A DESIGN FOR LIFE

Brown & Newirth

Brown & Newirth

Swarovski

Renowned Plymouth jewellery store Drakes is now under new management, having joined forces with award-winning jewellers Allum & Sidaway. “We now have the added resource of not one but an additional five sister stores; that gives us the opportunity to access countless more collections to bring you much more choice!” explains marketing manager Abi Davies. “Our store team remains the same: same friendly faces, same values, same passion for all things bridal – just with the benefit of more choice.”

The new management has ushered in a flurry of shimmering arrivals to the store, with diamond-set wedding rings being particularly in demand. The exquisite designs are perfect for brides seeking a delicate and intricately detailed ring to complement their engagement ring, while making a sparkling statement of its own.

“Our principal wedding ring partners Brown & Newirth have released some brilliant new diamond-set shaped and wishbone styles to facilitate even the most unique engagement ring,” says Abi. These are joined by new textured and patterned wedding rings for men in-store. Renowned for their quality and durability, each Brown & Newirth ring is made to order, and couples can choose the width, metal and finish with the option for free engraving inside.

“We continue to see many couples looking to create something bespoke to fit an inherited, remodelled or unusually profiled engagement ring,” says Abi of the current love affair with personalised jewellery. “We just love working with these couples to design and craft a one-off piece.”

Beyond the exquisite collection of rings, a stunning selection of bridal jewellery has arrived in-store. We love the new range of necklaces, earrings and bracelets from Clogau which encase pearls in silver and gold floral detailing. “It’s so easy to picture this on a spring bride,” says Abi, while also lauding the allure of Swarovski for bridal jewels. “Swarovski remains a trusted brand to offer affordable sparkle for your big day,” she says. “They’re classic pieces you can be sure you’ll wear again and again.”

Designed by Italian sculptress and painter Annamaria Cammilli, the Maison’s jewels feature three-dimensional forms in gold and diamonds, while Giovanni Raspini, another new Italian brand, creates bold and strikingly beautiful pieces in silver. With these standout creations in-store, it’s an exciting time to visit Drakes and plan your wedding day jewels. drakesjewellers.co.uk

As the symbol of your union you’ll wear for life, choosing your wedding and engagement rings is a big decision. From metals and gemstones to personal touches, the experts share their advice for choosing a ring to cherish forever

words Hannah May

When it comes to important purchases, buying an engagement or wedding ring is right up there. And, while the experience of finding or designing a piece of jewellery together that will symbolise your union – and remain emotionally and physically attached to you thereafter – is incredibly exciting, there’s a lot to consider. We’ve enlisted some expert advice to help you get started.

A question of style

Where to start with choosing an engagement ring? “Have a look at the jewellery your partner already wears to get an idea of what style they like. Think about their personality and the clothes they wear,” advises designer-maker Stephanie Stevens (stephaniestevensjewellery. co.uk). “Perhaps create a mood board of rings you like, and you will see a certain theme start to emerge. Always go with your gut: clients normally go back to what they picked first.”

Once you’ve thought about style preferences, it’s important to consider your budget to help you manage your expectations and achieve your vision.

“Think about your budget – not just for the engagement ring, but also for down the line,” highlights Janie Wolverson at Erin Cox (erincox. co.uk). “If you are buying an engagement ring in 18ct gold then ideally you will need a

wedding ring in 18ct to wear alongside it,” she elaborates. “18ct gold is more expensive than 9ct because it has twice the amount of gold content.”

Armed with an image and price range, the next logical step is to start looking in person to see the array of options – and discover what you’re most drawn to. “My first recommendation is to visit our workshop,” says Jamila Hirtenstein at Justin Duance (justind.co.uk). “We have a really relaxed approach with our customer appointments: it’s all about having a bit of fun trying on lots of rings and narrowing down what you like.” such as the style of ring, the width that suits your hand, the colour of metal you like best and whether you would like any diamonds or gemstones,” she continues.

“It sounds overwhelming, but it is a fairly instinctual process. I often find people are naturally drawn to certain elements or designs – and it’s our job to put those pieces together and design the perfect ring.”

What’s your metal?

Next, it’s time to consider what metal you like. Different metals have different properties, ranging from silver (the weakest) to platinum (the strongest). Matching the metal strength of your engagement and wedding rings is important to ensure that one doesn’t wear the other down.

“You also need to consider lifestyle,” advises Janie. “Will the ring be worn all the time? Is the person wearing the ring very practical, or does he/she have a manual job? Your jeweller will help guide you to the right sort of stone, metal and settings to suit how you will wear the ring.”

