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Ask Jeff Cooper: Engagement Rings How To

It’s the question almost every groom-to-be faces. ‘How do I choose an engagement ring?’

We went over the finer points of how to recognize quality here, but most of us still need help picking the perfect style for her personality.

Conventional wisdom says to ask the bride’s mother, sister or a close friend to come look at rings. That’s not necessarily the advice we’d give you.

FIRST, if you’re sincerely worried she won’t love the ring, just ask her what she likes. You can always pretend you’re researching a birthday or holiday gift.

If you want the ring to be a total surprise, the key to understanding (and conveying) her personal style is Hard Evidence. And the proof is in the pictures.

Here’s a short list of snapshots that will help your salesperson pinpoint the ring of her dreams. (You could bring them on your phone, but it’s way better to print out these pictures and bring them to the store.)

1. Pictures of her in her favorite outfits.

2. Snapshots of her favorite jewelry, that show the metals, stones, and styles she likes.

3. Pictures of her handbags, perfumes, or any brand names she likes may give valuable clues to her taste. If her bag, signature fragrance and coat are all classic, trendy or super feminine, you’ll probably want her ring to match.

4. Does she subscribe to any magazines? Whether she reads Town & Country or Real Simple, her reading material has the potential to be very revealing when it comes to the personal style she aspires to.

5. And last, but not least, does she have a Pinterest account? This is a goldmine of clues about her personal style, and you may actually find ring pictures in there. Take screenshots of anything you think is relevant.

SECOND. to get an idea how a bride’s personal style might translate into her wedding style, we like Brooklyn Bride’s “Phi Style” mood boards.

For example, if her Pinterest is filled with black and white pictures of movie stars and glamorous dress up outfits, she might dream of being an Old Hollywood Bride, who’d probably love an Ava Engagement Ring.

Is she an independent, sophisticated art lover? Does she collect images of modern, funky interiors and fashion? The Sculptural Bride might love the Estella Engagement Ring.

Or would you say she’s a bohemian flower child? Does she love nature, vintage style, or ethereal, romantic dress designs and photography? The Lily Engagement Ring is one to consider for the Kate Moss-inspired 1920s garden bride.

As you begin your search, just remember to be prepared, patient and relaxed. The perfect ring is out there!

Pictured above, a brand new design from our Laurel Collection.

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We Love: Fashion Bloggers & Art Photography

This week, we noticed these St. Patrick’s themed recipes on Epicurious, which go brilliantly with our post on emerald engagement rings.

We discovered 6 influential design bloggers to follow. (We already knew about the seventh one, Because It’s Awesome.)

We loved this interior designer’s own home, combining 19th century architecture with eclectic furniture and cool, contemporary art.

We watched this fun installation art video.

This weekend, we want to bake these triple chocolate scones.

And read these week’s end blog posts from Cup of Jo, Cupcakes and Cashmere and A Girl, A Style.

And spend time with Beatrice Jansen’s still life photography.

What’s your plan for the weekend? We hope it’s a great one.

We’d love you to Like us on Facebook, and talk to us in this blog’s comments.

Photo by Portland Wedding Photographer Sean Taylor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Love: Emerald Engagement Rings

As we mentioned before, Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year is Emerald, and being the jewelry enthusiasts we are, we’re so into it.

We’ve written about colored stones before, which we think are going to be huge here in the States in the years to come. In Europe, colored stones have been “in” for a long, long time.

Queen Victoria picked a fierce yellow gold serpent ring with an emerald head, to symbolize her endless love with Prince Albert.

And when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry his American lover Wallis Simpson, he proposed with a 19.77 carat emerald engagement ring, set in platinum and surrounded by diamonds.

Not to be outdone, our own royal family, the Kennedys have a majestic emerald ring in their history, too. JFK gave Jackie this emerald stunner in 1953, and we’re still talking about it 60 years later!

Today, Halle Berry and her French fiance Olivier Martinez are leading the emerald engagement ring comeback in Hollywood. He proposed with this bold yellow gold and emerald throwback to another era.

Not to be outdone, a trendsetting Jeff Cooper couples recently commissioned this Custom Tara Engagement Ring with split shank and two incredible halos of accent diamonds, surrounding an epic Emerald center stone (above).

Let us know what you think about emerald engagement rings in the comments, and Like us on Facebook!

We Love: Bridal Shower Games & Ideas

Happy Monday! Here’s our favorite bridal shower idea, from Apartment Therapy:

The best surprise party I’ve ever attended had no hiding behind couches, no yelling “surprise.” The honoree arrived at a party in progress and slowly realized that all her friends and family were there and the cake had her name on it! It was an amazing, low-pressure way to surprise her without all the drama.

How cool is that? Here are a few more cool ideas we’ve collected for throwing a memorable wedding shower.

Don’t care much for pink and glittery? From Grey Likes Weddings, this dinner party theme would make the best Bohemian wedding shower! How cool is that cake? Do it and send us pictures!

We love modern calligraphy!

Send out these recipe cards with the shower invite and collect them at the party. So personal and heartfelt!

And since it wouldn’t be a shower without a silly (but awesome) game, here’s how you play “Sticker Stalker” in 5 easy steps.

1. Give 10 stickers to each guest.

2. The object is to stick all your stickers on the other guests without them knowing, one sticker per guest.

3. If you’re caught “stickering” your target gets to put a sticker on you.

4. If someone falsely accuses you of “stickering” you get to sticker that person.

5. The first one to get rid of all their stickers wins!

Have any bridal shower ideas you love? Share in the comments!

Photo via A Fabulous Fete.

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We Love: Bespoke Wedding Dresses

This weekend, we’re so inspired by these links for food, fashion and culture. What’s inspiring you these days? If you have any amazing ideas of your own, we’d love to read them in the comments.

