What Brides Want

Brides must choose from hundreds of gowns, thousands of flowers, dozens of wedding cakes. Still, the most sentimental and important part of this formula is her wedding set. These two rings are perhaps the only jewelry she owns that she will wear every day for the rest of her life. For that reason, they have to be a style she loves and a design that stands up to the test of time.

This isn’t to say that every engagement ring needs to be a round, brilliant solitaire or the wedding ring a plain band to wear with it. Today’s brides have their choice from an ever-growing array of new cuts and shapes, settings with or without diamonds or colored gemstones and precious metals in a variety of colors and purity.   One of the strongest trends in bridal rings right now is romantic designs inspired by the Edwardian and Victorian periods. Usually made in platinum or white gold, the settings are detailed with scrolled, engraved and cutout designs. The center diamond, often round or cushion cut, is surrounded by lacy filigree with micropavé accents at the sides.

The use of small diamonds to accent the center stone is another popular look. The design can be classic, such as a three-stone ring with baguettes or trillions on either side, or contemporary, with the center diamond in a wide bezel that is accented by a delicate sprinkling of pavé. Today’s bride may choose a romantic, curling setting that wraps the diamond and intertwines with the wedding ring; she can opt for a bold, sculptural design with soaring channels of tapered baguettes, or go for the understated magic of a diamond solitaire in a tension setting.