Presents are a problem. Over time, when buying presents for the same person for the same occasions over and over you can find yourself in a real rut. The standby presents become too generic and too predictable. After a while they also lose meaning and you fail to think about the person you are buying it for. Vintage jewellery is a way to avoid that whole scenario.
Before you write this off as being a cheap or easy way out, think again. Vintage jewelry does not mean costume jewelry; it can be in fact very valuable and expensive, depending on how and where you obtain it. In many cases the very appearance of it is timeless.
Finding good pieces takes some searching, although they are widely available. You can try flea markets, or estates sales. Antique dealers generally have something to offer as well. If there is something specific that you are looking for you can also try an online search to see what you come up with.
Things that are vintage should have a good story to go with them. While that story may not be known, try to learn what you can. It may lend well to your purposes and have a certain fit with the person you are giving it to.
You need to put real thought in it. It shows that you have considered the recipient and his or her personality or values. The intended wearer will make a big difference in what you ultimately select so it means more than just a pair of earrings from a department store.
Do not forget that in order to get something like this and give it as a gift there is no special occasion required. Actually, giving a gift without a special reason often makes it far more meaningful. At the holidays, people feel obligated to give, so it sort of takes away from the sentiment. Giving something because it is a random Tuesday in March is something quite different. The vintage jewelry will only make that special someone smile longer.