We Love: Octavia Asscher Cut Diamonds & Strawberry Scones

The indulgent weekend. It doesn’t have to be anything too involved, but the rainy weather and fall busyness have us craving some coziness and luxury. So what do you have planned for the weekend ahead?

Going somewhere elegant? We loved this timeless and easy evening look. Simple hair, a boldly lined eye and a nude lip. Add the only Little Black Dress you’ll ever need. You’re perfect and you’re done.

Need a little more glamorous inspiration? Here’s Kate Middleton looking every bit the immaculate princess.

Staying home? Nothing says love like crumbly, fragrant Strawberry-Buttermilk Scones with your morning coffee.

Unless it’s an adorable proposal featuring our Naomi Engagement Ring and a stunning Octavia Asscher Cut diamond!

Set the mood with an exquisite scented candle, and let the magic begin.

If you have a little more ambition (and more of a budget to work with) Matthew Williamson’s wallpaper designs for Osbourne & Little are so luxe and amazing. We love the tiger print for a powder room or walk in closet.

And since nothing feels as good as making a difference in someone’s life, check out charity:water, a truly inspired way to care for people in need.

Have a spectacular weekend!

Image via Price Scope. ‘Like’ us on Facebook!

 

 

ask jeff cooper: the halo engagement ring trend

We predicted that halo rings would be big this year, and how right we were!

When we wrote about the adorable and lovely Alexis Bledel’s engagement to Vincent Kartheiser here, she wasn’t yet wearing a ring.

Now she’s stepped out in a vintage-inspired octogonal halo style, similar to our Tate Octet Ring.

Halo rings got some attention on TV when Catherine Giudici accepted ‘Bachelor’ Sean Lowe’s proposal with a square halo ring similar to Tallulah. ‘Bachelorette’ Emily Maynard wears a halo engagement ring, too.

The singer Brandy, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Wilde and Kate Middleton are but a few of the stunning celebrity brides who light up the room in halo rings.

Name a few more? Natalie Portman, Jennifer Hudson, Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Clarkson, Gwyneth Paltrow… it’s easier to name who’s not wearing a sparkly halo!

What say you? Are you on board with the halo trend?

The featured image is our Heather Engagement Ring.

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Engagement Ring Trend: Mixed Metal Wedding Rings

White gold and platinum settings will always be popular, but we’re seeing adventurous brides (and grooms) gravitating toward mixed metals for a cool, personalized look.

It’s not just edgy fashionistas and bohemians! In the tradition of classic beauty Audrey Hepburn and her stack of mix and match wedding bands, modern brides are mixing metals, and it looks totally chic.

Keira Knightley surprised everyone with her wedding outfit, then surprised us again, by combining an understated two-carat solitaire diamond in a platinum setting with a simple yellow gold wedding band.

Kate Middleton also dared to mix metals. As the world knows, Prince William proposed with Princess Diana’s blue sapphire ring set on a platinum band. Her wedding ring is a simple yellow gold band fashioned from a nugget of Welsh gold, a royal tradition.

Some brides feel that mixed metal wedding sets free up more options for mixing metals in all your jewelry and accessories, but most brides stick with (and love) a matched set.

This year we designed some of our wedding sets with rose gold accents for a mixed metal look within a perfectly matched set. The featured image above is the Larissa Rose Set, from our Laurel Collection.

What say you? Love it or leave it?

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Kelly Clarkson’s Yellow Diamond Ring

“Happiest night of my life last night!”

That’s American Idol Kelly Clarkson confirming her engagement on Twitter, and showing off her trendy yellow diamond engagement ring.

Fiancé Brandon Blackstock picked a big, bold halo to surround the yellow stone. We think it’s a perfect reflection of Kelly’s bright, sunny personality.

Want to see our version? Here’s Tate from our Tandem Collection.

Kelly, Penelope Cruz, Kate Middleton, Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson are just a few of the stars wearing colored engagement rings, a trend we expect to see a lot more of in 2013. We love it when couples use color to create their own custom rings. It makes the experience that much more personal and special.

Slideshow via Celebrity Bride Guide and Lucky.

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We Love: Wedding Dress Sleeves

After years of strapless wedding dresses dominating, we’re seeing chic brides in wedding dresses with sleeves. Fresh takes on classic styles are kind of our thing, so of course we’re loving this trend so much.

Molly Sims wore Marchesa’s romantic appliqueéd cascade sleeves for a demure, daytime look.

Nicole Richie and Kate Middleton went for glamorous, Grace Kelly-inspired long sleeves by Marchesa and Alexander McQueen, respectively.

And Anne Hathaway and Ivanka Trump kept the trend young and body conscious with form-fitting short sleeves to show off their arms.

Click through our gallery above to see some of our favorite sleeved wedding dresses.

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Ivanka Trump Photo: Getty Images
Anne Hathaway Photo: Vogue
Molly Sims Photo: Flynet Pictures
Kate Middleton Photo: The Palace / Flynet Pictures
Nicole Richie Photo: celebritybrideguide.com

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.

 

Meet Hope

We can easily envision our Hope Engagement Ring gracing the fingers of glamorous icons of perfection like Grace Kelly or Kate Middleton. And now, this level of perfection is totally attainable for the rest of us.

Features like delicate millgrain edges give Hope a classic, antique feeling and the lavish, channel-set accent diamonds make it princess-worthy. So if you’re as smitten with Hope as we are, you’re in luck! ‘Like’ our Facebook page and we’ll keep you posted on the upcoming Hope giveaway!