A recent survey from YourEngagement101.com highlights nine different bridal jewelry styles
Three-year-old YourEngagement101.com, a website targeting the pre-engaged,
surveyed readers this spring to determine their bridal jewelry preferences in
its first annual Bridal Jewelry Awards.
“We started in April by asking all the bridal manufacturers
and designers we know (400 total) to submit pieces in the eight categories (one
max per category),” explained Severine Ferrari, editor in chief and associate publisher
of YourEngagement101.com, yesterday in an email interview. “There was no charge
or fee. Then we gathered a committee of 10, including seven retailers from different
parts of the country, myself, our online editor, and Michael O’Connor, and the
committee narrowed down the entries to eight by category.”
The online community could then vote from May 1–31, and
votes were limited to one per email and IP address. In total, 4,000 valid
entries were received, from which the following winning designs emerged.
Best Classic Engagement Ring (Tie): Norman Silverman (first) ?and
Gabriel & Co
Best Fancy Engagement Ring: Natalie K
Best Women’s Wedding Band: Kirk Kara
Best Men’s Wedding Band: Ritani
Best Matching Set: Kirk Kara
Best Vintage Engagement Ring: Coffin & Trout
Best Trendsetting Engagement Ring: Mark Silverstein
Best Eco-Friendly Engagement Ring: Brilliant Earth
Ferrari was particularly enthused about findings because
they offered “real insight on what women want now,” she says. For example, two rings
with rose gold accents won, and at least three of the winning designs had a
vintage aesthetic, both notable trends. “Though we had alternative metal bands
in the selection, a platinum with diamond band won for the men,” she observes.
Retailers on the panel included Ron Samuelson of Samuelson’s
Diamonds, Baltimore, M.D.; Cliff and Darlene Miller of M.J. Christensen
Diamonds, Las Vegas; Adam Gorman of I. Gorman, Washington; Jim DeNatale of
DeNatale Jewelers, New York City; Andy Koehn of Koehn & Koehn, West Bend,
Wis.; David Long of Long’s Jewelers, Burlington, Mass.; and Gail Friedman of
Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers, Los Angeles.
YourEngagement101.com invited retailers nationwide with
great reputations to participate because of their knowledge about styles selling
now.
Consumer who voted were automatically entered into a
giveaway for 12 prizes, including a Swarovski Crystal tiara from Tigerlilly, a
pair of white gold wedding bands from RedCarpetJewels.com, and 10 limited-edition
royal wedding cookie tins.
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