And you know what? That was always designer Anna Zuckerman’s plan. Her demi-fine jewelry line centers on lab-grown gemstones and a special high-grade cubic zirconia that she has trademarked Diamond Crystalline. Naturally, she’ll be wearing quite a bit of it tomorrow when she marries Leonard Albanese at the Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Zuckerman, who launched her brand Anna Zuckerman Luxury last fall, is the former owner of Mequon, Wis.–based AC Zuckerman Jewelers and comes from a family of jewelers and goldsmiths. So the decision to forego diamonds for her engagement ring and wedding jewels was not for lack of connections in the jewelry industry. Rather, it was a considered choice that reinforces the premise of her brand: high-style, megawatt jewels at accessible prices.
“It’s all about the bling, and this bling speaks for itself,” Zuckerman tells JCK. “With an increasing trend toward lab-created diamonds and their falling prices, why not select something that is equally beautifully and yet much more affordable to all? Forget the two months’ salary—today’s generation of savvy consumers are opting for attainable engagement rings.”
As for the designer’s ring? Zuckerman chose a 5 ct. Diamond Crystalline stone in 18k rose gold with a matching wedding band. Perfect except for one problem: production and shipping delays. Zuckerman’s ring and band were for some reason routed from the designer’s factory through Kuwait en route to Florida and won’t arrive in time for the wedding. No big deal, says the designer, who had to postpone the original date of her wedding (April 2020) because of the COVID-19 crisis. But there’s no stopping the wedding bells from ringing this time, and she’ll happily wear a bridal set in white gold (pictured below) as a place holder at the wedding festivities.
The suite of jewels Zuckerman plans to wear is pictured up top. Note the tiara, a novelty piece she designed as part of her wedding-day look. But when Zuckerman began to notice a demand for hair jewels, and spotted headbands being worn on the couture fashion runways, she decided to expand the tiara idea beyond her own custom wedding-day headpiece. Tiaras are now a flourishing category within her line, both online and among the locals who shop her just-opened Boca Raton flagship.
“We all want to feel like royalty on our wedding day,” says Zuckerman. “[The tiara] also looks beautiful with my wedding gown [by Israeli bridal label Berta], the perfect touch to finish the look. Who knew it would turn into a best-selling collection of tiaras?”
Bridesmaids will also be wearing Anna Zuckerman Luxury jewelry. And all wedding guests will receive Anna Zuckerman pendants as gifts.
No honeymoon planned as of yet, as Zuckerman will be busy fulfilling store orders and prepping for JCK Las Vegas, where she will be an exhibitor in the new designer gallery.
Top, clockwise, from top left: Royal 05 tiara, $1,995; Elizabeth 34 bracelet, $695; Elizabeth 18 earrings, $80; and Elizabeth 36 necklace, $1,995; all in rhodium-plated sterling silver with Diamond Crystalline stones; Anna Zuckerman Luxury
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