Picking out an engagement ring can be overwhelming with such a wide range of styles, cuts and stones to choose from. Check out these trending bridal jewelry designs for inspiration before you stop by one of these expert Houston jewelers.
Love all things vintage? Explore designs like this one that harkens back to the intricate lines of the Art Deco era. Click here to read the rest of this post »
Congrats! You’ve found your “Oh yes!” dress. Now it’s time to add a little (or a lot) of sparkle to your big day with the right jewelry for your bridal gown. You’ll want pieces that complement your wedding dress neckline and the overall aesthetic of your wedding. But the most important thing is that you remain true to yourself and feel comfortable with the jewelry pieces you pick up. Read on for our recommendations!
If Your Wedding Dress Has a Sweetheart or Strapless Neckline…
This type of dress leaves a lot of room to cover. The options are limitless. You can wear long queenly earrings with a sparkling choker. Or precious diamond stud earrings with a statement necklace. Whatever you decide make sure it doesn’t overwhelm your beautiful gown.
Gown: Anne Barge
If Your Wedding Dress Has An Off- The- Shoulder Neckline…
Bare shoulders and a loose, upswept bridal hairstyle offer a great opportunity to try a bold, statement-making chandelier earring. Going for a more Boho OTS look? Opt instead of an on-trend “ear crawler,” which will catch the light every time you turn your pretty head. Don’t forget to add a little sparkle to your hair as well. A delicate hairpin will echo your earrings, while still keeping the “less is more” mantra.
Gown: Enzoani
If Your Wedding Dress Has a High Neckline…
Skip the necklace altogether. There’s no need to be extra when you’re already the bride. Play around with what kind of earrings fit with your wedding vibe: long, elegant chandelier earrings, delicate vintage drop earrings (perfect for this coming season’s Victorian-inspired bridal gown styles) or sparkly studs. There’s no right or wrong option, as long you feel comfortable and stay true to yourself.
Gown: Galia Lahav
If Your Wedding Dress Has a Plunging V Neckline…
This super-popular wedding dress neckline leaves infinite options. A plunging V neckline naturally makes you look taller and slimmer. Stick to a thin, delicate lariat necklace (IF your bodice is not illusion mesh), or, if you’re feeling bold, go with a eye-catching jeweled cuff, or add a unique hairpiece to your chic, dramatic ponytail, or romantic, tousled braid.
Gowns: Galia Lahav
Whether it’s a one-of-a-kind engagement ring, heirloom-quality wedding bands, beautiful bridal chandelier earrings or a dazzling diamond bracelet you are searching for, our I Do! Wedding Soiree jewelers have the perfect pieces to complete your wedding day look. Four of Houston’s leading jewelers — Donoho’s Jewellers, Nazar’s Fine Jewelry, Eklektic Studio and Lewis Jewelers — will be showing an array of stunning wedding jewelry for brides and grooms, and for every taste and style, including platinum, 18K and 14K gold engagement rings, custom handcrafted items and bridal accessory jewelry. Scroll down for a sneak peek at our I Do! wedding jewelry exhibitors’ fine wares, and purchase your advance-sale tickets to Houston’s ONLY luxury wedding event, coming to The Corinthian on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets will sell out, they always do! Bonus: Purchase your tickets by 11:59 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 17, and you could WIN a $700 engagement shoot from Adam Nyholt Photography!! Our winner will be notified next week, and announced live at the I Do! Wedding Soiree. Wouldn’t it be lovely if it were…YOU?
1. Photo: Nazar’s Fine Jewelry 2. Photo: Diamond Cellar – Donoho’s Jewellers 3. Photo: Eklektic Jewelry Studio 4. Photo: Lewis Jewelers
Jewelry: Loggins Jewelers
It’s one thing to walk into a store full of sparkling diamonds. It’s quite another thing to walk into a space filled with so much stunning “ice”…and feel so much personal warmth. That’s what we love about Loggins Jewelers—that unique combination of luxury jewelry and super-friendly, low-key (but highly trained) service to go with it.
