A 70th birthday is a big one! Taking 70 trips around the sun is no mean feat and it certainly deserves to be commemorated. That’s why our 70th birthday gift ideas celebrate the person, pamper them, or are both thoughtful and practical.
At age 70, most people have retired from work. They may have spent their time pottering around the house, cultivating active social lives, or enjoying their various hobbies. Of course, this can make it difficult to find the perfect gift. After all, after 70 years, they probably don’t have too many needs when it comes to ‘stuff’!
To help you out with your gift buying woes, we’ve put together a selection of thoughtful, practical and funny gift ideas. These 70th birthday presents will have anyone turning 70 feel special.
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What Do You Get A Woman For Her 70th Birthday?
By the time a woman turns 70, she’s seen and experienced a great deal. For many women, a large part of their lives meant balancing motherhood and a career.
When choosing 70th birthday gifts for women, the first thoughts of many people is to pamper and spoil them; and we don’t disagree with this! Whether that’s done with luxurious chocolates, a morning spent at a high-end spa, or a weekend break characterised by sheer indulgence, she’s sure to appreciate it. Even going the traditional route gives you the chance to really show her how much she means to you. The traditional gift for 70th anniversaries of all kinds is platinum, one of the most expensive metals on earth.
Unique 70th Birthday Gifts For Her
A Decadent Tea
If you are looking for 70th birthday gifts for women that offer pure indulgence, why not consider treating her to an afternoon tea or a high tea? Many well-appointed venues in the countryside offer traditional teas. This will give her a reason to get all dressed up, and the chance to enjoy traditional and modern teatime treats in a beautiful setting.
Platinum Jewellery
If you have your heart set on getting her a traditional 70th birthday present that is truly worthy, consider an item of platinum jewellery. A set of simple earrings, a ring engraved with a personal message, or a pendant featuring her star sign or inlaid with her birthstone is likely to dazzle her.
Chocolate Making or Tasting
Sometimes a bit more than tea, scones and cake is called for. Let her indulge her senses and learn a few new skills at a luxurious chocolate-making class or a chocolate tasting event. Every morsel will transport her taste buds to exotic destinations.
Indulgent Spa Package
Many women are happy to be pampered on their special day. If that’s what she wants, a 70th birthday present that she is sure to appreciate is a trip to one of the best local spas. Most spas offer packages designed for special occasions.
Different packages include different treatments, so you can choose from facials, manicures, full-body massages, ever-popular pedicures, seaweed wraps, Dead Sea mud and minerals, hot stones, and aromatherapy.
Helicopter or Hot Air Balloon Ride
Other women see their 70th birthday as the perfect opportunity to enjoy a bit of adventure. If the birthday girl is not afraid of heights, consider taking her for a ride in a helicopter or a hot air balloon. Once you’re back on terra firma, you can follow it up with a glass of champagne and nibbles at a local eatery.
Personalised Perfume
Some perfumeries offer birthday packages that let you blend your own fragrance. Instead of opting for a store-bought perfume, why not treat the birthday girl to a workshop that introduces her to the art of perfume-making? She can then go a step further and make a totally unique fragrance that suits her personality.
Craft or Art Supplies
If she enjoys creativity in other ways, consider getting her a pack of art or craft supplies. For example, if she enjoys painting with oils, buy her a set of oils and brushes. If she enjoys scrapbooking, buy her a scrapbook and a selection of embellishments.
Luxury Getaway
If you’re looking for 70th birthday gift ideas that offer luxury in a different setting, consider a few days away. Look into packages that offer wine tasting tours in France, California’s Napa Valley, or on South Africa’s wine route. Alternatively, you can consider glamping in Kenya or Italy, or spending time on a tea plantation hotel in Sri Lanka.
Foot Spa
For homely gifts that are wonderfully practical, consider getting her a foot spa and a few lotions and potions to go with it. Some deluxe models include hydrotherapy jets, reflexology massagers, water heaters that maintain a constant temperature, and an aromatherapy diffuser. Even without all the bells and whistles, a foot spa is sure to put a spring in her step.
What Do You Get A Man For His 70th Birthday?
At age 70, most men have retired and are trying to stay physically and mentally active. After spending half a century or more in the working world, their later years give them a chance to try out new things and to deepen their interests. They also have the chance to indulge in their hobbies, spend quality time with friends and family, and to enjoy rest and relaxation.
Our suggestions for 70th birthday gifts for men include options that will put a spring in his step, and those that offer a bit of indulgence. We’ve also included ideas that prove you’re never too old for new highlights in your life, as well as those that are downright practical for older people who may have difficulties with mobility or in other areas.
We haven’t forgotten about the traditional association of platinum with 70 years, so we have included a few suggestions suitable for men too.
