Peridot Blog

The 1920's Antique Bride

Muted notes of Louis Armstrong can be heard trumpeting your slow walk down the aisle, father's arm linked with yours at the elbows.  There are tuxes with shiny lapels for rows upon rows, and bubbling champagne fountains with tiers that flow.  An Antique bride favors the understated opulence that vintage engagement rings can provide, combined with the strength of platinum and diamonds cut in the famous styles of yesteryear- most notably Asschers, Old Miners and Old Europeans.  Their color may be a touch warm, but isn't that just grand on a frosty winter's wedding night?

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The Blushing Bride

For the doe-eyed sweetheart amongst us who favors rose gold hues to match her icicle kissed cheeks, this winter's Blushing Bride favors petite diamond pave halo's with modest bands.  For a classic look, try Mark Patterson's round brilliant setting intended for sparkling white center stones.  For a more alternative version, Anne Sportun's champagne pear shape is just one partridge short of perfection.  Those who love naturally inspired motifs will swoon for a stack with Cathy Waterman's platinum side leaf band, instantly transforming your diamond ring into a bud ready to bloom in time for Spring.

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The Modern Vintage Bride How to know if you're a Modern Vintage Bride by answering a few simple questions:

1. Do your table arrangements feature mercury glass hurricanes and pillar candles surrounded by magnolia leaves and white freesias?
2. Did you letter-press your invitations with hand drawn calligraphy and metallic ink?
3. Does your wedding dress have pockets?
4. If your wedding dress does not have pockets, are your shoes are blue?

Anne Sportun reimagines the vintage bride with thoughtful modern flair as observed in brushed bands, milgrained bezels and plenty of pave.  Mixed metals play up a graduated diamond halo, a mock emerald shaped setting nods to the art deco movement with subtle, delineated grace.

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The Golden Bride But soft, what light... 20 karat gold casts upon a sun-missed skintone.  Yellow gold's glow stands out amidst the frozen temperatures of the season.  Like a crackling fire fogging up the window panes, these resplendent settings warm up champagne diamonds, and even the misty shimmering grays.  Rose cut stones and hammered metal speak to ancient gold-smithing techniques perfected by Caroline Ellen and Cathy Waterman.  These styles prove that yellow gold engagement is not an outdated remnant of forgotten decades past, but an artisanal alternative to the tradtional platinum and white settings we've come to expect so much.

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The Simplistic Bride, The Princess Bride and The Avant Guarde Bride Behold, if the moon was splintered into a thousand sparkling shards and gravity contained it within a single, round stone.  A'int no shame in a traditional, brilliant cut diamond ring.  No fuss for a basic bezel.  Classic femme's opt for a pave diamond halo and side stones.  The new guard is geometric and futuristic with a milgrain throwback to eras gone by. Which #PeridotBride are you?   

Just last week, Peridot finally revealed what we have been working on diligently for the past year: our exclusive Bridal Collection. Dawn Hendricks, our owner, has searched for years now to complete this custom curated collection, with each and every ring chosen because of it's incredible handiwork, individuality, and utter beauty. We have selected a handful of designers to debut in our Bridal Collection, each representing a sector of the bridal market, and each exuding a specific look and feeling that a woman would fall head over heels for. [caption id="attachment_208" align="aligncenter" width="904"] Anne Sportun Ring[/caption] We are so, so delighted to introduce our lovely and talented Bridal designers, each with a distinct and unique point of view: Annie Fensterstock,  Anne Sportun, Caroline Ellen, Mark Patterson, Todd Reed, and the one-of-a-kind Peridot Vintage Collection. To officially kick off our launch, we have decided to start a mini-series on our Peridot Brides, entitled Peridot Love Stories. To start, we interviewed one of our recent beautiful brides and a very close friend of Peridot's: the beautiful Tracy Rodriguez Forbes! Tracy and her husband Thomas were married in August of 2012 with a gorgeous ceremony at Le Chateau in South Salem, New York. We sat down with Tracy and asked her all about her ring, the wedding, and her husband! [caption id="attachment_198" align="aligncenter" width="950"] The beautiful bride and groom![/caption] How did the two of you meet?: We met at Boston University. We were both in the undergrad business school and were assigned on a team together our freshman year. Even though Thomas was extremely shy at the time (shocker if you meet him in recent years), we became fast friends. We didn’t start dating until two years later – it pays to be best friends first! Where and how did he propose? Thomas proposed to me on a trip to Southeast Asia which means that he had to go through airport security with the ring in hand, and a 10 hour flight, just praying that I wouldn’t find it. He broke a sweat when he saw it on the x-ray screen! Apparently my ring had been in the hands of almost every female family member I have in order for it to get to Thomas before our trip. I like to think they all blessed it before it got to me!

What do you love about your ring?: What do I not love?! It’s unique. It’s artsy. It’s creative. It’s couture. It’s gold.  It has a different kind of diamond. Dawn will tell you that I was really lost with what I actually wanted in my ring in terms of extra traits, measurements, etc. I just gave her – artsy, different, gold, doesn’t have to be a diamond – and she came up with the most incredible ring for me. I had no idea what that would be until she showed me. It’s perfect. I love it. [caption id="attachment_203" align="aligncenter" width="950"] Engagement Ring and Bands by Anne Sportun Fine Jewelry.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_219" align="aligncenter" width="950"] White Topaz and Diamond Earrings by Ray Griffiths[/caption] What’s one thing you love about him?: He is a big believer in paying it forward! …He’s also loving, funny, smart, kind, a great husband, etc. etc. etc. That’s a tough question to answer succinctly!

Use one word to describe what kind of bride you are: Grateful. What made you choose Peridot?: I didn’t even consider anywhere else! I knew Dawn would find the perfect ring for me. I am complimented on my ring daily and it’s been 2 years since Thomas proposed! I am approached by everyone; they all fall in love with it. Funny situations include an intimate yoga workshop where another student stopped to ask me if that was my engagement ring and tell me how unique and amazing it was. Another time at our local market, the soup lady actually gasped and grabbed my hand, messy gloves and all to admire it! I get compliments from everyone I talk to. They are all so intrigued because it’s not your typical ring. I couldn’t love it more!   And we couldn't be happier! Tracy's stunning ring is by the lovely Anne Sportun. It is an 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ring with a Horizontal Faceted Natural White Diamond Prong Set in a Pave Diamond Bezel. Tom and Tracy's bands are also by Anne Sportun. Tracy's dress is Pronovias, her make-up is by Sarah Giggar, and her hair is by Melissa Scrofani. Her earrings are by Ray Griffiths. All photography is by Rebecca and Mike Garone of  Garone Photography.   *If you are in the midst of or about to begin your search for the perfect ring, please do not hesitate to contact me at chloe@peridotfinejewelry.com or give us a call at (914) 833-7333. We offer our expert consultation services, and in addition to our carefully curated collection of engagement rings, women's bands and men's bands, we are also here to take any custom designs and requests as well as remounting, redesign, and more! At Peridot, we like to think of ourselves as the gateway to the fluid line of communication between client and artist, and we are here to help you discover the ring you've always dreamed of.*