Jewelry & Trends

This year marked the 80^th Golden Globes Awards and was back in person in Beverly Hills. Full of excitement, gorgeous gowns and tuxes, it was certainly a feast for the senses! And of course, jewels and jewelry played a front and center role.

You might be wondering just how all the celebrities have access to such beautiful and expensive jewelry. Well, back in the day, stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins would buy their own jewelry for awards shows. Now, jewelers loan out their pieces in hopes of publicity which is not guaranteed. Most celebrity stylists gather multiple jewelry looks for each gown option for their clients. On average celebrities wear between $200,000 and $1 million worth of jewelry.

And we are sure this year was no different! This year, many celebrities chose a minimalist look, forgoing necklaces while showcasing their earrings. Many of those who did wear necklaces showcased elaborate diamond pieces.

We can’t wait to see what is worn for the Oscars! Tell us about your favorite jewelry from the Golden Globes in Bridgewaters Facebook page!

Bolo bracelets are one of the most popular styles available today. The bolo is an adjustable sliding mechanism that allows the wearer to adjust the fit on their wrist. No need to have someone else help and, once adjusted, the bracelet remains secure until you are ready to loosen and remove.

Bolo bracelets were inspired by the 1940s western fashion “bolo tie.” Originally created to keep a cowboy hat from flying away, they quickly became a tie worn at the neck and included a thin cord looped and secured with the bolo clasp. Jewelers adapted this style for its versatility and ability to fit all wearers.

Bolo bracelets are also so easy to fit with any outfit or occasion! A simple diamond bolo bracelet makes an elegant statement or you can stack your bracelets for a layered, fun, customized look. And if you are looking to purchase a bracelet as a gift, bolos make it so easy as you know they will fit any wrist and they come in so many styles!

Stop by Bridgewaters on Small Business Saturday, November 26 to get a start on your holiday shopping with our sale on all bolo bracelets ($40 each). And everyone who makes a purchase on Small Business Saturday will receive a pair of Pari Sapphire Earrings (while supplies last). We can’t wait to see you!

It has been a rough few years for those getting engaged or married with Covid restrictions. As we come out of our Covid hibernation, you may be thinking of proposing to your loved one. Today’s couples are very thoughtful in their approach to marriage and their engagements. Engagements are becoming much less traditional, more collaborative and focused on partnerships. Here are just a few of the trends happening in 2022.

• Collaborative Ring Design: About 50% of couples are visiting their favorite jeweler together to shop and/or design the ring. Finding the right jeweler who can help create a design within budget and is reflective of the wearer’s style is key!
• Outdoor Locations are Key: Nearly 75% of couples are getting engaged outdoors (compared to 40% in 2020). This may be partly due to having spent so much time at home the last few years. Additionally, outdoor locations offer beauty and an Instagram worthy backdrop for such an important occasion.
• Personalized, Creative Proposals: If the last couple of years have taught us anything, it is that intimacy, authenticity and connection matter most. While proposals may still contain grand gestures, they are also including personalized touches that reflect the relationship and personalities. Things like photo albums of their love story with blank pages for the future or personalized cards or mugs are a great way to create a lasting memento of the special day.
• Joint Proposals: While many are still opting for a surprise proposal, joint proposals are on the rise. With so many designing their rings together, it often makes sense that the proposal is also collaborative.

Whatever your style, as long as you remain in sync with your partner, we are sure your proposal will be just perfect. And Bridgewaters would love to play a small part in your plans – stop by to discuss ring options or design the perfect rings.

Many of us have been captivated by the mourning for Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on September 8 at 96. Have you ever wondered what happens to the Crown Jewels as well as any personal jewelry she may have owned? For the Crown Jewels, it is simple as they do not belong to any person, but to the Crown as part of the Royal Collection and are held in trust for the nation by the monarch.

In addition to the jewelry held in trust, there is the exclusive collection that belonged only to the Queen. These are items that she inherited, was gifted by family members or bought herself. There is a hierarchy in who will receive some of the pieces – The Queen Consort, Camilla, gets first choice, followed by the Princess of Wales, Kate. After Kate will come other family members including the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan. Additionally, the Queen may have left a private will with instructions on who might receive select pieces. The Queen was already in the habit of gifting jewelry to family prior to her death and some pieces may already have a new home.

