Shine on your Wedding Day
Shine on your Wedding Day
With Erfdeel Juwele
Erfdeel Juwele showcases their unwavering commitment to producing high-quality jewellery that sets itself apart from mass-produced items. Through their offering of personalized jewellery, they establish a profound connection with their clients, crafting pieces that hold deep personal significance. To delve deeper into their industry, we approached Erfdeel Juwele and asked them to share some insights and glistening trends.
Firstly, what is the best part about being a jeweller?
“We can breathe life into our artistic vision to craft mindful, memorable, and unique pieces of art. We’ve learnt to listen to our clients’ stories with more than just our ears. It is incredibly fulfilling.”
What advice can you give to grooms-to-be when they select engagement rings and wedding bands for their beloved brides-to-be?
“Start by setting up a budget that you are comfortable with. This will narrow down your options and ensure that you find a ring within your financial means. It is important to consider your partner’s personal style and preferences, so pay careful attention to the jewellery she currently wears. This will guide you when choosing a ring that reflects her taste and individual style. It’s also essential to know your partner’s ring size to ensure a proper fit (you can discreetly borrow a ring she wears on the intended finger).
Educate yourself about different types of engagement rings and wedding bands, including various metals, gemstones, and settings. Engagement rings and wedding bands are meant to be worn daily, so it should be durable enough to withstand everyday activities.
Customizing the ring to add a personal touch will add bonus points to your proposal experience. This could involve engraving a special message inside the ring or incorporating a unique design element that holds meaning for both of you.”
Are wedding band designs as important to grooms as they are to brides?
“Traditionally, there has always been more emphasis on engagement ring designs for brides, but the significance of wedding band designs for grooms is becoming more apparent. Today, many grooms are becoming actively involved in the wedding planning process, thus having a greater desire to express their personal style and preferences through their wedding band.”
What designs, colours and materials are currently trending?
“Engagement ring trends are changing quite radically. Traditional solitaires are fading away as couples are opting for rings that reflect their personal style instead. Fancy cut diamonds like pear, marquise, oval, emerald, or cushion cuts are getting increasingly popular. These non-traditional diamond shapes offer a distinctive and eye-catching look. Bezel-set diamond rings and Toi et Moi rings are also currently trending. (‘Toi et Moi’ is French for ‘You and Me’.) Toi et Moi engagement rings feature two gemstones, typically diamonds or colourful gemstones, set side-by-side to symbolize the union of two individuals.”
How should brides pick their jewellery for their wedding day?
“The goal is to enhance the overall bridal look, rather than overpowering it. By considering the dress, neckline, theme, season, and personal style, brides can choose jewellery that harmonizes with their wedding vision.
Here are a few common necklines, with suitable jewellery options:
- Strapless or sweetheart: A necklace that sits just below the collarbone, such as a choker or a pendant necklace, to beautifully accentuate the bare neckline.
- V-neck: A delicate pendant necklace that follows the V-shape, is an elegant choice.
- Halter or high neckline: With these necklines, it’s best to focus on statement earrings and to skip the necklace altogether, or to rather opt for a minimal pendant necklace.
Also, consider the overall theme and style of the wedding. If it’s a traditional and formal affair, classic and timeless jewellery pieces such as pearl earrings or diamond studs can be an excellent choice. For a more relaxed bohemian or rustic wedding, brides may want to consider natural and organic elements like floral-inspired or nature-inspired jewellery.”
Are there any wedding fails when it comes to bridal jewellery?
“Following current trends can be tempting, but it’s important to consider the longevity of your bridal jewellery choices. Highly trendy pieces that may go out of style, may later result in the overall look feeling dated. It’s often wise to strike a balance between incorporating personal style and selecting timeless pieces. Brides should also consider how their jewellery will interact with their hairstyle and veil. If wearing a statement headpiece or a dramatic veil, it’s important to choose jewellery that don’t compete or clash with these elements.”
Should couples insure their wedding rings?
“While it is recommended, it ultimately remains a personal choice based on individual circumstances, the value of the rings, and the level of risk one is willing to take. If you have custom designed or unique wedding rings that may be difficult to replace, insuring them means that you can recreate or replicate the rings if they are lost, stolen, or damaged. This can provide peace of mind and help you preserve the sentimental value associated with your rings.
A few key factors are to list your ring as a specified item on your policy, to renew your insurance yearly with an updated valuation certificate, and to also send a picture of the ring to your broker. The jeweller should be able to assist with a valuation certificate.”
Can a person be allergic to certain metals?
“Yes, it is possible for some individuals to have allergic reactions to certain metals. The most common metal allergies are nickel and copper. Symptoms of a metal allergy can include skin irritation, itching, redness, rash, and even blisters. If you have experienced a reaction towards copper, you would probably struggle with sterling silver and rose gold too.
Sterling silver can be replaced with argentium silver. This is a brand of modern tarnish-resistant silver alloys, containing either 93.5% or 96% silver. Most white gold rings are now alloyed with palladium instead of nickel. You can ask for an alloy option of 10-16% as this will ensure a smaller risk for an allergic reaction.”
With your experience as a jeweler, you must have come across some captivating proposal stories throughout your career. What was the most memorable one you've encountered?
“The combination of a flash mob, the couple’s special song, and the surprise unfolding in a busy market square created a truly magical moment. The groom carefully planned it out and paid attention to detail, which made the proposal even more special. The flash mob ended at a coffee shop where they had their first coffee date, where he then proposed. To top it all off, they took a romantic sunset cruise on the Vaal River afterwards to celebrate their engagement.”
While the couple’s eyes may radiate the greatest sparkle on their wedding day, adding a touch of shimmer to their rings will perfectly complement this momentous occasion.
