Editors

The Modern Bride’s Approach to Wedding-Day Jewelry

EditorsOct 23, 2024

The Modern Bride’s Approach to Wedding-Day Jewelry

Editor Lauren McLemore immersed herself in New York Bridal Fashion Week to better understand the role fine jewelry plays on the big day.

Pnina Tornai New York Bridal Fashion Week
Pnina Tornai showcased her 2025 Bridal Collection “Aura” during New York Bridal Fashion Week.
As National Jeweler’s resident bride-to-be, I enthusiastically accepted when the idea came up for me to attend New York Bridal Fashion Week, held Oct. 8-10.

In the jewelry industry, we’re attuned to engagement ring trends, but the wider world of wedding style is a whole other universe. 

From runway shows to store openings, I spent that week immersed in all things bridal fashion, exploring trends in dresses and thinking about how jewelry fits into it all. 

Strapless gowns, along with other elegant open necklines, were popular. For jewelry, it’s an open invitation for shorter pendant necklaces, collars, or chokers.  

I also saw bold, structured silhouettes as well as several ball gowns, and a number of dresses featuring a basque waist, a style that extends past the waistline with angled seams that form a triangular or curved shape at the lower front of the bodice, as seen in the “Rhiannon” dress below. 


There is a sense of regal drama in this season’s wedding dress collections.

The vintage touch was undeniable, with several gowns featuring Renaissance and Victorian accents like frills, bows and corsets, which lines up with the uptick in Pinterest searches for a wedding aesthetic reminiscent of bygone eras. 
 

On one hand, one might choose to let these grand dresses be the star of the ensemble, opting for understated jewelry to keep the attention on the gown, like in the examples above.

However, vintage-style bridalwear also poses a fun, and rare, opportunity to go big with ornate jewelry. 

Beyond a dramatic fur coat or other statement piece, there are few opportunities for the elevated jewels of the past to be styled to their full potential.

Material-wise, the dresses I saw at New York Bridal Fashion Week featured an abundance of textures, including lace and floral appliques as well as tulle.

Jovani, Justin Alexander Signature and Pnina Tornai wedding dresses
At New York Bridal Fashion Week, florals showed up on gowns in the form of lace, applique, macramé, and beaded styles. Examples shown above are (from left) by Jovani, Justin Alexander Signature, and Pnina Tornai


While some trends transcend collections, each brand’s designs retain its own collective identity. 

Some bridal designers have taken to offering a jewelry component of their own, specifically designed to complement their creations.

At the Pnina Tornai show, the designer’s newest collection with Jared, the jewelry retailer she’s partnered with on bridal jewelry collections in the past few years, was on display. 

At her presentation, wedding dress designer Claire Pettibone debuted a jewelry collection, set to launch next month. 

 


The “Secret Garden Jewels,” a collection of heirloom-style rings, is a collaboration with Michigan-based The North Way Studio, created to complement Pettibone’s vintage-style bridalwear.

The Dress Comes First
Between events, I talked with two bridal stylists—Gabrielle Hurwitz, who is based in New York City, and Houston-based Caroline Thorpe Goldberg.

Hurwitz is a self-described luxury bridal fashion stylist who curates all things wedding-day fashion, while Goldberg offers private bridal styling and curates shoppable looks on her platform Little White Looks.

Both say their client base is a mix of career-focused women from bigger cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, and the South.

In their work, the dress almost always comes first, they agreed.

“Certain dresses call for necklaces, certain dresses would look weird with a necklace and better with an earring of some sort, so I’m prompting that conversation, but I do have clients who come to me with an heirloom piece,” said Hurwitz.

“We can work to build to the look around a piece of jewelry.”

Goldberg said she’s noticed a trend in the South (Texas in particular) in which brides receive a tennis bracelet as a pre-wedding gift.

In some cases, the bridesmaids each contribute to buy the piece together, and in others, the bride’s fiancé makes the purchase.

Hurwitz cited an example of one bride who was marrying into an Indian family and received a diamond necklace from her mother-in-law to wear on her wedding day, as is customary. 

She wanted to incorporate it into both her Western ceremony and her Indian ceremony, so they shopped for her wedding attire with the necklace in mind.

Jewelry Rental Services Are Big 
While it’s not uncommon for today’s brides to incorporate pieces they were gifted or jewels that were passed down into their wedding day look, many seem to be thinking less about “heirloom potential” when considering their own jewelry for the big day.

They’re leaning instead toward borrowing or renting jewels to enjoy just for the celebrations.

Popular rental services like Verstolo were praised on repeat throughout New York Bridal Fashion Week for making this process easy.

With its concierge service for New York City clients, Verstolo will send a consultant to meet the bride at one of her dress fittings with pieces she selected at an earlier Verstolo showroom appointment.

Most brides who opt to rent are looking to borrow more dramatic or unique pieces—perhaps a piece in the vibrant shade of Verona Sunset, Brides x Minted’s Color of the Year for 2025—that they likely would not wear again.

Valuable, Wearable Classics
When it comes to the pieces of fine jewelry brides are willing to spend on, it’s usually the classics, like a pair of diamonds studs, a pearl piece, or a tennis necklace that is versatile enough for everyday wear.

“They don’t want it to just sit in a safe and never be enjoyed,” Hurwitz said. “They’d rather spend the money on a piece they’ll wear every single day and borrow or rent the more statement piece for the wedding.”

Some jewelry designers and brands create lines for brides but, as the category typically hinges on simple pieces, these dedicated collections often feature creative takes on the classics, blending everyday style and sentimental design.

Nancy Newberg released a bridal line last year inspired by jewelry she designed for her son’s fiancée to wear at their wedding. 