Unique 70th Birthday Gifts For Him
Personalized Platinum Cufflinks
Cufflinks are a sign of sophistication, worn by reputable and established gentlemen with a taste for tradition. Get him a pair of platinum cufflinks for his 70th birthday, a wonderful way to commemorate how far he has come. For an even more personalized gift, let him create a set of bespoke, hand-decorated cufflinks. He’ll get to design the cufflinks of his dreams according to his specifications, be it a family crest, his initials, or his loyal pet companion.
Platinum Signet Ring
It can be tricky to go the traditional route of platinum when it comes to 70th birthday gift ideas for men. One option is to consider buying him a piece of classy platinum jewellery. Known as the ‘gentleman’s ring’, the signet ring is traditionally seen as a symbol of family heritage. Have his initials or his family crest engraved on the ring for a personalised birthday gift he’ll treasure every day.
70th Birthday Fountain Pen
A pen to younger folk may seem like an unusual inexpensive gift. But for the older generations, a pen represents so much more. Bringing a sense of nostalgia, a fountain pen will bring back memories of his younger school days full of inky fingers and smudged exercise books. Encourage his creativity by pairing his platinum fountain pen with a leather-bound journal. He can jot down his memories of a bygone era and pass it on to the next generation of successful men.
Platinum-Inspired Fragrances
A safer alternative for the fashionable man may be to purchase a fragrance such as Calvin Klein’s CK One Platinum, Coach Platinum for Men, or Chanel’s Egoiste Platinum Pour Homme. Not sure what his favourite fragrance is? No problem. Let him create his own in a personalised men’s fragrance profiling. Whether he’s a musky, earthy or spicy kind of guy, he’ll walk away with the perfect aroma to suit him.
Gentlemen’s Pampering
A busy, active life can take its toll on the body, and that is bound to be felt by the age of 70. Give the birthday boy something that offers a bit of comfort in the form of a massage or a traditionally-executed classic wet shave. A proper shave at a barbershop is an experience all it’s own and a relaxing way to achieve a refined, clean appearance. He’ll walk out of there looking and feeling like a 20-year old, never mind having just turned 70!
Whisky Decanter & Glasses
If he’s a whisky drinker, consider giving him a personalised decanter set as a 70th birthday present. You can find traditional styles as well as modern designs such as the 5-piece Quadro Decanter set. Packed in a satin-lined box, it includes a decanter and four tumblers, and you can have up to five lines of text engraved on the bottle.
Bourbon-Inspired Getaway
Looking for 70th birthday gifts for men that give you the chance to spoil him with an unforgettable experience? Why not whisk him off to Louisville, Kentucky, where you can explore the Bourbon Trail? He’ll enjoy tours of several iconic distilleries while he sips on the good stuff.
Classic Car Trip
Why not hire a classic car for the day and set off on a road trip along picturesque spots in the countryside. You can stop off for coffee, a birthday lunch, and photographs along the way. As a bonus, try and book a car that shares his birth year!
Funny 70th Birthday Gift Ideas
Who said that you have to be serious at 70?
We can safely say most of the senior citizens that we know have a wicked sense of humour. Don’t forget that they were among the original rock ‘n roll generation, and many of them would have experienced the Summer of Love first-hand.
If you do not know the recipient well, it may be safer to be a little more conservative when it comes to the 70th birthday gift ideas that you choose. However, if you have a close relationship, you probably know where to find their funny bone, so don’t be afraid to go wild!
Funny 70th Birthday Mug
A simple way to bring a smile to their 70th birthday is to give the recipient a personalised mug printed with a humorous slogan. One example is a mug that says, I’m 70 Leave Me the Hell Alone. It’s a perfect choice for the 70-year-old who complains about being bothered by other people when all they want is a bit of well-deserved R&R.
Classic Comics
If you know what comic books they read as children, see if you can find a few vintage issues. If you can, include the sweets or other treats they would have enjoyed in their younger days. Your gift will offer them a few laughs as well as a trip down memory lane.
70th Survival Kit
Another funny 70th birthday present you could consider putting together yourself is a novelty survival kit. Include a pack of tea bags, an elastic band for their daily stretch routine and some sticky notes to combat forgetfulness. Add a Sudoku book for a bit of brain gym, and a personalised tin of Senior Moments Memory Loss mints. You could nclude funny printed socks, T-shirts or a rather rude but amusing personalised toilet roll. It’s sure to offer your favourite oldie a laugh!
As you can see, there is so more to 70th birthday gift ideas than tea, cake and sausage rolls!
Even if you don’t use any of our suggestions, let them inspire creative ideas of your own. The 70-year-old in your life has seen, heard, and experienced so much, and they have a great deal of wisdom to offer. Celebrate them and their lives with a gift that makes them feel honoured, appreciated and loved.
I am an experienced writer specializing in travel, food, weddings, and well-being. Continuing my nomadic lifestyle I am currently based on the beautiful island of Malta.