Valentine’s Day is a long-awaited holiday, a day where love is in the air and all around us. Every year, long before Feb. 14, the decorations come out, and stores explode with red and pink-colored everything. From garlands cut into the shape of hearts to gifted teddy bears with fuzzy hearts sewn into their plush hands, thoughtful gifts can come in many shapes and sizes. These are just some of the ways that people express how they feel to their significant others on this day.

However, the tradition of gifting your loved one jewelry is one that will never get old. 

A study done by PR Newswire suggests that 58% of women enjoy receiving jewelry as a gift. So, a pair of earrings, a necklace or even a ring are likely to go down in history as one of your girlfriend’s favorite gifts of all time. 

As the saying goes, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” This holds true today, of course, but what really matters isn’t the size. It’s the shape, or rather, the cut.

According to Lauren B, a jewelry expert who writes for LBlog, the majority of women tend to go for oval-cut or round diamonds. Cushion-cut and pear-shaped diamonds come in close behind, but heart-shaped diamonds sit all the way at the end of the list.

Women’s thoughts on heart-shaped diamonds — as well as heart-shaped jewelry in general — are divided. Some consider them tacky, or perhaps childish, while others think it’s a timeless cut.

But the majority of the controversy comes into play when a certain holiday rolls around.

Heart-shaped jewelry is a common gift to give on Valentine’s Day. Oftentimes, when someone struggles with what to buy for their significant other for a day as special as this one, a heart-shaped anything is their go-to. Innocent enough in theory, but in practice, this gift may fall short in a woman’s eyes, especially if heart-shaped jewelry isn’t something she would buy for herself.

An article by Dephini Jewellry says, “Heart-shaped jewelry symbolizes love and adoration. However, if this doesn’t fit your girlfriend’s style, it says, ‘I am lazy!’”

A friend of mine even had an experience just like this. Lucy Chiccehitto, a Kent State University sophomore majoring in fashion design, once had her former partner almost buy her a heart-shaped promise ring for Valentine’s Day.

“I specifically told them to not buy me heart-shaped jewelry,” Chiccehitto said. “I found out after they’d already placed the order for the ring because they asked their roommate’s opinion. She told them it was a bad idea so they showed me and cancelled the order because I literally told them I didn’t want heart-shaped jewelry.”

While she may not like heart-shaped things for Valentine’s Day, Chiccehitto says that she wouldn’t mind for other holidays.

“I think heart-shaped jewelry can be cute. It feels like a gift I’d get on my birthday, but definitely not Valentine’s,” she said. “I just don’t feel like anyone should buy heart-shaped jewelry for a woman they’re in a relationship with.”

This doesn’t mean that you should steer clear from jewelry altogether in fear of buying something your partner doesn’t like, but what it does mean is that before you buy someone you love anything, you should get to know their tastes.