Gold Settings Tacky? That''s what Carrie said...

[jewelgal]

Did anyone see the Sex in the City episode when Carrie tells her friends at breakfast
that she saw Aidan''s ring by mistake and she hated it because it was a "tacky" and
she also hated that it was "gold?" I think she also didn''t like the size.

Do you think it''s tacky to get a gold settings in a world that is obsessed with platinum?

I like to be different and I''ve noticed that I am liking the contrast of gold metal with diamonds.
I like that nobody else is going for it - but do u think it looks cheap?? because a lot of designers
don''t make settings in gold.. mostly seen in flea market jewelry exchanges.....

Any thoughts??

 

[FireGoddess]

Actually, she didn''t like it because it was (a) yellow gold, and (b) a pear diamond. While I love the show, I clearly don''t agree with it for everything...

I don''t think yellow gold is tacky or cheap per se, and I think on some skin tones it looks really nice. I have a lot of yellow gold jewelry given to me by my parents and grandparents, from trips to Italy. I don''t wear it that much though because my ering and much of my more current jewelry purchases are white gold or platinum.

 

[sunkist]

I have a friend that has reddish auburn hair and yellow gold looks lovely on her! I think it looks better than any silver metal would. So no, I don''t think it looks cheap, but perhaps a particular setting itself could look cheap. And I think it has a lot do to with your personal coloring too.

 

[ladykemma]

showing my age -- i lived thru the golden era of the eighties: dawn of the marquise cluster ring bridal set.

i prefer yellow gold and i rejoice right now because it is out of style. i have been picking up used pieces. then i go get them reset some in white gold settings, some in yellow gold. sometimes i wear them as is.

i think i may have white gold allergy because one pair of wg earrings makes my ears lobes pus-sy and bloody. i have forced myself to go out and get a few white gold pieces; but, i am thinking of selling them.

I was in a meeting with some ladies the other day and I noticed one very pale irish descent woman was wearing white gold, and frankly it made her skin look like she had been exposed to too much silver (what is this disease name? )

i believe that yellow gold is making a comeback. see more and more yellow gold on young newly engaged.

i own a pear set in yellow gold. ha ha.

 

[anchor31]

I don''t think it''s tacky at all! All the jewelry (as little as I have) I own is YG, except for my WG huggies. I was going to ask for a two tone setting for my E-ring (YG shank, WG prongs), but while shopping I noticed that WG looks much better on me because of my skin tone, and since it''s something I''m going to wear forever, I decided to switch to WG. Our budget isn''t big enought for plat, so WG it is!

A lot of people wear YG in Quebec actually, so one or the other isn''t so unusual here. Plat is, though!

 

[pearcrazy]

Well, Carrie hated the yellow gold pear shaped diamond but Miranda loved it. Remember, Miranda said she was the one who helped Aiden pick it out. Steve later offered the same ring to Miranda. I just bought the whole Sex and the City DVD set and finished watching the last one last night. Love the show.

Just remember that the yellow gold comment came from a character that wore a yellow gold "Carrie" necklace around her neck for almost every episode of six seasons.

 

[JenStone]

Yes, yes - yellow gold is making a comeback! One of my favorite celebrity rings was Sienna Miller''s, when she was engaged to Jude Law:

 

[Odilia]

I don''t think it''s tacky. My wedding set is YG, and while I must admit that I really wanted white, and am working on getting my diamond reset in white, and I prefer diamonds in white on me, there are lots of YG settings on others that I do like very much. As someone said, it''s only certain types of YG that look tacky, depending on the setting. For colored stones like emeralds, I prefer them to be in YG, or for example if I''m wearing pearls. And also if I''m wearing warm colors, I like YG, although mostly I like to wear cool colors so I prefer the white metals with that. That''s why, after I finally get around to resetting my diamond and get an anniversary band, I will be glad to have a set in each color, so I can change off.

 

[Mara]

i think that YG can look tacky with some jewelry items (ala 80s cluster rings)...maybe more easily tacky than most white metals, but i have seen some stunning YG and diamond rings. i''m not a YG fan at all, but it does contrast nicely with diamonds, no one can disagree with that! it would probably look nicer on my skin tone but i''m a white metal girl at heart. it''s so funny that carrie said that (i remember it) because some of the stuff she wore at times was totally tacky, bra strap showing anyone?! also yes she disliked it because it was YG and a pear and also she was upset that aidan thought she''d like that, maybe he didn''t *know* her, etc. obviously not since even after she got the bling bling 60k HW she still dumped him. carrie sucks!

 

[monarch64]

I don''t think YG settings are tacky at all! I think the only thing "tacky" about some YG is that the styles are outdated. Of course, a classic Tiffany setting in YG will never go out of style, IMO, but some of the cluster styles/cocktail rings (there was a thread on them not too long ago) do look a little "80''s" at the moment. I''m sure that in 10 years or so they''ll be back full force!

