New Trends in the men’s luxury jewelry market

One would think that during the recession the sales on luxury items in general would
drop. But high end jewelry and car markets did the exact opposite.

While the overall car market fell, luxury car sales rose by 10% or more during 2008, one of the hardest hit years.  GM’s numbers were down (24%) along with the standards Honda (almost 13%) and Toyota (11%) also experiencing a loss in sales. During the same time period Mercedes increased their market share 24%, Audi 17% and BMW an amazing 50%!

Part of the reason is that there is no substitute for quality and prestige. Another is that luxury car manufacturers introduced some less expensive models opening the market to a large income level.

Men’s jewelry also over performed in the downturn, doubling since 2007.  As in the case of car manufacturers, there were some externals involved. For many men the competitive business atmosphere caused them to become more aware of their appearance. “Dress for success” became an important lifestyle goal.

This trend has continued unabated until the current time. Men now represent a rise of 10% in the jewelry buying public. And they are making up their own minds about what they want to wear. A jewelry manufacturer of high end wedding bands for men noted that 4 out of 7 men choose their own wedding ring without help, with 3 being somewhat influenced by their future wife.

The styles and shapes that men are attracted to are very specific.  The same manufacturer explained that they were drawn to the architectural design of their men’s wedding bands, as well as the mechanical complexity of the rings.  Quality of craftsmanship is also a buying factor. Is the infrastructure of the wedding ring solid; is it well executed; and how professional is the finishing? A man’s wedding ring is more dependent on the lines and finish than a woman’s ring which can also rely on the brilliance of the diamond to carry the “look”.

Will this trend in the men’s high end jewelry last?

Michael Fisher, the Editor of the men’s section at Sylesight, is a trend-forecasting specialist. He explains that men will not necessarily spend on wardrobe pieces, “but an accessory to express their individuality? Sure.” (Time Business). He also explained that business men buy luxury jewelry (such as wedding rings) at the end of a recession to show that they are part of the recovery. Men tend to buy one excellent piece instead of mix and match cheaper items, so they are willing to pay the extra to have a luxury high end piece, especially in a wedding ring that will be worn for years.

Valentine’s Day gifts for women-A Great Tips for Guys

It’s that time of the year again…Valentine’s Day.  For most guys a drug store box of chocolates or a bouquet of spring flowers along with a sappy card is their standby. But what do candy and floral arrangements have to do with love?  These are consumables, definitely not representative of relationship of substance.

The key is the depth of the feelings, and the commitment to each other; in other words, the essence of the relationship. Has Valentine’s Day caught you in a new relationship, maybe just casually dating?  Obviously the gift in that case is going to be less expensive, and less in your face love sick.

If you are dating steadily, but have not yet gotten to the point of making a decision about a long term commitment, then a delicate heart pendant or maybe a romantic couple’s weekend at a spa would be suitable. The experience might even kick the relationship up to the next level.

Valentine’s Day, more than any other special occasion, is the time to solidify a relationship that has proven to be enduring. A promise ring would become a keepsake that she will treasure even after it is replaced by an engagement ring. Promise rings can be any style, but they should be genuine (as is your love), and heart shaped gemstones are particularly meaningful. For a change, an eternity style band in candy colorful combinations might be perfect. I have seen a collection called “Bonbon” with colored gemstone set into various colors of gold, and these rings look good enough to eat.

Is this Valentine’s Day the big one? Is this going to be the day when you solidify your promise with an engagement ring? One gentleman I know covered all bases: a box of chocolates, a romantic card, and a bouquet of roses with an engagement ring tied onto one of the stems. The ring was totally unexpected, and desperately wanted, so he made one lady very happy.

The most popular engagement ring currently is made from white gold or platinum with a diamond or multiple diamonds. The style and color of metal has gone through changes over the years, from yellow gold with colored gemstones, to the modern favorite. Some careful probing of your lady love or her friends might give you a clue as to what her tastes are.
The wedding is always a special day by itself, you don’t need Valentine’s Day to exchange those rings.

But down the line, either on the day of your anniversary or on Valentine’s Day, you should think back on how special she has made your life, and recognize your mutual love with a sparkling eternity or anniversary ring. Some claim the eternity ring has a solid circle of diamonds symbolizing love that lasts forever, and the anniversary ring  is made with a half circle of diamonds. Most people use the terms interchangeably. Whatever the name, the ring is always an expression of enduring love.

What does this tell you about buying a Valentine’s Day gift for the woman in your life? Take a look at your relationship and make your choice appropriate to the status of your relationship.

Which type of Jobs are available for jewelry designer’s

If you are looking for a generic looking model engagement or wedding ring, you can find sites online where you can “build your own ring” or order from their selection of common styles.  Jewelry stores will also have empty settings ready for you to pop a center diamond into Slot A, and maybe some smaller stones into Slot B.

