Mother's Retirement Gift

If she likes and wears jewlery, then some nice jewlery sounds perfect. If she's not a jewlery person, is there something she's planning on doing with her free time? $500 could go a long way towards supporting her passions or hobbies (nice camera, bicycle, golf clubs, a kayak, iPad or other tablet, a laptop, video camera etc.). For my dad, his gift was mostly the party that we threw him - it was a catered event with 40 guests and that's really what he wanted instead of a physical gift, so that's another consideration.

I think luggage is a great retirement gift!

Does she have a bucket list? Travel is a nice gift.

Is there a hobby that she would like to pursue during retirement? My mom just retired and was looking forward to having more time to sew. My husband and I bought her a new Bernina sewing machine as a retirement gift. Although that would exceed your budget is there a gift that would speak to a hobby of hers?

Of course if she is a jewelry person that pieces you speak of do sound nice.