Modern Jewelry Trends

To make their proposal even more memorable, many would-be grooms are making the bended-knee question a private moment between two people and their photographer. In today’s New York Times, the article Will You Marry Me? Say Cheese! tracks a new trend: hiring a photographer to take a picture of the proposal. Obviously, proposal paparazzi aren’t for everyone. But public posting of private moments is more common in the age of social networking sites and instant messaging. Many people’s lives today are so well-documented, reviewing a lifetime of images would take a significant fraction of that lifetime. But having an image of the proposal also allows a couple to share the moment with friends and family. Since jewelers are also involved in proposal planning, maybe this new trend offers an opportunity to build a deeper relationship with the betrothed couple. Hire a photographer to document the proposal moment as a gift to the couple. (A local photographer who does a lot of weddings might agree to do it for very little for the referral.) When the couple comes in to pick up the image, you will have a great opportunity to let them know that you can also help them with wedding rings, gifts, and a bridal registry. Most importantly, by being involved in the marriage at the beginning, you are more likely to become the family jeweler, not just the place where he bought the ring. A gallery of proposal photos would make a great wall in your diamond room: a wonderful reminder of what the purchase is all about. With permission from the couples, they might even be wonderful material for your website or marketing campaigns too.

The ratings for the 2007 Emmys may have been the lowest in history but the jewelry on the red carpet this year deserved high marks. Dresses were glamorous and colorful but simple, with more than a touch of old Hollywood retro drama, letting the jewelry take center stage. Surprisingly, the strongest jewelry trend at the Emmys this year was long shoulder-dusting earrings. Debra Messing, television style icon, wore Cartier Art-Deco inspired diamond and platinum earrings easily four inches long. And who remembers Marcia Cross‘ dress? All attention was on those amazing five inch drop turquoise earrings by Lorraine Schwartz and matching turquoise-and-ruby snake bracelet. (There were several jeweled snakes on display, including the rhinestone snake halter biting Portia de Rossi’s Azzaro dress.) Other stars sporting the long earring look: Michelle Pfeiffer in Harry Winston, Queen Latifah in Diamond in the Rough, Heidi Klum in her own chandeliers, Ali Larter in Neil Lane, Rebecca Romijn in Neil Lane, Kate Walsh in Neil Lane, and Jenna Fischer in H. Stern. Several stars appeared in the height of jewelry fashion, rare for a red carpet event. Ellen Pompeo’s Fred Leighton suite of yellow gold jewelry with tasseled necklace, bracelets and ring, had a retro forties glamor. She loved the jewelry so much, she removed her engagement ring for the night because it clashed with the chunky feeling of the yellow gold ensemble. Minnie Driver had a neon yellowish-green dress fresh from the Spring runways last week in New York, accessorized with a chic black bakelite cuff with diamonds and rubies in 22k gold and diamond, ruby and pearl earrings by Bochic. Katherine Heigl’s stack of black gold bracelets, ring, and hoop earrings with dangles by Ryan Ryan Jewelry were fashionably up-to-the minute. Overall the winners of the placement sweepstakes, Emmy edition, are Chopard, Lorraine Schwartz, Neil Lane, H. Stern, and Bochic.

While everyone else watching the MTV Video Music Awards last night was waiting for a Britney Spears You Tube moment, we were, of course, focused on the jewelry. Britney, for example, was showing off a Hellmuth ring and diamond studs (as well as a noticeable lack of grace) at the new-format awards show held for the first time in Las Vegas. Jewelry trends at the awards were much less chaotic than the new format, which switched back and forth between parties in suites, a main stage, table tops, and balconies. The focus on the wrist continues: the most popular jewelry look last night was stacked bangles and other bracelets, either in gleaming gold or diamond pave. The best dressed combined different styles of bracelets to make a unique statement. Bangles, link bracelets, pave, openwork, all were artfully stacked to show individual style. Once again, the winner of the red carpet sweepstakes is Lorraine Schwartz, jeweler-to-the-stars who also happens to be a very innovative designer, and joining her this year, her sister Ofira. No one else came close. Beyonce, in a gravity-defying (taped?) gold Grecian toga frock, wore Schwartz’ Monkey earrings and bracelets. (The Monkey collection is inspired by the classic Barrel Full of Monkeys game, but with a lot more diamonds.) Ashanti also wore Lorraine Schwartz diamonds while Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige chose to wear the gold-intensive looks from Ofira. Other than the bracelet bandwagon, the next most important style statement was earrings. But any overall earring direction is still unclear, with hoops, studs, and chandeliers all seen at the awards. Also, as usual the Diamond Information Center had great success in placing plenty of diamond right-hand rings. All in all, a much dressier look than in past years, perhaps in tribute to the Las Vegas venue. It was much less boring than other awards shows, although the fight between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee during Alicia Key’s performance didn’t make it on the air. (Rock was actually cited for misdemeanor battery by the Las Vegas police.) In tribute to the more original look for MTV’s show, despite the Vegas venue, I managed to write this entire review without using either “bling” or “rocks.”