It has all the ingredients of a classic jewelry line, featuring tennis necklaces, tennis bracelets, and eternity rings, modernized by bezel-set mixed-shape diamonds. 

Personalization Still Reigns
In talking about new purchases, I'd be remiss not to mention the draw of new-to-you jewels.

For the bride who wants something of value that still matches her vintage-inspired aesthetic, there are countless opportunities for an investment in a one-of-a-kind antique or estate piece she can keep forever.

In 2023, Larkspur & Hawk released the vintage-inspired L&H Bride collection. While these pieces are made new, the brand offers a unique, sentimental customization option. 
 
The brand is known for its riviere necklaces, button earrings, and girandole earrings created using an antique technique wherein doublets composed of a quartz (or a similarly semi-translucent gemstone) are laid over colored foil and set in a metal backing.
 
For the L&H Bride collection, designer Emily Satloff replaced the foil with fabrics including an antique French ribbon, a tulle, and a silk satin.

Brides can customize these pieces by sending in a fabric that is meaningful to them, such as a piece of a family member’s wedding gown, for use in the piece. 

So, while rentals have their place and new purchases continue to hold their own (especially for the tried-and-true classic diamond pieces), a custom piece can bring a different kind of meaningfulness to wedding-day jewelry.

Custom work is widely available, including reworking an heirloom diamond into a new piece, adding initials or birthstones, or sitting down with a designer to create a symbolic piece from scratch.

Satloff will also work with brides to create a postnuptial piece, incorporating something from the bride’s own wedding day, like fabric from a gown, veil, or bouquet ribbon, perhaps inspiring the brides of today to reconsider the value in having jewelry worth passing down, starting with her own. 

 Related stories will be right here … 

The Latest

Bea Bongiasca Animali Tarallo Collection Royal Blue Tang Fish “Dory”
CollectionsApr 02, 2025
Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Tarallo’ Collection Expansion Is a Zoo

The pieces in “Animali Tarallo” portray animals from stingrays to elephants through portraits and interpretations of their patterns.

Neiman Marcus Downtown Dallas store
MajorsApr 02, 2025
Neiman Marcus’ Dallas Flagship Will Remain Open, For Now

Parent company Saks Global said the iconic location will be open through the holiday season as it decides what to do with the space.

Natural color diamonds on display at Smithsonian National Museum of History
SourcingApr 02, 2025
Winston’s Collection of Natural Color Diamonds Now on Display in D.C.

Ronald Winston, son of Harry Winston, donated the diamonds to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

bench jeweler 1872x1052.png
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They Deserve

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

Jewelers of America logo
Policies & IssuesApr 02, 2025
Jewelers of America to Hold Webinar on Tariffs

The virtual event will take place April 7 at 3 p.m.

Weekly QuizMar 27, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Punchmark
Events & AwardsApr 02, 2025
Punchmark to Host Client Workshop

The educational event will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, this May.

Bergman Jewelers family
IndependentsApr 01, 2025
Bergman Jewelers in Omaha Closing After 137 Years

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

Facets-of-Fire-Difference-You-Can-See.jpg
Brought to you by
Natural Diamonds Should Mean More

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

QVC Group Inc. logo
MajorsApr 01, 2025
QVC Group to Cut 900 Jobs in the U.S.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

Coconut Grove Jewelry & Watch Show
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
U.S. Antique Shows Adds Fall Show in Florida

The debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.

The Jewelry Symposium (TJS)
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2025
TJS to Host Discussion on Jewelry Industry’s Labor Shortage

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.

Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann Collection Bracelets
CollectionsApr 01, 2025
Monica Rich Kosann Says ‘Good Grief’ in Peanuts Jewelry Collection

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Graphic for What Do We Mean When We Say “Recycled” Gold webinar
Recorded WebinarsMar 31, 2025
Watch: What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Recycled’ Gold?

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

Mindi Mond Clarity Earrings
TrendsMar 31, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Dripping in Diamonds

Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

Lashbrook ring
MajorsMar 31, 2025
Lashbrook Expands Into Luxury Golf Gifts With Acquisition

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

Bulgari and LVMH Watches CEO Jean-Christophe Babin
WatchesMar 31, 2025
Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin Will Also Head LVMH Watches

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Surveillance footage of robbery
CrimeMar 28, 2025
2 Suspects Arrested in $1.7M Smash-and-Grab Robbery of NY Jewelry Store

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Nephrite and Jadeite by Heinrich Fischer, Richard W. Hughes
SourcingMar 28, 2025
19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in English

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

LÖF The Valentine Ring
CollectionsMar 28, 2025
Piece of the Week: Löf’s ‘The Valentine’ Ring

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

Eggs on a shelf
SurveysMar 27, 2025
Consumer Confidence Falls in March Amid ‘Gloomy’ Outlook

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

Richard Rainsford memorial ring
AuctionsMar 27, 2025
300-Year-Old Ring Linked to Witch Trial Judge Goes Unsold at Auction

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

Austin Butler
WatchesMar 27, 2025
Austin Butler Joins Breitling as Brand Ambassador

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

ICA Congress Brazil 2025
SourcingMar 27, 2025
Susan Jacques, Gaetano Cavalieri to Headline 2025 ICA Congress

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

Bailey’s Fine Jewelry storefront
IndependentsMar 26, 2025
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Acquires Fellow NC Independent Jeweler

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Bulova 150 Art Deco Miss America Watch, 150 Art Deco Pocket Watch
WatchesMar 26, 2025
Bulova Celebrates 150th Anniversary With Art Deco Watches

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.

Alex Wellen
MajorsMar 26, 2025
QVC Group Appoints New President

Alex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.

Jewelers of America’s new logo
Events & AwardsMar 26, 2025
Jewelers of America Announces New Funding Initiative

The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy