Stone and Strand’s First Bridal Collection Is Chic and Affordable

By Amy Elliott | April 15, 2021

The bridal category is booming. We’ve also been talking up the emergence of a customer who eschews all things generic and is seeking an engagement ring that is design-forward, made with sustainable and/or ethical materials, and affordably priced, as JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky notes here. The ring doesn’t need to be a whopper or aggressively bespoke, it just has to be cool—and ready-to-wear (or at least all set to ship that day).

Stone and Strand’s debut line of engagement rings ticks all the boxes that matter to this customer. Titled the Aisle collection, the six vintage-inspired engagement rings are all priced $950–$1,950, which aligns with the e-boutique’s 10-years-strong ethos: that fine jewelry should be accessible to all—not just the well-heeled and well-connected.

Part of founder Nadine McCarthy Kahane’s success model surely lies in the fact that the majority of her everyday-wearable diamond jewelry is crafted in 10k gold. But the engagement rings are 14k, so how is the brand delivering a look of up to 3 cts. for less than $2,000?

Stone and strand Aisle collection — Stone and Strand’s Aisle collection is all about convenience and low-stress, low-risk shopping. And kind of snubs its nose at the whole custom-engagement-ring process (which, the brand points out, could leave you stuck with something you don’t really love), and even the typical made-to-order timelines by which many retailers operate. That’s why these engagement rings come ready to ship, and ready-to-wear.

It comes down to teeny tiny diamonds, and the brand’s trademarked Perianth setting, a modern interpretation of an antique cluster setting that creates an artful arrangement of diamonds “with an impact far greater than the sum of its parts,” according to a statement from the brand. “In the anatomy of a flower, the perianth is the delicate structure that holds the petals together, and creates the overall stunning effect of a flower by arranging each beautiful petal perfectly around the center.”

Aesthetically, the Aisle collection references old Hollywood romance and vintage styles seen in family heirloom rings. Each ring bears the name of an iconic actress—the line includes the Katharine Ring, the Greta Ring, and more.

Stone and strand aisle collection campaign — To celebrate the launch of its first engagement collection, and as a nod to its New York City heritage, Stone and Strand shot a campaign on the Brooklyn Bridge with newly engaged friends of the brand. Biking to work last March at the start of such an uncertain year, creative director Melissa Lum (former senior accessories editor at the late, great Lucky magazine) was inspired to design the Aisle collection after witnessing numerous proposals on the bridge. They reminded her that acts of love could still to be found in abundance, even in the midst of a pandemic.

And if you don’t love it? Return or exchange it. No big deal. There’s something kind of appealing in that alone. Things are complicated enough, no?

Top: Mia ring in 14k gold with 0.5 cts. t.w. diamonds, $1,650

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