But at the level of high end original designer jewelry, especially for men, the jewelry designer has a very important job. He or she has to craft a model that is attractive to the eye, original, and structurally sound. These rings are not made to be mixed and matched, although some changes can be made without compromising the art of the design. For example, a man’s wedding ring can be complete with or without diamonds, but has to translate what is masculine in taste and appearance into a luxury wedding band that he will wear with satisfaction for years.

 Inspiration is often found in a variety of places. Sometimes a line or shape will attract the designer’s eye. The hard work starts when he or she tries to translate that unique vision into a ring. Inspiration and creativity are the foundation of a good design, but there are other elements that have to be addressed for a successful ring design.

 The lines of the wedding band would have to be established. Women’s bridal jewelry can be ornate and delicate or bold and modern. But a man’s wedding band presents the designer with a more limited choice in line. How then to create a unique model?

Adding texture to the metal is one choice in the designer’s options. Composition is also an important consideration. In the composition various different components can be brought together to fashion a new and exciting design for the wedding ring. Because a man’s wedding ring must meet and satisfy certain standards of use, the composition must take into account the infrastructure required to give a man’s wedding ring its strength and durability. Unlike other forms of art, a ring must exhibit functional soundness. The design must also have comfort built into it. This is an item that will be worn every day for years.
Color can change a man’s wedding band from bland to vital. The different colors or metal available, especially in 18k gold, allow the designer to create different “looks” while remaining true to the form of the ring.

Analysis of the use of the wedding ring is important. A physically active man who uses his hands a great deal will be looking for a design that will be quite different from the CEO of a major corporation.  The size and shape of the hand must be considered for band width and weight. Can the ring be offered in more than one band width, or would that negatively affect the design?

It is obvious that a designer for men’s wedding rings, or any jewelry, has a great deal to consider when creating a high end ring. Good designers have to create a piece of art while working within the limitations of manufacturing and the human element. Not an easy job, but some jewelry designers do it very well.

What is Difference between an anniversary ring or an eternity ring?

There is often confusion between an anniversary and an eternity band. While there are some differences in meaning, the terms are often transposable.
The eternity ring symbolizes the love the couple has for each other; a love without end. For that reason the eternity ring is a continuous circle with all sides being equal, the diamonds set completely around the ring.

 An anniversary band is commonly designed to have diamonds set on half of the band.  Because of the exclusively front facing stones in the anniversary ring, the ring can be designed with some variation in shape on the front of the ring. However, traditionally the rings have a symmetrically sized band.
Because an eternity ring with high prongs would be very uncomfortable, these rings are usually channel set or have very low standing prongs.

You can see excellent examples of channel set rings, with both a full diamond band, and a front facing diamond configuration at CrownRing.  This is a Montreal-based manufacturer of bridal jewelry who produces a wide selection of beautiful engagement, wedding, and anniversary/eternity rings. They supply retail outlets all over North America and parts of Europe with bridal jewelry that is renowned for original designs and excellent craftsmanship.

 CrownRing does not differentiate between anniversary rings or eternity rings. Rather their classification is “Channel Rings” and “Full Eternity” Bands.

For simplicity’s sake, we will use the terms anniversary and eternity rings interchangeably, as most people do today. 

At what point does a husband consider buying such a ring for his wife? Or the other way around, as companies such as CrownRing also manufacture men’s anniversary rings. Going back to the original terms for a minute, the eternity ring was not gifted at any special time or occasion, while the anniversary ring was usually reserved for an anniversary of the marriage. It was not necessary to wait until the diamond anniversary (60^th), this ring was appropriate at any time.

Today that has also changed. Anniversary and Eternity rings are also commonly given to mark the birth of a child, or any other important milestone in the marriage.  They are a reminder, and a declaration of the continuing love between a couple. Wearing the ring on the same finger as the engagement and wedding rings is an affirmation of the vows said at the beginning of the marriage.

CrownRing has a large selection of engagement, wedding, and anniversary rings. You can browse their catalogue online and then find the outlet closest to you that carry their collections.

The Big Star-a Diamond Engagement Ring

On December 15^th, 2011, Jason Tarwick proposed to Britney Spears. For the mega-star, this was a long awaited event. On December 16^th she introduced her diamond engagement ring at a Las Vegas soiree for her new finance’s 40^th Birthday party. Las Vegas and Britney have a long standing marital history. That is where she married her first husband in a drunken ceremony. That marriage lasted mere hours.

With expectations of this marriage having more staying power, the process has been traditional. Tarwick asked her father for her hand in marriage (in this case, an actual legal necessity as she is under conservatorship), shopped for days for the perfect engagement ring that would express his true feelings for Britney.

The minute pictures of the diamond ring hit the tabloids, a controversy broke out. You see, by celebrity standards, it was very modest, a mere 3 carats. But from the smile on Britney’s face it was better than any Taylor or Kardashian million dollar bobble.

Jewelry expert Michael O’Conner explained to one tabloid that the size of the diamond was a very well thought out choice.

