Article by Emily Moore, Jersey Evening Post, February 2021
With so much uncertainty surrounding weddings, the task of planning that special day is, in many cases, more complicated than ever before.
But, while couples draw up A, B and even C plans for their big day, there is one element of the planning process where they can relax and enjoy the full experience.
‘We want couples to know that we are still here for them, offering exclusive appointments with champagne and jewellery experts to ensure that they get the full wedding-ring experience,’ said Rivoli Jewellers’ Deb Macklin. ‘The time between getting engaged and getting married should be incredibly exciting and we want to do everything we can to maintain that special feeling.’
Ensuring that this experience is enjoyed in a way which complies with Covid requirements, the family-run jewellery business is inviting couples to make private appointments, which are also available every Sunday in March, at which they can view and try on the sample rings and talk to the designers about their ideas for their rings.
And, as Deb explains, these ideas are truly diverse, with an ever-increasing demand for bespoke pieces.
‘The fashion is very much to be different and to have something which truly reflects the couple’s personalities,’ she said. ‘A lot of brides are receiving family heirlooms as engagement rings, and we are working with them to adapt these pieces so that they fit alongside the wedding ring.
‘We are also seeing a keenness to “break the rules”, which makes my job as a designer tremendously exciting. Instead of the traditional round stones, more people are choosing oval, marquise or emerald cuts and, while diamond is still the number-one choice, this is closely followed by coloured stones such as sapphires.
‘As we talk through a couple’s ideas with them, we produce some hand-drawn sketches and soon the concepts start taking shape. With the wedding ring, a woman’s choice will be led by her engagement ring, as the two pieces should look like a match made in heaven when worn together.
‘We have lots of sample rings of different shapes and widths so couples try these on to see what looks and feels right, and then we build from there. Gold and platinum – the two most popular metals – are both very malleable so the options are endless.’
And, according to Deb, the days of plain gold bands are disappearing as men and women are keen to have a ring which reflects their personality.
‘It is very rare that we make a plain wedding ring for a lady; their rings are nearly always diamond-set,’ she explained, ‘while gents are also much more ambitious with their choices now. We are getting lots of requests for textures, patterns, colours and different materials such as black rhodium and platinum.’
And the personal touches do not stop with the selection of the stone and design of the ring.
‘Engraving is another very popular way to add more bespoke touches to your wedding jewellery, and we offer complimentary engraving on all our wedding bands,’ she said. ‘We have also found that finger-print engraving is a lovely way to create a truly unique piece and we take his-and-hers finger prints which are then engraved locally.’
For more information, or to arrange an appointment, telephone 01534 601930 email deb@rivolijewellers.co.uk.
