Rings of All Kinds

759

Like everything else in the fashion world, engagement and wedding rings are subject to trends. Out of style is the solitaire diamond engagement ring, and few brides these days will purchase a wedding band that matches the ring on their groom’s hand.
“We do very little in complementary bands,” said Lourdes Zeik-Chivi, one of the owners of Leonardo Jewelers in Red Bank. “That went away in the ‘80s. Most brides have stones in their bands now.”
As for engagement rings, there is no doubt in Zeik-Chivi’s mind which shape is tops.
“Round, round, round,” she said.
Lexi Derasmo, a salesperson at Neves Jewelers in Shrewsbury, agrees.
“Round diamonds are still the most popular,” she said. “It’s a timeless cut.”
About 95 percent of brides choose a white diamond, but when a gemstone is selected instead, both said it is usually a sapphire.
“Some choose a ruby or emerald, or a yellow diamond if it’s a second marriage,” Zeik-Chivi said. “But white diamonds are by far the most popular.”
When it comes to settings, the biggest trend right now for brides is a micropave setting. This consists of smaller diamonds around the center stone, fitting together in a honeycomb pattern so there is very little visible metal. The effect reflects the beauty and brilliance of even a small diamond.
“It’s a little twist to a classic style,” Derasmo said.
A good number of brides today are opting for the halo setting – a center stone surrounded by a circle of smaller diamonds.
“Halos have been really thriving for about two years,” Derasmo said. “It enhances the center stone, adding a lot of sparkle around it and giving it that something extra.”
Many halo settings also have diamonds running down the side of the band, and those bands are most often made of platinum.
“White metal is still predominant,” Zeik-Chivi said. “Recently, we’ve had an uptick in rose gold, which is mixed with a different alloy to give it a rosy copper color. It adds a little color, and it’s more muted than yellow gold.”
Although some men choose diamonds for their wedding bands, Derasmo said most opt for the classic plain band in platinum or white gold.
“They seem to gravitate toward the satin finish,” she said. “It’s not as highly polished.”
Another trend, which is suitable for weddings and anniversaries, is stackable rings. These are ultra-thin bands set with a row of diamonds or gemstones. They are designed with the purpose of wearing several different rings together, and can be mixed and matched. Men often buy their ladies additional rings for special occasions. They can be worn alone, together or combined with an engagement ring.
“Stackables are beautiful,” said Zeik-Chivi. “Depending on how long your finger is, you can wear several rings together. You start with one and then add more.”
Many couples prefer to design their own ring setting, and Leonardo Jewelers offers that service too.
“We have a full design service with a master jeweler on premise,” Zeik-Chivi said. “We tend to be more classic than avant-garde, but we can do whatever your heart desires.”
Zeik-Chivi said that Leonardo Jewelers, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, doesn’t hold to the old adage that the groom should spend two months’ salary on a ring.
“We never use that sales technique,” she said. “We’ll work with whatever the groom feels comfortable with, but we remind them that the party is a one-day affair and the ring is forever. We sell rings for $1,000 and $100,000 and everything in between.”
These days, it isn’t always the bride alone that gets engagement jewelry. A lot of men who don’t wear rings are given engagement watches by their bride-to-be.
“In Europe, when a couple gets engaged, the man gets a band and wears it on his left hand,” Zeik-Chivi said. “He switches it to his right hand when they are married. In the United States, it’s not traditional for the fiancé to wear a band. We sell groom’s watches for the bride to show her commitment to him.”
— By Mary Ann Bourbeau