While we mourn the death of the world’s longest reigning queen, we can be sure to be reminded of her through the jewelry and gems that will pass to her heirs. Bridgewaters extends condolences to her family.

Did you know that 40% of engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day? December is the peak month with Christmas Eve as one of the most popular days. So you might be thinking of getting engaged this coming fall/winter, but you are not sure how to find your partner’s ring size without giving away the surprise. We are here to help with great ideas for getting that ring size!

• Does your partner have a ring they regularly wear on their left hand, ring finger? If yes, see if you can borrow it for a quick visit to your favorite jeweler for sizing. Can’t borrow it long enough to get to the jeweler? Try placing the ring on a piece of paper and tracing around the middle (ie, inside). Note that this is not the most accurate way to get the size, but a good jeweler should be able to help.
• Connect with your partner’s family and friends. Maybe they have purchased a ring for her or your partner has tried on one of their rings. This will only get you a pretty good idea of the ring size though. And, most importantly, you need to be able to trust their family and friends not to spill the beans!
• Another way to enlist your partner’s friends is to have them try to find out the ring size. Best case scenario, your partner has a friend recently engaged who could let them try the ring on and the friend can ask the ring size. Just be sure to find a friend who can be subtle, bluntly asking might get you the right size, but might also give away your secret!
• Depending on your own level of smoothness and creativity, you could try to sneak it into conversation. You could ask her ring size as you plan to buy a ring for your mom, sister, etc. and want to have an idea of what size to get. Or if your friends are getting married, you could casually ask how the ring size was determined in their case and maybe your partner will share their size as part of her answer.
• Finally, you could just ask. Many couples today are less secretive about proposals or have conversations about marriage as part of the relationship. So…just ask! In addition to getting the correct ring size, you may also be able to get a sense of the style of ring they prefer. The actual proposal can still be a secret.

If you are ready to propose, Bridgewaters is here to help! We can help you find the perfect style, the right diamond or other gem and help keep you on budget. Stop in to see us!

Have you ever wondered who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most diamonds set in one ring? Well, lately you would have to have been keeping up with the news pretty often to know!  Back in 2019, the Lobortas Classic Jewelry House, a Ukrainian jewelry company, held the record with the Tsarevna Swan Ring. A total of 2,525 diamonds weighing 10.48 carats are set on the 18k white gold ring and it’s estimated worth was $1.3M.

Since then the record has been broken several times with the diamond count increasing rapidly: 3,827, 6,690, 7,777, 7,801. In November 2020, The Marigold or Ring of Prosperity was crowned the record holder with 12,638 diamonds. It is an ornate floral design with eight layers where each petal is unique.

This record too did not last long and was broken in May 2022 with a ring that has nearly double the number of diamonds! The mushroom shaped ring, created by SWA Diamonds has 24,679 diamonds and is named “Ami” which means immortality.

Perhaps this last record holder will be difficult to beat with so many diamonds? Either way, rivals are most likely already working on the next contender! While we mere mortals would most likely never have a ring with so many diamonds, stop by Bridgewaters to find your perfect diamond ring!

Famous jewels and jewelry often seem to have an illustrious past and the Napoleon Diamond Necklace is no different! The necklace, set with 234 diamonds with an overall weight of approximately 263 carats, was a gift from Napoleon Bonaparte to his second wife, Marie-Louise of the Austrian House of Hapsburg, Empress of France, upon the birth of their son Napoleon II.

After Marie-Louise’s death, the necklace remained in the family for several generations until, in 1929, the current owner, Arch-duchess Maria Theresa sent the necklace to the United States to be sold for $450,000 with her agents, a grandnephew and two others who used the pseudonyms, “Colonel Townsend” (supposedly in the British Secret Service) and his novelist wife, “Princess Baronti.” Following the stock market crash, the Townsends sold the necklace for $60,000, sending $7,270 to Maria Theresa and keeping the rest as expenses. The courts returned the necklace to Maria Theresa and her grandnephew went to jail. Colonel Townsend and Princess Baronti disappeared and their identities have never been uncovered.

