The purpose of this article is to examine the role of designer engagement rings in the overall bridal jewelry market, to understand how engagement ring designers operate, and to compare and contrast their offerings with “generic” or non-branded jewelry. The intent is to help consumers understand the designer’s value proposition in order to make well-informed buying decisions. In the course of talking about designer engagement rings in general we will look at several individual designers available at our trusted vendors and explore a bit of their history and their distinguishing characteristics.
Designer engagement rings can be thought of as a trademark-protected line of styles that share the designer’s artistic approach to engagement ring design. Distinctive engagement ring design elements or treatments tend to give the line a particular look and feel.
Explore these world-renowned designer engagement ring brands below:
Shop these exquisite designer engagement rings at one of our select trusted vendors to find the perfect ring that celebrates your love and style.
Perhaps the best known of the modern engagement ring designers is Tacori. This brand reflects the passion and artistry of Haig Tacorian, the patriarch of the Tacorian family. When he and his wife Gilda emigrated from Europe in 1969, Haig Tacorian brought with him a skill set and a unique vision that paved the way for phenomenal success in the competitive world of fine jewelry design. Today, Haig is still very much involved in the business, but the next generation of Tacorians has taken the company to new heights. The family continues to move the brand into the future with the same passion for beauty and quality that has been at the heart of Tacori for four decades.
All Tacori diamond engagement rings are made in America and handcrafted by highly skilled jewelers in the Tacori manufacturing facility in California. The intricately crafted artisan jewelry made there truly reflects the family legacy. Tacori’s signature style is defined by a distinctive crescent silhouette: interlocking half-moon arcs that provide windows of light to reflect the brilliance of the diamonds placed within each crescent semi-circle. The unique look and feel of Tacori engagement ring design is as unmistakable as it is beautiful.
Simon G. features perhaps the broadest collection of fine jewelry of any of the leading brands. Superb styling and impeccable craftsmanship are the hallmarks of this designer throughout their designer engagement ring collections. While engagement rings and wedding bands are the focus, Simon G. has a multitude of exciting options to suit a wide range of occasions and tastes.
The namesake and inspiration behind Simon G. is Simon Ghanimian, a master jeweler who emigrated from Beirut to Los Angeles with his wife Silvia some thirty years ago. Beginning from scratch with nothing but talent, a strong work ethic, and an optimistic and fun-loving attitude, Simon has become one of the most respected and admired designers in the country.
Looking for an engagement ring upgrade? Browse through Simon G.’s collection of designer engagement rings at Whiteflash.
The extensive designer engagement ring line includes tailored and classic styles, but always features leading edge artistic design as well. Presently Simon G. is putting special emphasis on rose gold, with many exciting new designs in this distinctive metal which is enjoying resurgence in popularity today. Their white gold alloy is made with palladium making the jewelry hypo-allergenic.
A.JAFFE‘s legacy dates back to its founding in New York City in 1892. The brand’s rich heritage spans across the Jazz Age and Art Deco period, through two world wars and into a new millennium. The historic American bridal brand is recognized for its iconic Signature Shank ™ and Quilted Interior ™, design features that provide superior balance, a luxurious fit, and minimize twisting of the ring on the finger.
The A.JAFFE production facilities have recently been accredited by the Responsible Jewellery Council. The RJC is a not-for-profit organization which certifies our commitment to ethical sourcing and responsible business practices for diamond, gold, and platinum group metals. Each diamond used by A.JAFFE is responsibly sourced, following the Kimberley process ensuring that each A.JAFFE piece contains only conflict free diamonds. Sourcing of their diamonds are through RJC compliant partners mined predominantly from South Africa and Canada.
The A.JAFFE diamond selection process goes beyond the 4C’s, as they search for a higher level of fire and sparkle. The most commonly used diamond quality in A.JAFFE settings are G/H VS (or SI upon request), graded to internationally accepted GIA standards. All A.JAFFE diamonds go through a synthetic detection machine to ensure their authenticity and are cut to ideal standards for optimal light performance. Each responsibly sourced diamond is hand set by an A.JAFFE master jeweler, ultimately becoming a sparkling masterpiece.
Natural diamonds graded in accordance with GIA standards for clarity and color that fall in the ideal cut template of light performance is in every A.JAFFE piece they create. A.JAFFE’s Lifetime Warranty ensures each piece meets these high standards.
Ritani is a thoroughly modern jewelry design house that first opened in 1999. They have become known throughout the bridal design world as a company very much in tune with the styles and sensibilities of the contemporary woman.
Ritani engagement rings and wedding bands represent a perfect blend of modern computer aided design (CAD) and old world craftsmanship. While many engagement ring designs throughout their collections feature intricate detail, the emphasis remains on classic style and wearability. The elegant design of Ritani engagement rings allows them to be worn comfortably everyday and on every occasion.
The patented Ritani engagement ring setting features small diamonds set ingeniously in the prongs themselves, accentuating the center diamond in a completely unique way.
Undoubtedly one of the most interesting individuals in the engagement ring design world is Vatche Aghajayan. By the time he was 18 years of age, Vatche had learned every aspect of crafting fine jewelry. Before beginning the award winning jewelry design company that bears his name, Vatche served in the US Air force as a fighter pilot, and through the years has served in a training capacity.
With an affinity for understated and wearable design, Vatche engagement rings have strong appeal to unassuming women with grace and style. It therefore comes as no surprise that twice in the past three years Vatche has won First Place in the Platinum Guild International Retailers Choice design competitions.
As a first-generation engagement ring design house, Danhov brings fresh ideas and a fresh approach to the bridal category. All Danhov engagement rings are either handmade or hand-assembled in their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hollywood, California. With all phases of production under one roof and a team of the most skilled and experienced craftsmen working with the finest tools and materials, Danhov is able to manage a 2-3 week turnaround on high-quality, made-to-order items.
