Secret Santa Gifts Under EUR 20 That Don't Look Cheap
What do you give for Secret Santa or Wichteln on a 20-euro budget? One small piece of jewelry that looks more expensive than it is: stud earrings with a shape of their own, an adjustable ring or a fine bracelet. Everything below stays within that 20 euros, ships in a luxury gift box and is chosen per name you might draw: the colleague you barely know, your friend, your sister-in-law, and him.
The short answer
A good 20-euro Secret Santa gift is small, beautifully wrapped and suits the person you drew:
- A colleague you barely know: clean, neutral studs, such as a little rectangle or a ball.
- Your close friend: something with a wink or a meaning, like a four-leaf clover or an infinity sign.
- Family: check first whether she wears gold or silver, then choose in her color.
- No piercings, or no idea? An adjustable ring or a bracelet has no size.
- Him: minimal men’s studs or small hinged hoops.
When you order in our own webshop, you always get a free gift bag.
Secret Santa, Wichteln and Schrottwichteln: what is what?
Everyone knows Secret Santa: you draw a name, keep it secret and agree on a budget beforehand. In Germany the very same game is called Wichteln, after the Wichtel, a little elf who secretly does good deeds. It is played at the Weihnachtsfeier, the office Christmas party, and among friends and family in the weeks before Christmas Eve.
Germans take two things more seriously. The budget is an agreement, not a guideline: going way over it puts everyone else on the spot. And there is a separate version just for laughs, Schrottwichteln, where everyone brings something useless they already had at home. The more useless, the better. In regular Wichteln and Secret Santa, though, everyone hopes for something nice, something that actually gets worn.
Why jewelry is the easiest Secret Santa gift
Jewelry has no size. No S, M or L, no guessing shoe sizes. Stud earrings fit everyone and an adjustable ring bends to fit. A small piece of jewelry also quickly looks more expensive than it is, especially in a proper gift box. Our jewelry is made of premium stainless steel with a PVD coating: waterproof and hypoallergenic, which helps if you do not know whether she has sensitive ears.
For the colleague you barely know
The trickiest name to draw: you know her first name and her department, and that she takes oat milk in her coffee. That is it. The rule is simple: neutral, but not boring. Skip anything that assumes something about her, like initials, a birthstone or an inside joke from the group chat. Choose something small and timeless that goes with any outfit, like an open rectangle or a smooth ball.
For your close friend: personal, with a wink
If you drew someone you really know, the rule flips: now it can be personal. A shape with meaning says more than something neutral: a four-leaf clover for luck, an infinity sign for friendship, little hearts if you have known each other for years. She will see straight away that you thought of her.
Does she love a joke? Then the Fisk fish studs from the opening photo are a hit, especially for someone who loves the sea.
For your sister-in-law or another relative: gold or silver first
Family names sit right between the two above. You know her, but not well enough to predict her taste, and you will see her again at Christmas. One trick almost always works: look at her watch, glasses or wedding ring. Does she wear gold or silver? Then the biggest risk is gone. Handy: the same ribbed hearts come in gold-tone (Vilde) and silver-tone (Romea), and the adjustable Amora ring comes in gold-tone and silver-tone.
A ring or bracelet without the size worry
Does she not wear earrings, or are you not sure? An adjustable ring or a bracelet always fits. Jiva from the opening photo is a big statement ring that fits almost any finger, Amora a fine ring with a double heart, and Yve a chain bracelet with a heart charm.
Did you draw a man?
In a mixed group you might draw a man. If he wears earrings, minimal men’s studs or small hinged hoops in silver or black make a great gift within budget. Does he not wear jewelry? Then browse our guide to Christmas gifts for men or the gifts for him collection.
How to make a 20-euro gift look expensive
At a Secret Santa, people watch, often literally, because everyone is there when it is unwrapped. Three things matter more than the amount. One: the packaging. Jewelry in a real box reads as a gift; every piece of ours ships in a luxury gift box, and when you order in our own webshop you always get a free gift bag too. Two: take out the receipt. Three: write one sentence on a card. “Saw this and thought of you straight away” beats a pricier present.
Pictured
Majken – the gift is a bow itself
Little gold-tone bows measuring 1.3 by 1 centimeters. Festive without being Christmassy, and a wink at the package they come in.
View the Majken →An Advent calendar or a St. Nicholas gift as well?
Small pieces like these are also perfect for an Advent calendar. Want to do it the German way, with 24 doors and a plan for every day? Read filling an Advent calendar: the German tradition. For 5 and 6 December, find ideas in St. Nicholas and Sinterklaas gifts for her. Agreed on 30 euros? There is a separate selection in Secret Santa gifts under 30 euros.
Ordering in time
Order before 3 pm (CET) on a working day and we ship the same day. Delivery times and free shipping thresholds vary by country; see our shipping page. Delivery to Germany takes 3 to 7 working days. With larger orders, the gift ladder adds free gifts, different ones every month. Key dates: St. Nicholas Day is Sunday 6 December and Christmas Eve is Thursday 24 December 2026. Running late? Read last-minute Christmas gifts and delivery.
Frequently asked questions about Secret Santa and Wichteln under 20 euros
What exactly is Wichteln?
Wichteln is the German version of Secret Santa. Everyone secretly draws a name and buys a gift for that person within an agreed budget. The name comes from the Wichtel, a little elf who secretly does good deeds. It is played at the office Christmas party and among friends and family in the weeks before Christmas Eve.
What is the difference between Wichteln and Schrottwichteln?
In regular Wichteln you buy something nice within the agreed budget. In Schrottwichteln everyone brings something useless they already had at home, and the more useless, the more fun. Schrottwichteln is purely for laughs; in regular Wichteln the recipient hopes for something lovely.
What is a good 20-euro Secret Santa gift for a colleague?
Something small and neutral that goes with any outfit, such as minimal studs shaped like a rectangle or a ball. Avoid initials, birthstones and jokes if you do not know the person well.
Why is jewelry a handy Secret Santa gift?
Because jewelry has no size. Stud earrings fit everyone and adjustable rings bend to fit. Every piece from Lundholm also ships in a luxury gift box, so there is no wrapping to do.
What do you give if you do not know whether she has pierced ears?
Choose an adjustable ring or a bracelet. They always fit and there is nothing to guess.
Can you spend more than the agreed amount at Wichteln?
Better not. In Germany the agreed amount is a firm deal. Going way over it puts the rest of the group on the spot, so stay within the budget.
When should I order to be on time?
Orders placed before 3 pm (CET) on a working day ship the same day. Delivery to Germany takes 3 to 7 working days; for other countries, see our shipping page. Count back from your Secret Santa evening, St. Nicholas Day on 6 December or Christmas Eve on 24 December.
Find your Secret Santa gift
Stud earrings, rings and bracelets in stainless steel: waterproof, hypoallergenic and always in a luxury gift box.
