on the case it is printed in a single colour on the lid, above or below the name depending on the layout.

Which of the two to buy comes down to who opens it. A plate is worn and seen, and it wants the name spelled the way the person spells it; the case is used and put away, and it forgives a nickname. The case is also the one bought in sixes, because a bridal party is a list of six names and twelve possible months. If you are buying both for the same person, order them in the same month's flower and let the material do the differing: the plate in gold plate or silver, the case in whichever of its colours suits.