“I heard that Jason didn’t want a giant center diamond since he was concentrating on the quality of the stone and the beauty of the platinum setting…the royal treatment continues all the way around the finger with platinum set diamonds throughout the entire ring.”

Neil Lane was the designer for this special engagement ring, and despite its conservative size it still cost in excess of $90,000. The center stone is of excellent quality, and the band is set with 90 small round diamonds.

Jewelry designer Lane said of Jason’s choice of a tiara-style setting:

“Jason is a romantic and when I asked him to tell me about Britney and what the ring would represent to them so I could find inspiration, his response was always the same…she is his princess.”

T his seems to be a case of love and taste overriding size and flash, proving once again that big isn’t always best. Minya Oh, the author of “Bling Bling: Hip Hop’s Crown Jewels” was surprised, in a very positive way, at the modest appearance of the engagement ring.

"The setting is a tiny crown but both that and the thin diamond-studded band are done so delicately, from afar the focus is still on that bright white center stone. Nothing about the ring overwhelms her hand, and nothing screams, 'Please believe my relationship is real!' “she added, "This is the kind of an engagement ring a pop icon has when they're ready for something that means more than just the ring."

There cannot be a better sentiment when it comes to a diamond engagement ring. Hopefully for Jason and Britney that “rings” true. They are certainly off to a good start.

Best Way to Buy Man's Wedding Rings

There is a huge amount of literature available about how to pick a woman’s engagement ring. Most of this is aimed at men because the ring will probably be one of the more expensive things he buys that doesn’t have wheels, play music, or is based on the latest digital technology. In other words, it is expected that he will not have a clue where his future bride’s tastes lie.

Woman, however, are expected to know what color socks he prefers and what he wants for supper tonight without asking (something about female intuition). In fact, many women have no idea as to what factors they should consider in choosing a man’s wedding ring.
Let us not forget that some men are opting to wear engagement rings as well, but the rules for that ring are similar to the wedding ring. The difference is the addition of a central diamond set level with the ring.

The first thing to consider is the color and style of his watch or other jewelry. Just as women tend to match their color of metal and style in their everyday jewelry, men demonstrate a sense of their taste in their basic jewelry. Does he hike yellow gold or white gold? Does he like plain items or stylish designer clothes and jewelry?

What is his lifestyle? A business executive would choose a very different ring from a man who works with his hands. Platinum would be a better choice for your handyman or construction worker, as it is more resistant to scratches and nicks.

How big are his hands? The width of his hand and the length and size of his fingers should be considered in the choice of band widths. Depending on the metal, a man’s wedding ring, especially a wide band, could be heavy. He may not find that comfortable.

For any man’s ring, check the comfort factor. A well designed ring, especially a high end model, will be built on a solid infrastructure and will minimize detailing that will affect the comfort level of the ring.

The answer to the question of diamonds on a wedding ring would be predictable for a woman, but not all men appreciate the flash and glitter. With the expanded variety of men’s wedding (and yes, engagement rings) available today, a man has the option of a solid metal wedding ring, or one set with diamonds. A well crafted high end designer men’s wedding ring can be as stylish and fashionable, or as plain and traditional as he wants.

Your job is to play detective and find out what exactly it is that he wants.

diamond engagement ring give her on Christmas

For those of you guys thinking to combine the holidays with a proposal, think twice before making the big day the same as Christmas. Why?

First of all, for those who celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, it is a very important birthday. Your thoughts and actions will probably involve rejoicing a monumental event, one that you need not be distracted from.

 On the more mundane side, Christmas is a time for family and friends… and of course for children. The holidays can be hectic. You will be sharing the day with piles of torn wrapping paper and a turkey roasting in the oven. Face it; you just can’t compete with the turkey.

Also guys…a two for one? Double up the engagement ring and the Christmas gift? Unless you are both exchanging engagement rings, on the commercial shopping scale you are one gift up on her.

New Years is the superior choice for a proposal for many reasons. First, it symbolizes a new beginning, a fresh year and an unwritten slate. Most people get married within the year of their engagement, so you are starting the year off with an important promise. Never mind the resolutions that won’t outlast the first month, you are making a commitment and saying this first day of this year is also the first day of the rest of our lives as a couple.

New Year’s is romantic, and can be a special and very personalized occasion to put that diamond engagement ring on her hand. Sparkles and New Years are a good match. And there is probably already a bottle of champagne handy.

Nothing enhances the little black New Years dress more than an engagement ring freshly placed on her finger. Maybe you could drop the engagement ring into her toasting glass as a special surprise. Just make sure she doesn’t swallow it!

 There may already be a convenient party underway where she can show off her new diamond ring! And she won’t have to share the moment with overhyped children, noisy gifts, exhausted adults, and a feast that will lull everyone to a state of lethargy.

New Years is the obviously THE choice of holiday on which to present that special diamond ring to the one you love. Of course, the engagement ring will have to be the right size and a design she likes, or you will be returning more than Aunt Anne’s hideous sweater in January.