White Engagement Rings: From Trend to Tradition

 


A “White Wedding” Tradition

The term “White Wedding” may conjure up images of large, sophisticated formal affairs with the groom in a tuxedo and the bride in an impressive, flowing white gown. However, did you know that the “traditional” white wedding is not as predominant historically as you may think? Queen Victoria actually started the trend (who knew she was trendy) toward white gowns being used for weddings but it was not considered “traditional” until it was crystallized and set into our minds largely by silver screen movies after World War II? The classic white wedding style is still iconic today in television and film.

Grace Kelly's engagement ring

And the White Engagement Ring Trend was Born

Another “White Wedding” tradition fanned by the end of the war was the engagement ring. Yellow gold engagement rings enjoyed popularity during the depression and war, but the shift toward white settings began shortly thereafter. That trend was undoubtedly influenced greatly by the silver screen, with new Technicolor film rapidly replacing the standard black and white. The new film now showed the obviously white color of the engagement rings of popular celebrities of the day like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly actually wore her magnificent platinum and diamond Cartier engagement ring, given to her by Prince Rainier, in the 1955 film “High Society”.

Grace Kelly in High Society

White Engagement Ring: Trend or Tradition?

Today’s films and celebrities still influence wedding trends and when it comes to the engagement ring it’s obvious that the popularity of white settings has continuously grown since the 40’s and 50’s. TV and films like Sex and the City showcase pieces like Charlotte’s Tiffany engagement ring from Trey and Carrie’s engagement ring from Aidan both in white settings. When it comes to celebrity engagements, newspapers, magazines, websites and television are filled with all the details on their amazing, and predominantly white-set, engagement rings. From Beyonce’s large platinum-set sparker to Kate Middleton’s sapphire and diamond ring set into eighteen karat white gold it’s easy to see that the “white wave” is rolling and firmly fixed into the minds of today brides to be.

white engagement ringSince1910.com

Recent surveys verify that today white settings for rings are predominant, probably because of the neutral color and how it makes the diamonds look. One study noted that 91% of women have white settings with white gold claiming the largest share followed by platinum.  The thirst for white-set engagement rings continues to grow today, but the higher price of some of the classic jewelry metals is encouraging some brides to look outside the box to quench their white thirst. Designers are introducing a variety of newer white metals such as palladium, titanium, tungsten and silver into their engagement ring collections.

Whether you consider yourself trendy or a traditionalist, when it comes to weddings and engagements white is “evergreen”. So cheers to the silver screen beauties of the 40’s and 50’s, oh, and to Queen Victoria for starting trends that are now traditions!

By Jewelry and Style Expert, Michael O’Connor

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