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We Love: NYC Wedding Photographers

If you’re following our blog, you may have already picked up on this, but we’re obsessed with New York style. Our jewelry’s been designed and crafted here forever, and from the beach to the city to the mountains, New York is our constant inspiration.

As avid followers of wedding photography trends, we’ve seen a lot of urban motifs, but Christian Oth’s New York City is the real deal. He captures the city’s energy, and the sophisticated, timeless personality we know and love.

To check out his NYC slideshow, go here and click “New York.”

Photo by Christian Oth Studio.

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We Love: A Simple Wedding

We love a great wedding, and this one is straight out of our wildest Ralph Lauren dreams. NYC couple Laurie & Brendan decided to keep it simple and romantic, with a heartfelt elopement in the Adirondacks at Lake Placid Lodge. Read their interview with one of our favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard from A Cup of Jo. The pictures by Jon Zander Photography are crazy good and their love story was even better. Happy Monday!

Photo, by Jon Zander Photography, reblogged from A Cup of Jo.

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We Love: Made in NY

What’s on your holiday wish list? We have some cool things picked out that are made in New York, and a few other irresistible somethings from everywhere. Here’s our round-up of enviable items to we’d love to give & receive.

For the art & design-types on your list, the most gorgeous fishbowl imaginable.

How pretty are these gem-shaped soaps, by husband & wife designers in Red Hook, Brooklyn!

Also made in Brooklyn! The best Hanukkah gelt. 

These killer neckties are made in NYC, too.

Yes, yes, yes, more awesome presents made in Brooklyn!

Speaking of color, who wouldn’t want to wake up with this every morning?

European dream weekends! How fun would it be to find this in your stocking?

And this, from artist Yayoi Kusama’s too-cool Louis Vuitton Collaboration.

Of course, the best things in life aren’t things. Have fun this weekend!

Photo: Aruliden’s Fish Bowl, from the A+R design store.

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Ask Jeff Cooper: Diamond Engagement Ring Trends for 2013

Happy Holidays! We’re already thinking about 2013, which is poised to be an incredible year in engagement ring style. Here are our top ten predictions for the best trends of the year.

1. Vintage-Inspired
Updated vintage designs are the single biggest trend we see, now and in the future. Who doesn’t want a ring that feels timeless? Vintage-inspired engagement rings have that innate sense of history and romance. Photo: Hope

2. Colored Stones
What do Penelope Cruz, Kate Middleton and Mariah Carey have in common, besides great hair? Colored engagement rings! Sapphires especially are seeing a huge rise in popularity, quite possibly due to Kate Middleton’s royal rock.

3. Halo & Double Halo
Modern brides are loving the architectural look of halos, and some couples also see them as symbolic of eternity. Either way, we think dramatic halos seem chicer by the day.

4. Princess, Emerald & Oval Diamonds
After Brad Pitt designed Angelina Jolie’s engagement ring with its impressive emerald cut diamond, was there any doubt the trend would take off? Three cuts we predict will be huge in 2013 are princess, emerald and ovals.

5. Personalization
Justin Timberlake included Jessica Biel’s aquamarine birthstone in her engagement ring. Our own Nikole Collection is based on the ring David Cooper designed for his wife, Nikole. In love and jewelry, the more personal, the better.

6. Twisted Bands
An elegant twist is such a classic, glamorous way to add dimension to a ring, we think you’ll be seeing a lot of this trend in the future.

7. Floral Motifs
Brides feel freer than ever to express their personalities, and unique engagement ring designs are gaining popularity. Floral engagement rings strike such a cool balance of feminine beauty and bold individuality.

8. Unique Settings
Blending in with the crowd is so over. While most brides want a classic look, choosing a unique setting is a great way to make it your own. We love barset diamonds for a look that’s bold, but still timeless.

9. Three Stone Rings
A lot of couples see the three-stone ring as symbolic of the past, present and future, or three of their own personal milestones. It’s just another way that couples are personalizing their experience, a trend we love.

10. The New Solitaires
Fresh, new versions of the classic solitaire will be big in 2013. We’re really feeling radically clean lines and understated details that make the center stone pop.

Keep up with all the trends in wedding jewelry. Like us on Facebook.

 

We Love: A Colored Wedding Dress

Would you dare to forgo the classic white gown for a colored wedding dress? If three times make a trend, then colored dresses are a craze in Hollywood, since we’ve seen this almost a dozen times!

Trendsetting stars like Julianne Moore, Gwen Stefani, Portia De Rossi, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway, Cynthia Nixon, Emily Deschanel  and Amber Tamblyn all wore color, and we suspect it’s a trend we’ll see more of in the future.

Who wore it best? It’s Hollywood, so of course everyone looked uniquely amazing. We’re all about the refined simplicity, so we’re voting for Reese Witherspoon’s blush pink Chantilly lace Monique Lhuillier. Such a flattering color and classic silhouette could really work on anyone.

Photos: Lara Porzak & People Magazine

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We Love: A Great Wedding Video

So what are you up to this weekend? The Matisse show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art looks amazing. But then, so does holiday shopping online with a cake in the oven. Here are some fun links from around the net we’re loving this week. Have a wonderful weekend!

The ‘Magnificent Jewels’ auction at Christie’s.

Is ‘Magnificent’ a bit too extravagant? Try these.

Put a bow on it for the holidays.

Yum. Nine Amazing American Whiskeys.

A sweet gift that gives back.

Matisse at the Met!

Just so incredibly romantic.

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The Heirloom Diamond Pendant

Anyone can network on the golf course, but our own David Cooper launched a new creative venture right from the tattoo chair.

While being tattooed by another artist in Mike Rubendall’s studio, David was getting to know the legendary Rubendall, and they hit it off right away. “Mike would pop his head in from time to time, and we’d talk about everything we had in common. Besides being artists and business owners, we shared similar perspectives when it came to life, work and family.”

At the time, Mike and his wife were expecting their first baby, and David and his wife expected their second child around the same time. When David introduced Mike to the idea of a “push present,” they decided to collaborate on a pendant for Mike’s wife.

A push present, or baby bauble, is given to a new mom by her partner. It’s usually jewelry, and the idea is to pamper her, honor her hard work, and celebrate the birth in a meaningful, memorable way.

That first pendant design, brought to life in gold and diamonds, proved their aesthetics were compatible. They immediately decided to create a full collection based on stars, initials and religious symbols. Millgrain edges give the pendants a vintage feeling, and they have the same refined simplicity you’d expect from any Jeff Cooper piece. As David puts it, “Mike has an eye for lines, proportion and flow. That’s what makes these pendants truly unique and special.”

To launch the new collection, we’ll be giving them away on Facebook. ‘Like’ us and we’ll let you know when it’s time to enter.

Celebrity Style: Jessica Biel Engaged!

Check out Jessica Biel’s engagement ring! We hear that Justin Timberlake collaborated with his jeweler, to create the most “personal” design possible. The halo around the center stone even includes aquamarines, the bride’s birthstone. Awww. The end result was a big, bold square diamond in a vintage-inspired setting, a look we absolutely love.

Can you see yourself rocking this style? There are quite a few similar styles in our Tandem Collection, but we think Tallulah comes closest.

Photo from instyle.com.

Welcome to Jeff Cooper Designs!

2012 has been an exciting year at Jeff Cooper Designs. We’ve been busy unveiling new collections, redesigning our website, and expanding our social media presence, especially on Facebook. We’re thrilled to welcome you to our new blog, where you’ll find inspiring ideas and relevant information on getting engaged, picking a ring and everything that comes after.

Photo: Gwen & Ginger Engagement Rings from our new Grace Collection.