My YG pieces are from my high school to college years. When I met my DH in 2001, I didn''t even realize platinum was so popular. I was still wearing my YG bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces that I had worked my butt off for! So when he proposed with a platinum ring, of course I was "forced" to get matching jewelry (white gold, though, ha ha!)

ladyKemma: I have always been allergic to anything but 14k and higher k''s of YG. I thought I was going to have to go with platinum everyday earrings, but I was fortunate enough to find some 14k WG ball studs (about 6mm) that have been working for me. No itchiness, no redness, and best of all, no pus, lol!) I wonder if you could try a different pair of WG earrings (maybe certain alloys in your current pair that irritate you are closer to the surface???

I don''t know). I used to be able to wear sterling for periods of time, or even costume for a few hours, but in the past six months and no dietary changes to boot, I haven''t been able to handle anything except my old YG hoops and these new WG studs. Just a thought.

 

[E B]

I thought it was a yellow gold marquise! But you're right, it was a pear.

I say go with what you love.

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 4/5/2006 10:22:10 PM
Author: EBree
I thought it was a yellow gold marquise! But you''re right, it was a pear.

I say go with what you love.

Yeah, I thought that too!
I think the different metals go through trends through the decades. I think a timeless piece, such as a tiffany solitaire, bezel, or other classic style, will always be in style regardless of the metal. I think you can always enjoy wearing anything of high quality (stones and setting manufacture) and as long as you like it, it is not tacky. I think stuff looks tacky when it was trendy, the trend passes, and the quality was poor to begin with.

Carrie''s orig e-ring was not something I would have hoped to receive either. But we all have different taste. Personaly, I like how white metals go with the diamond because I DON''T want contrast. But if you do like the contrast, gold is definitely the way to go!

 

[bstraszheim]

Hi Jewelgal,

I think that you should go with yellow gold if that is what you love, who cares what everyone else is wearing?? If everyone fell in love with garnets, and diamonds went out of fashion, would you put yours in your jewellery box and not wear them, just because other people were not wearing theirs?? Doing something because everyone else does is silly I think. As to the tacky part of it, depends on the setting really, and again, just because anyone else does not like it, who cares, as long as you do??

I wish you well,

Bridget

 

[portoar]

Well, let''s face it, Carrie herself is an utterly tacky person, and the one big flaw of that whole series is that such an unattractive and tacky woman seemed to attract a steady stream of prosperous and attractive men. Wouldn''t happen in real life. She was the weak link in that group of friends.

I don''t think YG is tacky at all -- 14k has a less attractive look than 18k, but I prefer YG and think that it compliments most skin tones better than WG or platinum. Also, Mara is right -- lots of people associate YG with 80s jewelry, which is tacky.

I love the contrast of YG and diamonds. Just love YG.

 

[portoar]

Oh, and for the ultimate sign that YG is not tacky -- have you checked out Mark Morell''s site lately? He''s back to working in 18K YG. . .

 

[Cind11]

I have yellow and white gold. I like to wear my yg with warm colors and my white gold with cool colors like denim for example. When I got engaged back in the 80''s I picked white gold engagement and wedding rings even though at the time yg was all the rage. Late last year my husband and I bought new 18k yg wedding bands set with tiny diamonds. I love them even though yg is supposedly out. (I just can''t seem to go with the flow-lol) I hope to get a new engagement ring later this year for my 25th anniversary and I''m not sure what color of metal I''ll go with. If I choose a white metal, I''ll probably wear the e-ring on one hand and the wedding band on the other. I just don''t see how anyone can think yg is tacky. A lot of the high carat gold is really elegant I think. And we must be behind the times where I live, Because I still see a heck of a lot of yellow gold.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 4/5/2006 10:22:10 PM
Author: EBree
I thought it was a yellow gold marquise! But you''re right, it was a pear.

Come now, I know my jewelry, esp. SATC jewelry!

Including the beautiful asscher in platinum she got for her real ering on the show.

And my favorite part of the last episode is the diamond necklace!!!

 

[pelican]

Yellow gold and platinum are both classic, IMO - they may vary in popularity from decade to decade, but I think important jewelry purchases like engagement/wedding rings should be based upon what you feel most comfortable wearing, not the current trend! After all, they are meant to be worn for life!

For the record, I''ve noticed that several high-end jewelry designers are using 18k and even 22k gold quite frequently these days - gold jewelry definitely doesn''t have the same stigma it did a few years ago.

 

[bookworm21]

YG is not tacky. It''s just a matter of preference. YG looks awful with my skin tone, but looks great on my mom, so go figure. All her jewelry is yellow gold, except for a necklace I gave her for mother''s day one year, and I would never say her jewelry is tacky (and not because she''s my mom either!). All my jewelry is plat or white gold. So definitely a matter of preference.

 

[Lorelei]

Oh well I must be very tacky then as most of my stuff is YG - but plat and WG never got the foothold in the UK that it did in the States! I wear my YG with pride

 

[ursulawrite]

Date: 4/6/2006 4:37:35 AM
Author: Lorelei
Oh well I must be very tacky then as most of my stuff is YG - but plat and WG never got the foothold in the UK that it did in the States! I wear my YG with pride

I don''t think that''s true at all among younger women. I''m 29, British, and all of my UK friends have platinum or white gold for their engagement rings/jewellery in general.

