Bridal Jewelry Trends - “Trends IN”

March 20, 2007
by Glenn Taylor

Wedding Rings

In white metals, platinum is king if you can afford it.  The pure platinum metal is dense and wear resistant, it can last for generations and the white color stays white.  Palladium is another platinum group metal that is making inroads into the white metal market recently.  Its white color stays white like platinum; it’s not quite as durable or wear resistant, although it does wear better than karat gold.  White metals hold probably 75% of our bridal sales, and white gold with its attendant rhodium plating which gives it a brighter and whiter color still commands 60% of those sales, probably due to its lower costs.  A special note about white gold; it can have an underlying yellowish-white tint which is usually electro-plated over with rhodium to give it a whiter appearance (this plating can wear off over time and reveal the off-white color underneath).  Yellow gold has been coming back a bit stronger lately; it has always been there and those who choose it wouldn’t have anything else, you’re either a white or yellow metal person.

All styles across the board are being sold, but if I had to pick a couple of trends, one would probably be the antique or heirloom look, usually accomplished by using millgrain or beaded edges or with floral engraving that gives the piece this look and feel.  Another trend might be the wider shanked solitaire, accompanied with a bezeled or semi-bezel set center stone. 

Diamonds

Usually bridal rings are set with all white diamonds, but with that said, we occasionally set rings with side accent stones, like: blue sapphires, fancy pink or yellow diamonds.  Adding color in bridal rings has never been easier, usually you’ll see a signature piece or two in a jewelry store showcase, but in a full service jewelry store, you can ask the jewelers to remove and reset stones to your hearts desire, to achieve an even more unique and distinct ring.
Round diamonds are requested most, with the square or princess cut a distant second, and an even more distant third, is the marquise shape.  All shapes, colors, and sizes are available for the more adventurous among us.

Using different shaped stones, choosing your mounting, the style of the settings, as well as adding a bit of color can help you stand out and express yourself with your own uniqueness, in an ever more cookie cutter world.   

Earrings

For earrings, it’s still the diamond solitaire stud and the bigger, the better.  It’s like the ubiquitous, little black dress; good for almost any occasion, like a beautiful punctuation mark to a finished sentence. 

Pearls are probably second that I see as a bridal earring choice.  Usually, they’re worn together with a matching pearl-strand necklace.  They’re round and voluptuous and have a most wonderful inner glow that only adds to the moment.  Pearls can be handed down through the generations and worn for formal events, as well as look very trendy with blue jeans and a starched pressed white shirt, so they’re definitely not an investment that needs to sit idle.

Another earring that tends to sell for that special day is some type of long drop or dangle that has sparkle, in which diamond would be the first choice.  Of course, the style of the jewelry you choose to best finish the ensemble would depend on what type of dress you’re going to wear.

Glenn Taylor

Taylor's Gold-n-Stones, Inc.
3578-B Airport Way
Fairbanks, AK 99709
907-456-8369