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Nicole Wegman & I met on Instagram when I fell in love with her gorgeous feed. It was full of HUGE, beautiful sparkling jewelry & I just had to know more.
So many women are into jewelry or are getting engaged so I wanted to have Nicole on to talk about upcoming trends, what you need to know about designing a custom peice, & why Ring Concierge is special.
In this post you’ll learn all about the timeless trends & styles happening for 2021, an easy DIY to clean your jewellery at home & classic peices to get that have nothing do with being married or engaged.
Let’s welcome Nicole Wegman to The Skinny Confidential.
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♡ Introduce yourself & tell us your background in the jewelry industry. We want your whole life story!
Nicole Wegman: I’m Nicole Wegman, Founder & CEO of Ring Concierge. I started my career at Macy’s & Bloomingdale’s in product development & retail buying after earning my B.S. from Cornell University in Fiber Science & Apparel Design. I am also an accredited Jewelry Professional from GIA ( Gemological Institute of America ).
While going through the engagement ring shopping process for myself in 2013, I realized there was a huge void in the market for someone female & millennial. I went down 47th Street, the diamond district in NYC. If you’ve never experienced it – there’s a lot of haggling & a lack of price transparency. On the opposite side, you have the Tiffany’s, Harry Winston’s of the world where the experience is luxury but there’s a 200%+ markup.
I founded Ring Concierge to create a luxury, custom bridal experience without the markup. It’s a company that is female-founded & focused. More than ever before, women are involved in the engagement process & I wanted Ring Concierge to reflect that with timeless yet modern designs while incorporating how millennials want to shop, educating through social media, showing how to stack your fine jewelry, etc.
♡ What are the 3 things people should look for when purchasing an engagement ring?
NW: It actually isn’t what you’d expect! Online there are countless articles saying you need a colorless, flawless diamond but it’s completely personal preference! Decide what’s important for you.
Most RC clients want to prioritize carat size. You can play around with different aspects like color or clarity depending on the diamond cut to maximize carat size. Set a budget you’re comfortable with & then you can play around to get the look you want! Couples aren’t following a set rule when it comes to budget. Find a jeweler who you trust! The diamond industry is notoriously opaque when it comes to pricing.
♡ What trends & styles do you foresee being hot for 2021 & 2022?
NW: Jewelry trends aren’t as quick to change like fashion. 2021 will follow along the same trends & styles we saw in 2020. Solitaires are huge – having one diamond on a simple band. It’s a timeless style & it allows you to get creative & mix it up with your bands/bridal stack.
A simple setting without micropave, like the Whisper Thin, focuses all the attention ( and budget ) on the diamond. The skinnier the band, the larger the diamond looks! Two-tone rings will also keep trending in 2021 & 2022.
Setting a yellow gold band with platinum prongs is the perfect way to incorporate a pop of color without yellow reflecting into the diamond. The platinum prongs keep the diamond facing up white!
♡ Emily Ratajkowski is wearing a unique ring. What do you think of people going that direction?
NW: Your engagement ring is such an expression of your style! We’ve created some really unique rings with what you see with Emily Ratajkowski’s two stone ring! Because it’s a piece you wear every day for so many years, simplistic solitaires are still more popular ( think Hailey Beiber ) but Emily has inspired people to be a little more adventurous.
♡ Talk to us about the difference between traditional & unconventional designs.
NW: When you’re investing in a more expensive piece of jewelry, go for a more traditional, simplistic design so it’s timeless. And then opt for fun, trendier items that are less expensive so if you don’t still love them in 5-10 years you will be okay with that.
These are standouts that are very specific to your personal style! I love wearing traditional pieces stacked & layered with more modern pieces, so my entire look still feels fresh & young.
♡ What’s the best way to clean a ring? Walk us through it.
NW: I always use our Ring Concierge jewelry cleaner which makes your pieces look like new. If you don’t have it, you can clean your fine jewelry pieces with dish soap, warm water & a small tooth brush. I recommend cleaning your dailly go-to pieces once a week. This will keep your jewelry sparkling & help remove any soap scum from all the hand washing or lotion as we move into Winter.
♡ What are the most popular rings & settings? Why?
NW: The most popular engagement ring has been an Oval set in the Whisper Thin. Ovals are really having a moment because people love the elongated look of an Oval. Celebrities like Hailey Beiber & Blake Lively have fed into the obsession even more! Plus Ovals tend to appear larger than other shapes of the same carat weight, which is never a bad thing.
The Whisper Thin is our most popular setting by far. It features the thinnest, safest band available making your diamond look even bigger! Jordan Rogers re-proposed to Jojo Fletcher with our Oval Whisper Thin in 2019, furthering people’s obsession. Small variations like the Whisper Thin with pavé or a Hidden Halo detail are a great way to add hidden sparkle to the simplistic setting.
♡ If you’re not engaged or married, what are some pieces that are classic & will last a lifetime?
NW: The Multiway Tennis Necklace + Double Wrap Bracelet is one of my favorite pieces. It doesn’t get more classic than a tennis bracelet & this item can be worn as a double wrap tennis bracelet or a tennis necklace depending on what you’re wearing!
Round diamond studs are also a must, they can be worn daily, dressed up or down, & we offer sizes ranging from 0.75 to 6 carats.
♡ What advice would you give someone looking to buy an engagement ring for their significant other?
NW: Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with your significant other about what they want! We’ve found 90% of the engagement ring process is driven by the woman. That can range from sharing their favorite Instagram posts as inspiration to actually attending the bridal appointment together. Alternatively, enlist the help of a sister or friend, most women have shared their preferences with someone close to them.
♡ How far in advance should a ring be designed/ordered?
NW: I would recommend reaching out 2-3 months before you want to have the ring in hand. Each Ring Concierge bespoke engagement ring is custom made & starts with diamond selection.
Diamonds are sourced specifically based on the preferences & budget of the client. Our custom settings are handcrafted by our master bench jeweler & take 4-6 weeks to make.
♡ Where can everyone find you? Pimp yourself out!
NW: Follow on @ringconcierge Instagram for inspiration, diamond education & jewelry styling. Shop our fine jewelry and & engagement rings on ringconcierge.com.
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Be sure to follow @ringconcierge for the most incredible feed filled with sparkling diamonds & stunning jewelry.
x, lauryn
+ my engagement story.
++ check out our wedding details here.
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