We were honored to have our Tatiana Engagement Ring named February’s ring of the month, by Engagement 101 magazine.

Got time for a wedding video and a quick cry? Of course you do.

Prepare to be besotted. We just discovered Laure de Sagazan, the bespoke, Parisian wedding dress designer. C’est incroyable, non?

We’re loving this ‘something blue‘ wedding inspiration shoot.

And wow, these pictures! Every detail of this wedding in Mexico is crisp and gorgeous, yet totally fun and casual.

Shopping for a honeymoon, a vacation, or just daydreaming, pinning or making a travel bucket list? Sunsurfer is a resource we love for pretty travel photography.

Our idea of a perfect shower gift. Cooking 101 from the mother of modern cooking, Alice Waters. And maybe throw in these.

Speaking of food, our hero Joanna Goddard says this veggie burger is the best, so we’re going to try it.

Oh the sparkle! If you’re a NY area art lover, get down to PS1 for this show. It’s open till March 31st. And don’t forget your camera!

Click through our slideshow above, of designs by Laure de Sagazan. Like us on Facebook and be the first to know about our new designs and giveaways.

 

 

Our Facebook Contest Winner

We’re thrilled to announce that our Facebook fan Joanna has claimed her prize, a heart shaped pendant from our Heirloom Collection.

We love her enthusiasm! She emailed us the following:

OMG! OMG! I am writing to you STILL in shock that I won! YAYAYAYAY! You have no idea how excited I am, I think I am dreaming as I am so in love with this breathtaking necklace! I am still shaking from excitement. Wow, this is a dream come true! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! I have never had anything near this wonderful happen to me before! I have been happy dancing around the house ever since I received you email. Doing cartwheels in my mind! Many many thanks again!

Now we’re happy dancing around, because we made our winner so happy. Check out our Heirloom Pendants here, to see what Joanna is so excited about. And Like us on Facebook to be eligible for future giveaways!


We Love: A Brunch Wedding & Statement Lipstick

Here’s a wedding makeup idea your bridesmaids will love. A statement lip can make a subtle, wearable bridesmaid dress really ‘pop’ and coordinate with your color scheme. Check this out for inspiration.

The sensibility doesn’t have to be bright and poppy, either. In fact, we love the juxtaposition of moody makeup and spring flowers, too.

Imagine a chic burgundy or oxblood manicure with these Jeff Cooper rings. The contrast of fresh florals and deep, dramatic color looks so cool.

Good news! You have two more days to save 20% off wedding & bridesmaid dresses at J. Crew! We’re really feeling this color. And doesn’t the illusion neckline on this one feel like something Sofia Coppola would wear?

These accent walls are totally inspiring for home, but we think they’d make great photo, reception or ceremony backdrops as well.

And speaking of parties. Our Bloody Mary love is well documented, so how about serving this for a chic brunch reception, shower or engagement party? Lovely.

And it wouldn’t be a wedding roundup without the emotions running high. Here are two of the most romantic things we’ve seen lately.

First, there’s the ‘first look,’ above, via Grey Likes Weddings. Click through for the whole story. What a darling! And then, check out this beautiful visual poetry.

Have a heavenly weekend, friends. ‘Like’ us!

 

 

Ask Jeff Cooper: The Right Hand Ring

So who’s wearing right hand rings, and why?

Madonna and Mariah Carey, for starters. And Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Ashanti, Minnie Driver and Eve are just some of the famous women who’ve sported an incredible ring on their right hands.

What does it mean? It depends.

When Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor the 69 carat “Burton-Taylor Diamond” for her 40th birthday, she moved her engagement ring to her right hand and wore both. Why wouldn’t she?

And Jeff Cooper rings aren’t just for getting engaged and married. We see a lot of our eternity bands given as anniversary gifts or push presents. And some of our bolder designs make great statement or cocktail rings to wear on occasion or all the time. This custom design we created would be a perfect right hand ring.

Then there’s the old saying ” the left hand is for thee, the right hand is for me.” For some women, right hand rings are a celebration of independence and happiness. Why wait around to fall in love when you have the means to enjoy yourself now?

While we tend to associate simple solitaire rings with engagements, and minimal platinum or gold bands with wedding rings, there really are no rules. When it comes to right hand rings, just do what you love!

What’s your ideal right hand ring? Leave us a comment!

And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook.

Photo Elizabeth Taylor via the AP.

We Love: Peter Som for BHLDN

So many things we love this week, mostly wedding-related links and Academy Awards fun. Enjoy, and have a beautiful weekend!

So gorgeous! BHLDN is making Peter Som wedding gowns! Click through our slideshow above for the first 2 looks!

These dresses from the RED Valentino fall-winter collection would make the most legendary, high fashion bridesmaids ever. Via 79 ideas.

Got 6 minutes for a sweet, Oscar-nominated romcom?

Years ago, we read in the NY Times that the secret to hangover-free celebrations is cocktails that combine clear spirits with a vitamin C mixer. It works! For an Oscar night signature cocktail, we want to try this. (It’s bright and beautiful for a spring wedding, too.)

Ever watch wedding dances on YouTube? We do. This one’s a classic. So much love.

How cool is this? Fair trade site 7 Hopes United now has a gift registry.

Want to go somewhere totally different for your honeymoon? Prague looks like a photographer’s paradise.

And here’s every single item we’d want for the trousseau on Stripes & Sequins. The perfect little collection to make a bride feel beautiful.

Thanks to Forbes Magazine for mentioning us!  They picked 22 jewelry designs for 2013, including our Tilly Engagement Ring!

Like us on Facebook, where we’ve added a new tab where you can browse our collections. And feel free to talk back in the comments!