While Loggins changed its name recently from J Loggins, this two-decades-plus veteran of the Houston fine-jewelry scene has not changed its dedication to making customers feel loved and beautifully adorned, while doing good for the Houston community. With charitable efforts such as its recent Toys For Tots event, and Angels for Alzheimer’s College Scholarship Awards, Loggins is dedicated to giving back, while making good on its commitment to “find anything, design anything and fix anything” in the area of fine jewelry.
If you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind engagement ring or wedding band set, or looking for a last-minute Christmas gift for someone special, Loggins has a superb selection, and a staff that will make you forget the hustle and bustle of the hectic holiday shopping season, while you luxuriate in comfort, surrounded by a whole lotta gorgeous bling. We love this independent Sugar Land jewelry store, and we invite you to feel the love, too. Check them out here, drop in for a visit, and make sure to tell them we sent you. Hugs & happiness, darlings. Have a sweet and sparkling holiday!
Jewelry: Loggins Jewelers
Your love is unlike any other. Which is why Eklektic Jewelry Studio creates wedding jewelry unlike anything else you’ll see. In this exclusive Houston Wedding Blog Q&A, we chat with Eklektic founder Marco Gutierrez Jr., who grew up “running around and getting in trouble” in his grandparents’ jewelry workshop—and who now works side by side with to-be-weds to create the jewelry of their dreams, in his very own studio. If you’re thinking of going custom with your wedding jewelry, you’ll want to read every word.
Photos: Courtesy of Eklektic Jewelry Studio
Houston Wedding Blog: What is your jewelry design background?
Marco Gutierrez Jr.: I grew up in the jewelry industry, and started Eklektic Jewelry Studio in 1999 in Rice Village. Just out of architecture school, I wanted to establish my own business that would combine my passion for jewelry and my love of architecture. Every design I ever made in architecture school had a “jewel-like” element.
Everything we do stems from our passion for making jewelry. All of our jewelers have been personally trained by my father and myself in the art of making jewelry. Unlike most other jewelers, we are actively involved in the process of making jewelry and we passionately invest in learning new techniques.
HWB: Take us through the process of designing a custom engagement ring or wedding band. What are the steps, and how long does it typically take?
MGJ: We believe in making jewelry for a lifetime. We truly believe an engagement ring is the most important part of a couple’s history and legacy.
We approach design in a very personal way. We talk to our clients in a casual conversation about things that are not related to jewelry. I feel this helps me get a feel for what our clients like and dislike, as well as a direction on their style. After our initial conversation, we start determining things like colors, materials and budget.
This is when I start brainstorming and creating three completely different computer renderings of what I think the design could be. Usually most clients tend to lean toward a particular style out of the three, or in some cases a combination of two of them. Once the style is chosen, we start detailing the design by adding or removing elements such as the center stone.
Once we are happy with the design, we use one of our 3D printers to print out the model. This takes anywhere from four to eight hours depending on the complexity of the design. This 3D-printed model allows us to see the scale and proportions as they will be in the final piece. It is probably the most important part before finalizing the process prior to starting the work in metal.
Then we prepare the final 3D model for casting. Once the piece is cast in the metal of choice, the bench work starts: filing, detailing, laser correction, polishing, setting of stones, and polishing. All of which is done right here in our studio. The entire process from start to finish can take up to six weeks.
HWB: What is your advice to couples for selecting the perfect engagement diamond?
MGJ: We encourage them to learn as much as possible about diamonds, especially the 4 C’s (carat, color, clarity and cut), and sometimes the origin of the diamond. For inspiration, we always recommend that our clients look at luxury jewelry houses. Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and Tiffany are some of the most common.
Lastly, the money spent on a ring should feel comfortable. Engagement jewelry marks a point in your personal history and it has to be able to reflect that part of your life. We don’t believe it is about a certain dollar amount, but instead it is about a certain feeling in the creation of your ring.
HWB: What would you tell a potential customer who is intrigued by the idea of a custom engagement ring…but concerned about veering away from tradition?
MGJ: Custom is not for everyone. Having your jewelry custom-made means you will have an amazing one-of-a-kind piece that tells your unique story. It’s a conversation-starter in many cases. We provide a lifetime of complimentary maintenance and polishing for your ring, because we love the piece we made for you and want to make sure it’s properly maintained. Every visit is a grand celebration and every client makes a big difference in our lives.
Photos: Courtesy of Eklektic Jewelery Studio