 

[Lorelei]

Ursula - you said YOUNGER women!

I am fairly ancient now but in general in my area we are more in the country and the nearest city is miles off, yellow gold is what you see, however the real youngsters which are trendier may be wearing more plat and WG, just not around here where we are bumpkins and stick to what we know! I like WG and plat but don't like mixing the two with YG, just another idiosyncrascy of mine. Ahh - I remember when I was 29, great age!

 

[crafftygrrl]

I have a few words to say to people who think yellow gold is tacky.

Elizabeth Locke, Yossi Harrari, Gurhan, Ippolita, Jean Mahie all these WONDERFUL deisgners work in primarily (high carat) gold. Their work and craftsman is impeccable. I have some of these designer''s jewelry and I wear them all the time. If someone wants to call me tacky--well so be it. I can''t control what people think.

It''s a matter of personal style, coloration and pocketbook. Personally, I have auburn coloration with a skin tone that works well with both platinum and gold. But I love gold...

I am getting my Yossi H. 24 carat hoop earrings from Signed Pieces today via FedEx....

I am also dying for the large size Cartier Tankissme 18K bracelet watch--It''s 17,800.00--big (tacky

) expensive ouch!!!

Yellow gold lovers unite!!!

 

[Caribou]

I thought she didn''t like it because of the setting, not so much that it was gold...I mean before than she had worn gold jewlery.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Date: 4/6/2006 7:03:19 AM
Author: Lorelei
Ursula - you said YOUNGER women!

I am fairly ancient now but in general in my area we are more in the country and the nearest city is miles off, yellow gold is what you see, however the real youngsters which are trendier may be wearing more plat and WG, just not around here where we are bumpkins and stick to what we know! I like WG and plat but don''t like mixing the two with YG, just another idiosyncrascy of mine. Ahh - I remember when I was 29, great age!

My two English friends who live in London and Manchester and are 26-27 both have yellow gold rings, although I think one wishes hers was a white metal.

 

[Mara]

monarch say it ain''t so re: cluster rings coming back into style? those were the WORST!

i have seen designers in mags coming out with alot more YG jewelry, it''s funny because Greg always shows them to me because he is such a YG lover and I''m a white metal lover and we always have little mock clashes over who''s right.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

A lot of Old Proper Philadelphians who would cross the street if they saw Carrie and Company coming towards them have solitaires set in yellow gold with platinum prongs. Yellow gold is definitely not tacky.

 

[Julian]

I don''t think yellow gold is tacky. Simple YG hoops are beautiful & are en vogue.

It''s the jewelry that can be dated -- and that pops up more in YG for some reason. Carrie''s "Carrie" necklace was kind of retro-tacky, IMHO. And her plastic horse purse? Her wardrobe consultant has bright pink hair in pigtails & wears kilts. I think she has horn rim glasses and tons of studs in her nose. So just keep that in mind.

YG would look better with my skintone, but all of my other jewelry is platinum with some WG pieces. What to do?

I really love those skinny YG hoops.... I''m always tempted to buy them but then I wouldn''t be able to wear my watch or wedding set. ARGH!

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Date: 4/6/2006 12:44:15 PM
Author: Julian
I don''t think yellow gold is tacky. Simple YG hoops are beautiful & are en vogue.

It''s the jewelry that can be dated -- and that pops up more in YG for some reason. Carrie''s ''Carrie'' necklace was kind of retro-tacky, IMHO. And her plastic horse purse? Her wardrobe consultant has bright pink hair in pigtails & wears kilts. I think she has horn rim glasses and tons of studs in her nose. So just keep that in mind.

YG would look better with my skintone, but all of my other jewelry is platinum with some WG pieces. What to do?

I really love those skinny YG hoops.... I''m always tempted to buy them but then I wouldn''t be able to wear my watch or wedding set. ARGH!

I think YG looks better on my skin, too, esp. when it''s plain, pure yellow gold. But because my wedding set is in platinum, I mostly have acquired plat. and WG pieces. Initially, I had bought a plain 18k YG wedding ring from Tiffany to wear when I didn''t want to wear diamonds. (I know, I know, I way overpaid for that ring, but it was a little treat to myself

). I eventually got an OEC set in 18kt YG, and now wear that as wedding set at times when I think YG looks better with my clothes (i.e., pink on me).

 

[Julian]

I agree! Don''t you wish our rings were like those 80s reversible jackets? One side plat, one side YG? Wouldn''t that be fun?

When my DH bought me the Elsa Peretti floating diamond necklace -- I LOVED it in yellow gold. (This was before we were engaged!) But I knew I wanted my future engagement ring to be in platinum so I got the necklace in platinum so I could wear them together one day.

It''s interesting, the Tiff person said diamonds pop more in YG and said it was more forgiving if you went down in a color. Just thought that was food for thought. I think YG makes regular comebacks & will always be around. But I think platinum is timeless.