And if you still can’t quite decide, Janie has the perfect solution. “Erin likes to mix metal colours and so it may be that the ring shank is one colour and the setting a different one. Erin also creates a unique ‘camo gold’ where yellow and white gold is melted together. This is a great option if you wear a range of different coloured metal jewellery and also ensures the ring stays modern with the ever-changing fashions.”

If you’re seeking a ring with green credentials, discuss this with your jeweller too. “There are lots of precious metal options to help the environment: recycled, Fairtrade, SMO (Single Mine Origin) and remodelling old heirloom jewellery into your wedding rings,” asserts Corrinne. “Research these and see what resonates with your ethos – most jewellers can accommodate your requests. There will, however, be different costs involved as some are more expensive so don’t be afraid to ask for several quotes.”

By discussing the details and sampling a range of styles with your jeweller, you’ll gain a better understanding of what looks and feels best for you (and your budget), from the metal to the band width and ring shape.

Another consideration is the pairing of your engagement and wedding rings, as Stephanie explains. “If you have an engagement ring, you have something to work with and to make the

“It sounds overwhelming, but it is a fairly instinctual process. I often find people are naturally drawn to certain elements or designs – and it’s our job to put those pieces together and design the perfect ring.”

Justin Duance

Drakes

Drakes

Molten Wedding Ring Company

Justin Duance Verity Westcott Photography

Verity Westcott Photography

1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 2.

2. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3.

4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4.

wedding ring fit perfectly alongside it. Think about where you need a curve, and if you would like diamonds or other stones set in the band to make them match the ones in the engagement ring.”

“If you don’t have a ring to sit alongside then you can have whatever you want,” she continues. “The main thing to think about would be the shaping of the band – this will link to your personality and what design best suits you. Then you can think of different ways to make it unique like adding engraving, stones and textures.”

Hot rocks

Once you’ve decided on your metal and shape, it’s time to consider whether you wish to incorporate stones into your design.

Selecting something personal to you can help to make the ring your own – perhaps by incorporating your birthstone or a gem with a meaningful colour – while also maximising its visual impact.

Again, think about how the gem will wear, as well as appear. “Erin loves to use naturally coloured stones, including diamonds and sapphires, in engagement rings as they are hard-wearing and durable for jewellery which is going to be worn every day,” explains Janie. “These stones can come in a range of golden tones as well as oranges, pinks, blues and greens. Coloured stones are often teamed with white diamonds either as

a trilogy or by having diamonds down each shoulder.”

Remember to discuss your ideas to see if your jeweller can help you find a practical solution. “People often want an emerald in their engagement ring; however, they are very delicate, meaning they are not ideal for everyday wear. We often suggest alternative green stones such as sapphires or garnets, which are more suited to daily wear,” explains Janie.

If your heart is set on diamonds, Janie has some words of advice. “We would always recommend buying quality over quantity,” she says. “Buy the best quality diamond you can afford, even if that means going for a smaller size. The clarity of the stone will be far superior and it will really twinkle – often making it seem bigger than it is.”

Many jewellers’ signature making processes will imbue extra meaning, such as Justin’s sandcasting technique, which is most commonly used to reinvent preexisting pieces. “If you have any heirloom materials, we can remodel them into your wedding rings, and incorporate any existing or new gemstones into the design,” explains Jamila.

Something personal

When it comes to personalising your rings, there’s a host of options to increase the bespoke factor. “There are the finer details such as choosing a beach sand for your ring to be cast in, or the hardwood to be inlaid,” says Jamila. You could pick the cove where you became engaged or the tree in the garden of your first home together.

“We can also engrave the inside of your ring with a personal message, date or fingerprint – to name but a few options!” she adds.

“Personalised wedding rings will always be popular,” agrees Janie. “Engraving or having secret stones set inside the band conveys a special meaning to the wearer.” Reworking an heirloom piece of jewellery, whether it’s using sentimental gold or gemstones, is another way of adding a personal touch to your ring.

“Choosing a ring is a very special time,” reiterates Jamila. “Whether as a surprise or picking your rings together, we always recommend choosing something that suits you and your lifestyle. Don’t get too worried about what is in fashion or what other people do. Ultimately, these are the rings that you are going to wear forever so they only need to be right for you.”

1. Drakes drakesjewellers.co.uk 2. Emily Nixon emilynixon.com 3. Justin Duance justind.co.uk

4. Stephanie Stevens

stephaniestevensjewellery.co.uk