In January, Stuller proclaimed 2021 the Year of the Wedding™, and since then, the company has celebrated rescheduled dreams coming true. As weddings are finally taking place again worldwide, the Louisiana-based manufacturer has vowed to be there for customers and fulfill the renewed demand for bridal jewelry.
To build on the support it provides to the jewelry industry, Stuller once again is partnering with Platinum Guild International USA (PGI). Stuller’s ongoing partnership with PGI USA allows the fine jewelry manufacturer and supplier to actively work with and educate retailers.
Their collective goal is to have jewelers around the world better understand the strong properties of platinum, how to work with it, and how to tell its story to prospective customers.
JCK magazine sat down with Alex Stuller, daughter of founder Matt Stuller, who is currently serving as senior director of bridal for the company. She explained the demand for platinum, noting she’s anticipating an influx of celebrations, particularly in the latter half of the year.
“Platinum is naturally white and will never fade or change color over time,” Stuller said. “It’s naturally hypoallergenic, has a weighty feel, and holds diamonds and gemstones more securely than any other metal. People appreciate platinum due to its strength and rarity, which makes its value long-lasting.”
While trends in bridal jewelry continuously shift between white and yellow metals, Stuller’s experts believe that choosing platinum doesn’t mean you’re confined to the color white.
“Stuller’s customization options and large product assortment allow for the perfect opportunity to have platinum complement yellow gold pieces,” Alissa Talbot, director of findings and metals, said. “That’s the best part of our metals and bridal product offerings. For strength, you can add a platinum head to a yellow gold shank and it will still match a customer’s collection of yellow gold jewelry.”
Kevin Reilly, vice president of PGI USA, shares Stuller’s belief in platinum and notes the primary trends this year in the United States. “A four- or six-prong solitaire ring will always be a platinum classic,” he said. “We have also been seeing delicate rings with accent diamonds and platinum multi-band stacks. Last, but not least, the three-stone platinum ring never goes out of style.”
This year, Stuller is publishing a new edition of its extensive bridal print catalog to showcase an impressive 800 new styles—most of which are available in platinum. “For the retailer looking for platinum stock that’s ready to go, think of Stuller,” Talbot said.
Alex Stuller describes platinum as the metal that embodies durability and will be able to be passed down through generations. “Even if you’re unsure about everything else in life, you know platinum is going to last forever,” she said. “We take this precious metal and make it into an heirloom.”