Back in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring, he was unaware that he had started a new tradition. Today, at least 82 percent of all brides in the United States receive a diamond engagement ring. Of those, more than half choose a classic, round, brilliant cut diamond, but the array of options to choose from is more than exciting. With fancy shapes like oval, pear, heart and marquise, today’s brides are realizing that there is a shape that flatters every hand.
STILL A BRIDE’S BEST FRIEND
A recent survey found that 82 percent of women prefer larger diamonds. “Women today really want to make a statement with their diamonds, whether they are diamond stud earrings, a glittering pendant or the all-important engagement ring. In other words, in this case, bigger is better,” says Elizabeth Florence, executive director of the Jewelry Information Center, a nonprofit trade association headquartered in New York City. “Branded diamonds such as the Ashoka, Leo, Rand, Gabrielle, Lovefire and the Royal Asscher Cut are are also gaining in popularity. American consumers are responding to the comfort level and element of trust that a brand name can add to the purchase of a diamond.”
Trends in wedding gowns often influence what jewelry brides choose. The most up-to-the-minute designs are rich with romantic detail: embellished with dripping crystals, and covered with lacy appliques and detailed embroidery. The matching jewelry offers details just as intricate: hand-engraved designs on gold and platinum, botanical motifs such as blossoms, vines and leaves with diamond or pearl detail, and textural finishes on the metals such as satin, brushed or granulation.
Strapless and halter-style wedding gowns continue in popularity, as do upswept hairstyles. This sleek look leaves the ears, neck and decolletage begging to be enhanced with glittering chandelier and pagoda earrings and multi-strand cultured pearl chokers. Vintage-influenced necklaces in diamonds and platinum with a nod to the Victorian, Edwardian or Art Deco periods can be a bride’s “something old.”
As far as her “something blue,” today’s bride can choose from a variety of gemstones in the hues of sky and sea. If money is no object, how about a blue diamond – one of the rarest and most precious varieties of colored diamonds? A bride with eyes on her wallet can choose from aquamarine, lapis lazuli, chalcedony, Peruvian opal, sapphire, peacock blue Tahitian cultured pearls, iolite, tanzanite (a bluish violet) or blue topaz.
If a bride is “thinking pink,” she’s not alone. Some of today’s trend-setting celebrities are sporting this rosy hue, which is feminine and flattering. Jennifer Lopez is sporting her $1.1 million pink diamond ring – a gift that fiancee Ben Affleck found for her at Harry Winston. Both Julia Roberts and Gwen Stefani wore wedding gowns in a blushing shade of pink. How to show one’s true colors without breaking the bank? Look for necklaces, earrings, and bracelets in pink tourmaline, pink freshwater cultured pearls, apple jade (rhodocrosite), rose quartz or cherry quartz.
Buying a diamond: What’s the fifth C?
There will be approximately 2.5 million weddings in the United States this year and many couples will be searching for the perfect diamond ring. Four factors, known as the “4 Cs,” determine the value of a diamond. They are:
Cut – The cut is designed to yield the maximum amount of light to reflect back. This reflection, known as brilliance, is an important factor in evaluating the quality of a diamond. A poorly cut diamond will appear dull.
Color – Diamonds come in every color of the spectrum, but the most popular gems are white. Stones are graded by color and given designations depending on how far they deviate from the purest white. Colorless stones are graded D and color grading descends through the alphabet, with each letter designating the yellower tint. The best way to see the true color of a diamond is by looking at it against a pure white surface.
Clarity – A diamond’s clarity is affected by any external irregularities and internal imperfections created by nature when the diamond was formed. Imperfections or “nature’s birthmarks” such as spots, bubbles or lines are called inclusions. Although these marks make each stone unique, the fewer the inclusions, the more valuable the stone.
Carat – This word for the measurement of a diamond’s weight is derived from the carob beans that were used to balance scales at bazaars in ancient times. Because large diamonds are rare, they generally have a greater value per carat.
Confidence – Jewelry industry experts add a fifth C – confidence in one’s professional jeweler. Be sure the jeweler is a member of a professional trade association, such as Jewelers of America (JA). JA requires high ethical standards of its members and provides them with ongoing education. A retailer finder, along with more jewelry information, is available online at www.jewelryinfo.org. (MS)
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