Raising the Bar Pin
About five years ago, Julie Bergstein Romanenko, the designer behind the Just Jules line, bought a vintage bar pin because she loved the locket attached to it. She ended up keeping the pin because of its pretty scrolling vines and floral motif. But she sat with the flea market find for two years, unsure of what, if anything, to do with it.
Then inspiration hit. “I thought it would make a killer ring,” Romanenko tells JCK. So she started collecting more vintage bar pins (so far, she has eight, all with varying types of flowers and vines). She plans to cast them, and carve waxes to make a series of unique Art Nouveau reproductions for a bridal jewelry line in 14k gold.
Just Jules floral band in 14k yellow gold with 1.5 ct. rose-cut diamond and 0.15 ct. t.w. pavé diamonds; $3,520
The Scottsdale, Ariz.–based designer unveiled 15 floral SKUs as part of her new bridal jewelry collection at this year’s Couture show in Las Vegas, with suggested retail prices ranging from $880 for a band to $1,500 for a semi-mount. A couple of cuffs are also available.
“I love that floral and vine pattern,” she says. “For me, everything has to be about texture. Plus, vintage jewelry tells a story, and if you can re-create a story by taking something old and making something new out of it, then that piece will also have a connection.”
Hello Yellow!
Semi-mount in 18k yellow gold with 1.28 cts. t.w. diamonds; $9,590; Tacori, Glendale, Calif.; 800-421-9844; tacori.com
If you needed any further proof that yellow gold is back in bridal, behold the Tacori Gold line. The collection was unveiled at LUXURY in Las Vegas—a followup to its 2013 Pretty in Pink collection of rose gold bridal rings.
For Tacori Gold, the company studied the brand archives and selected key styles to remake in a proprietary yellow gold alloy that “shines and sparkles in a distinctive way, similar to Chanel White,” says Michelle Adorjan Chila, senior vice president of marketing and public relations. To date, there are 12 SKUs in the 18k gold line, including engagement rings, wedding bands, diamond earrings, and pendants. “Almost 100 retail partners have purchased Tacori Gold since our launch,” adds Chila.
Of course, shoppers have always been able to special-order pieces in yellow and rose gold. “Having other metal colors available in-store showcases an ability to personalize to the customer’s taste,” explains Chila, “which we’ve found is something that consumers—especially millennials—demand.”