Engagement rings are made from pulled wire (as opposed to casting) in order to eliminate any weaknesses due to porosity. Diamonds are ethically sourced and the manufacturing process is eco-friendly.
It is no surprise that Danhov is one of the new, up-and-coming engagement ring designers. Recognition and awards such as a first place win in the 2015 Platinum Innovation Awards competition continue to put Danhov on the map as they grow into one of the important bridal brands in America.
Invest in timeless elegance and quality craftsmanship when you purchase a Danhov designed engagement ring from Whiteflash or James Allen!
Founded by Tom Tosyali over forty years ago, Benchmark has become a new leader in the production of designer engagement rings. Benchmark is an all-American enterprise, with headquarters and manufacturing facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Located just a short distance from the University of Alabama, the company proudly claims that “Benchmark rings breathe national championship air!”
Using state-of-the-art techniques, ultra-modern manufacturing equipment, and multi-level quality control Benchmark engagement ring rings can be counted on for consistently high quality.
All Benchmark designer engagement rings are die-struck from extruded tubing which avoids defects such as porosity that can be introduced in the casting process. This ensures structural integrity and allows for clean re-sizing.
Benchmark diamond engagement ring styles are set with precision cut diamonds which are machine set, resulting in a bigger, brighter show of diamonds than conventional hand setting.
In all, six separate quality control points must be passed before any Benchmark engagement ring leaves the factory. With total confidence in the quality of their products, Benchmark provides outstanding customer assurance in the form of the Benchmark Lifetime Guarantee.
Martin Flyer was founded in 1945 and transformed into a brand name by Martin’s son Gary Flyer. Today, it is run by CEO Joshua Kaufman, a member of the business’ third generation. Renowned for its classic diamond jewelry, Martin Flyer has grown since its inception to become one of the most recognized engagement ring designers in America, where it now boasts unlimited manufacturing resources, enhanced customer service, design teams, and an exceptionally large diamond and gemstone inventory.
For over 40 years, Jeff Cooper has been creating engagement rings that honors his design philosophy of refined simplicity. His vision is rooted in New York City’s first “Diamond District – downtown in the Bowery – where he honed his considerable skills and refined aesthetic at the jeweler’s bench, crafting by hand each piece with the care and eye of a true artisan.
Today, working in platinum, gold, and diamonds, Jeff’s designs radiate with clean lines, elegance and simplicity, with a focus on classics that are always in style. Peerless customer service allows for delivery within three weeks. His passion for designing, dedication to perfection and knowledge of the industry results in strategic assortments for retailers that optimize their unique market circumstances and maximize their investment.
Each Jeff Cooper engagement ring is made one at a time, by hand, and examined through every step of the process – Jeff Cooper will inspect each engagement ring before it leaves the shop because he realizes that every engagement ring should be reflective of its wearer and the memories it symbolizes. Taking what he knows to be beautiful and making it refined and precise.
Jeff Cooper Designs will give 100% Upgrade Credit on any Jeff Cooper engagement ring in any condition if the customer chooses a Jeff Cooper styles whose price is double the original price.
Designer Zac Posen isn’t one for the subtle. His glamorous gowns have appeared on the most important red carpets — the Met Gala and the Academy Awards included. He’s dressed Rihanna, Naomi Campbell, and Katie Holmes. But with the recent launch of his non-gendered engagement ring collection, Posen is showing another side of himself.
“I wanted to create a collection that was a real celebration of love and an intentional focus on inclusivity,” Posen tells TZR of the collaboration with Blue Nile. “I don’t think jewelry should have gender norms. Honestly, I really don’t. It’s so silly. I think a person should be able to be and wear whatever they want and express that through style, jewelry, and dress, and be able to celebrate themselves in that way.”
Simple and sophisticated, ZAC ZAC POSEN engagement rings showcase sleek, modern lines. Blue Nile has a unique way of using emerald-cut diamond side stones to elevate the look of the center diamond. Shop his collection at Blue Nile to find a ring that will never go out of style.
Celebrate your love with a one-of-a-kind designer engagement ring from the stunning ZAC ZAC POSEN collection – now available at Blue Nile.
Marrying the highest standards of craftsmanship with elegantly inspired design, the Bella Vaughan collection showcases intricate details enhanced by the most state-of-the-art processes. The result is timeless beauty and wearable sophistication. Dallas, Texas duo LoriAnn Vaughan-Biggers and Rotem Fartook have partnered to launch this exclusive collection for Blue Nile, offering luxurious custom pieces at the apex of beauty and glamour.
The engagement ring collection features platinum and diamonds architected and designed to highlight your center stone in the most pleasing way possible by utilizing fancy-cut side stones with exceptional diamond and platinum accents. A great attention to detail makes each piece as special as the woman who wears it; because every woman who wears a Bella Vaughan jewel is one-of-a-kind.
A glamorous proposal begins with Bella Vaughan engagement rings. Intricate filigree details, double halo elements, and exceptional craftsmanship are hallmarks of this collection. When you shop the Bella Vaughan designs offered at Blue Nile, you’ll receive a brilliant ring designed to enhance the look of the center diamond in bold, spectacular style.
Enjoy lasting value combined with provenance of a well known engagement ring brand name when you select an exquisite designer engagement ring from PriceScope’s select trusted vendors!
There are many reasons to consider buying a brand name designer engagement ring. While there is generally a premium to be paid for going this route, the unique styles and the consistent quality of the materials and craftsmanship can make a persuasive case. Warranties and extra benefits, combined with the long term added value in provenance of a well known brand name are very convincing to many couples. Especially considering that the choice of the engagement ring and wedding band is one of the most emotionally important decisions of a lifetime.
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