To understand the key factors influencing bridal jewellery trends, IJL Inspire speaks to leading UK manufacturer and IJL exhibitor, Domino to discuss personalisation, wedding bands and engagement rings.
From TV shows like Say Yes to the Dress to dream wedding Pinterest boards and Instagram accounts, women today are inundated with options for their big day. As a result, standing out from the crowd with a unique aesthetic has become even more vital for brides-to-be. Instead of doing things the traditional way, contemporary brides want a day that is entirely tailored to them and as personalised as possible.
This attitude of a bespoke experience is mirrored in bridal jewellery trends. Naomi Newton-Sherlock, creative director at Domino Jewellery, says: “Customers want choice, individual expression and quality from their bridal jewellery. The key consumer trend is personalisation through stacking and layering or through customisation of metal, stone, pattern or design. Modern consumers seek out jewellery that is a reflection of their personality and individual story.”
With this in mind, let’s break down some of the top bridal jewellery trends that retailers are likely to encounter this year…
Top Trend: Personalisation and Bridal Jewellery
The macro-trend with the bridal market is undoubtedly personalisation and every bride and groom’s desire to have something uniquely theirs. For retailers, product variety and a clear guide to the customisation and bespoke options available via in-store marketing is crucial.
“Consumers are looking for something that is personal to them, whether that is getting their wedding ring engraved, applying a texture to a classic band, stamping a signet ring or creating a unique bridal stack using shaped or decorative wedding bands,”
Naomi Newton Sherlock
Businesses like Domino are reacting to this trend by expanding and broadening their collections. Domino’s wedding ring collection, for example, includes plain and diamond-set wedding bands in platinum, 18ct gold alloys (white, yellow and rose) and 9ct gold alloys (white, yellow and rose). It also offers diamond coverages of 40%, 50%, 60% and 100%, although this can also be customised to the customer’s exact requirements.
Other trends for the year ahead include personalised engraving, with many couples choosing to have special dates, words or phrases engraved on the inside of their wedding bands. There is also the growing trend of applying textures and patterns to plain wedding bands to give customers a twist on the classics. Currently, Domino offers some 100 different options.
Top Trend: Wedding Bands with Creative Silhouettes
It is not unusual to see an engagement ring, wedding band and eternity band stacked together, but brides in 2019 are seeking more unusual silhouettes and shaped bands that make their personal ‘stack’ a little more striking.
“Delicate diamond detailing and creative silhouettes will also be key trends to watch over the next 12-18months, a trend that we have incorporated in our refreshed Diamond Ring mount collection, which will launch this summer,” Naomi Newton-Sherlock
Elsewhere, Domino has noticed an increase in the number of customers seeking rings with less metal and more sparkle. These delicate settings are only made possible by the business’ on-site micro-setting cell, which specialises in such detailed diamond setting.
Top Trend: Bridal Jewellery Reimagined with Signet Rings
Signet rings have been slowly growing in popularity over the last two years. Hand-engraved or stamped signet rings, featuring initials or a family crest, have become a must-have for both male and female consumers, who want their jewellery to make more of a statement.
One of the common threads of this year’s trends is a desire to stand out and purchase a unique piece, what better way to do this than a statement 9ct or 18ct gold signet ring that harks back to a more traditional era of jewellery design?
Top Trend: Pearl Jewellery is Making a Bridal Comeback
It is not unusual to see a bride wearing a simple string of pearls on her wedding day. However, today’s fashion forward brides are choosing contemporary, oversized pearl jewellery that looks less like grandma’s prized possession and more futuristic. Domino have incorporated pearls into their Anthology range, incorporating them with round and baguette diamonds, giving a contemporary, art deco feel.
Trends to Watch: Coloured Gemstones, Royal Inspiration and Lots of Layers
Ever since Princess Eugenie sported that incredible padparadascha sapphire and diamond engagement ring, there have been more women seeking creative colour combinations in their bridal jewellery. 2019 is seeing an increase in popularity for gemstones such as morganite and aqua- both of which have been incorporated into Domino’s Anthology range, launching at IJL this September. Whether it’s a cocktail ring or a pair of chandelier earrings- these gemstones make a statement.
Another regal influence is the renewed love of diamond trilogy rings thanks to the Duchess of Sussex. From classic round trilogies, to creative combinations of shaped stones and diamond detailed bands- trilogies are once again taking centre stage.
“We believe we will continue to see an appetite for boldness and creativity, as consumers look for jewellery that reflects their own personal style, reflecting the designs flaunted on the international catwalks,” Naomi Newton Sherlock.
Elsewhere, there has been a surge in layered neckwear and wristwear for wedding day jewellery. This is just another example of how brides are using jewellery to create an impact and complement that show stopping white dress.
Bridal Top Tips for 2019
+ Help brides and grooms see that they can start with the classic engagement ring or wedding band and transform it into their own creation through metal combinations, textures, engraving or coloured stones etc.
+ Be prepared with images that show options, from pre-prepared marketing materials to real-life weddings and previous bespoke commissions
+ Use window displays to demonstrate creative layers and stacking opportunities across bracelets, neckwear and rings
+ Layer wedding bands either side of the bride-to-be’s engagement ring to upsell and promote the idea of stacking wedding bands.
+ Highlight how individualism can be achieved through metal choice, stones and textures
Get in touch with Domino by visiting dominojewellery.com or call +44 (0) 121 236 4772.
Meet the Domino team and see its bridal ranges first-hand at International Jewellery London 2019 from September 1-3. Stand D60.
