In Hollywood, media and fashion industry circles, it's known simply as "the ring."
When Jennifer Lopez flashed her 6.1-karat, pink diamond ring for the
paparazzi in November 2002, she sparked a jewelry stampede that, as it turned
out, has lasted longer than her engagement.
Lopez and Ben Affleck ended their snaillike march to the altar in January,
but jewelers still can't keep the pink diamonds in their cases.
"It's amazing the way the national media affect
trends. Even in Fort Wayne, Ind., there's a trickle-down effect,"
said Bradley Gough of the local Bradley Gough Diamonds.
Fancy-colored diamonds -- pinks, yellows and blues -- have become a whole
new category for sellers of fine jewelry. And people who just have to have the real thing will pay the price.
"Pink is very expensive," said James Ball of Peter Franklin Jewelers in Fort Wayne and New Haven.
The popularity of engagement rings with colored diamonds at the center
began growing slowly about four years ago, "and it's really been driven a lot by the Jennifer
Lopez thing," Ball said.
Jen and Ben's Harry Winston ring cost a reported $1.2 million. But for
those with a little less change jingling in their pockets, low-cost sterling
silver/cubic zirconia replicas are being advertised by fashion jewelers for
$14.95 and up.
Another Hollywood-driven jewelry trend, now hanging on for a second year,
is the chandelier earring.
One actress after another tripped down the red
carpet at the 2003 Oscars lit up by glittery, multi-tiered earrings that would
have been perfectly at home dangling over the dining room table.
Working their chandelier earrings to greatest effect at the September Emmy
Awards were just regular folks like Jennifer Aniston and Patricia Heaton.
While the chandeliers found in more mainstream jewelry stores tend not to be
quite so large, the basic trend has shown no sign of stopping, according to jewelers.
"Chandelier earrings are still strong,"
said Darrell Will of Fort Wayne's Will Jewelers.
"The companies have expanded their lines to offer more
choices."
"This year, the focus is on the ears,"
predicted Jeffrey Josephson, president of Raymond
Lee Jewelers in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
"Women will be wearing upswept hairstyles to show off
the dramatic earring styles that are quickly gaining in popularity. After several years of
seeing tiny studs and hoops, earrings are getting bigger and longer,"
Josephson said.
The re-emergence of what was once known as a dinner ring or cocktail ring is
another trend that has jewelers seeing stars.
The "right-hand ring" is "a remarketing and repackaging of a diamond ring to be worn on the right hand,"
Gough said. Again, media and celebrities are at least partially to blame.
On the hit TV show "Sex and the City," the style-conscious stars all sport
right-hand diamond rings on and off the set. Julia Roberts, Debra Messing and Cameron Diaz also have been caught right-handed.
Sensing an opportunity, the jewelry industry's Diamond Promotion Service
sent out a call for right-hand ring designs. The specifications called for rings with a north-south orientation, multiple stones with a center stone no
less than .2 karats, and a more contemporary look that would distinguish the ring from the more traditional, left-hand styles.
"There is a campaign now for diamond right-hand rings," says Robert Moorman
of Carroll's Jewelers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "I was at the Independent Jewelry Organization convention in Orlando this past July, and that was all the
buzz. The idea is that so many women are single now and control their own destiny."
The marketing and advertising of right-hand rings tends to have a feminist
twist, with slogans like "Women of the world, raise your right hands," and "Your
left hand is for love; your right hand is for success."
"It's a way of saying, 'I'm an independent woman, and I don't have to depend
on a man to buy a ring for me,' " Gough said, "and it's also a good thing for the
jewelry business."
The powers that be in the jewelry game also have pushed their right-hand rings
to the public via the ready-to-wear runway shows in New York. At the spring 2004
shows in New York last September, designers Carmen Marc Valvo, Alvin Valley,
Badgley/Mischka, Ralph Lauren and others all featured right-hand diamond rings from
the likes of Fabrikant, Fred Leighton, Harry Winston, Jacob Arabo ("The King of Bling"
for hip-hop stars) and Chopard.
bling bling
A style of flashy attire, usually chains, worn by those pretending to be gangersters of some sort
in an attempt to be the largest and flashiest looking.