Eventually the family sold the necklace in 1948 and its final owner donated it to the Smithsonian Institute in 1962. It can now be viewed at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

What other famous gems or jewelry would you like to know more about? Share on Bridgewaters Facebook page!

In many of our previous blogs, we have spoken of Egypt and its use of gold and gems. Egyptians were the first to have organized production of jewelry and their work in advancement of metallurgy and collection of gems impacted jewelry development in every civilization that came after.

One piece of jewelry, the funerary mask of King Tutankhamun, has captivated the world since its discovery in 1925 in Tut’s burial chamber in the Valley of the Kings. Found in the innermost of three coffins, the gold mask rested on the shoulders of the mummy and weighs in at 24 pounds. It is constructed of two sheets of gold, hammered together. The mask has two alloys of gold, 18.4-karat for the face and neck and 22.5-karat for the rest of the mask. The mask includes gems as well – lapis lazuli for the eye surrounds and eyebrows, quartz for the eyes, obsidian for the pupils. The collar includes carnelian, feldspar, turquoise, amazonite, faience and other stones. The tomb also include over 100 pieces of jewelry including beads, bracelets, rings, amulets and necklaces.

Our fascination with King Tutankhamun and his treasures is endless. Have you seen the mask and other jewelry of Tut in person? Share your impressions and favorite pieces on Bridgewaters Facebook page.

Since we are celebrating the birthstone of May, the emerald, it seems fitting to share information on the Crown of the Andes that includes nearly 450 emeralds, including one known as the “Atahualpa Emerald” which is twenty-four-carats. The Crown is one of the most important examples of colonial Spanish American gold work, crafted in the 1600s. Legend say the Atahualpa Emerald was taken from the last Inca emperor, Atahualpa.

The Crown of the Andes was made to adorn a sacred image, the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, in Popayán Cathedral, in the former Spanish viceroyalty of New Granada (now Colombia). The Crown was crafted in parts, with the diadem in the 1600s and later, in the 1700s, four imperial arches, pear-shaped emerald pendants and an orb bearing an emerald studded cross were added.

The Crown of the Andes was used in Holy Week processions in Popayán. In 1936 it was sold to an American and changed hands several times until acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2015 where it is on view.

An incredible piece of workmanship, showcasing the stunning beauty of the emerald. Share your favorite emerald pieces on Bridgewater’s Facebook page.

In addition to considering color, clarity and carat weight, you will need to determine the type of cut that suits you best. Cut is often thought of as shape, but a diamond’s cut is about how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. We’ve reviewed cut (see our blog from December 14, 2021 for more details on the 4Cs) so today we’ll look at the different shapes.

• Round or round brilliant cut diamonds are still the most popular accounting for more than 70% of the diamonds sold. Round cuts optimize light reflections to make it the most brilliant and sparkly of all the shapes. It is also the most versatile for different finger/hand sizes and ring settings.
• Princess cut or square cut comes in second in popularity. They offer a high level of brilliance/sparkle. Princess cuts are less expensive than round cuts because more of the rough or uncut diamond is preserved during the cutting. With its square outline, the sharp ends are more vulnerable to damage, so look for a setting that provides protection to these edges.
• Oval cut are gaining popularity. They are cut in the same way as round diamonds and so have great shine, sparkle and brilliance. They also tend to look larger than other diamonds of the same weight and elongate fingers. There is a downside to oval cuts, the “bowtie effect” which is a shadow across the central facets.
• Cushion cuts were once the standard cut for diamonds with their soft, rounded edges. They also have the most fire or colored flashes of light. They come in two looks – “crushed ice” or “chunky”. Crushed ice cushions don’t show faceting when you look through the table (top surface area), but look like broken glass or crushed ice. Chunky cushions have clearly defined facets when viewed the same way.
• Emerald cut or rectangular cut has a long table which highlights the clarity of the diamond and are less brilliant than other cuts. Blemishes in the diamond will be more noticeable in this cut than a round or cushion cut.

There are many more diamond shapes out there and it really all comes down to your personal style and preference for which will be the right one for you. Stop by Bridgewaters for more information!