Important lyrics of a touching folk ballad I wrote one day while bored.
Direct examples may be found in most rap videos, although the origins of this behaviour may be
traced back to the male peacock, whose large tail allowed him to attract several mates while at
the same time rendering him defenseless against predators, or in the case of rappers, useless to society.
Bling bling bling goes the gangster, Bang bang bang goes the gun!
From the Urban Dictionary - Urban Dictionary is not appropriate for all audiences.
Women want the most glamour and glitz for their dollars, says Thomas A.
Andruskevich, chairman and CEO of Mayors Jewelers.
"Women are definitely getting their bling-bling on. You only have to look at
that Gap commercial with Madonna and Missy Elliott to see how women are wearing
their diamonds today. These are women with children and careers. They don't need
permission to buy anything. There are lots of diamond divas out there."
In Fort Wayne, Gough and Ball say they both have seen interest in right-hand
rings, while Will said he has not. "It has not gone over as well here," Will said.
What is big, however, is the custom-created Italian charm bracelet. The stainless
steel bracelets, decorated in 18-karat gold and/or gemstones, can be personalized to
reflect the wearer's own characteristics, interests and relationships. Instead of
featuring dangling charms like the old-fashioned variety, the individual links of
the bracelet are them-selves personalized. "We've created them for 3-year-olds
all the way up to grand-mothers," Will said.
What has gone almost unnoticed in all this, except by jewelers, is probably
the hottest trend of the time -- the shift away from yellow gold to white gold
and platinum. Check any store, and chances are those right-hand rings, fancy
diamonds and chandelier earrings are all set in a white metal.
"The enormous popularity of white gold, platinum and silver have really
changed our industry," said Gough, who estimated the mix of gold rings he
sells is now 60 percent white, 40 percent yellow.
Other hits this year include jewelry sporting colorful gemstones such as
rubies,
garnets,
emeralds,
sapphires,
citrines,
aquamarines and on through
the entire color spectrum. Like Princess Diana's famous sapphire engagement
ring, the pieces often feature large colored stones at the center surrounded
and enhanced by glittering diamonds.
"My designs are for that segment that likes the colorful and fashionable,"
says Laura Munder, whose Palm Beach-based company is a favorite of socialites
and the stylists at InStyle and Harper's Bazaar magazines. "You can't be a
wallflower and wear these pieces. My customer likes fashion and is confident
when it comes to jewelry. They understand that my signature is a bold use of
color; you see less of the metal and more of the stone."
Josephson confirms the link between the direction of ready-to-wear and the
advent of brilliant color in fine jewelry.
"The dramatic colors we've been seeing in clothing for the past several
seasons is also showing up in jewelry," Josephson says. "Color is present on
everything from gold to gemstones. The bold looks of turquoise and coral are
making a comeback, and pastel-colored pearls are giving the jewelry classic a
new look."
Shine with what's hot
- Right-hand rings (either treat yourself to a new diamond ring or recycle heirloom pieces).
- Chandelier earrings (the bigger and flashier, the better).
- Coral (from pink to orange).
- Three-stone diamond jewelry -- representing the past, present and future
(a fave rave on the hands and necks of the young to convey commitment and love).
- Charms and pendants
(Britney Spears, Madonna and Demi Moore all wear delicate charms -- from initials to the zodiac).
- White gold and platinum bridal jewelry
(it's still the dominant look, although yellow gold is making a showing as estate pieces get fashion's spotlight).
- Conversion pieces
(versatility is the name of the game with necklaces that convert to bracelets or even belts,
pendants that become brooches, line earrings that become hoops, and reversible rings or rings with floating stones).
- Sterling silver necklaces (popular looks include necklaces with ball chains, medallions with
black cords and "floater" necklaces with nearly invisible cords featuring spaced pearls that appear to float on the wearer's neck).
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel / Knight Ridder News Service contributed to this report.
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