The Jeweller magazine: Lucie Campbell's take on the wedding & engagement ring market

The Jeweller's Editor, Belinda Morris, swapped notes with Richard last month on the state of the wedding jewellery market. Here's the full exchange, quotes from which are in the March issue of The Jeweller:

Belinda: Is the interest in wedding bands & engagement rings as strong as it ever was among jewellery retailers and consumers?
Richard: Definitely! Engagements and weddings are such pivotal events in a couple’s life together they need and want to mark them with a beautiful engagement ring and suitable wedding bands.


Belinda: Has the price of precious metals had any particularly bearing on either your designs or sales?
Richard: The price of precious metals has not had any bearing on our designs since we tend to design the item to be as beautiful as possible and very much worry about the cost later. I know it may sound strange, but, although clients are price conscious, for a once in a lifetime purchase they will buy the rings they love.

Lucie Campbell engagement rings

Belinda: Is the main interest still in white metals or is there increasing interest in yellow and/or rose gold?
Richard: The main interest is still in Platinum but with an increasing interest in Pink and Yellow gold. Pink Gold is particularly suitable for paler complexions and is proving to be very well received.


Belinda: Is there increased demand for men's wedding rings and if so do these tend to be quite classic and plain or are they getting more adventurous?
Richard:We have found the demand for men’s wedding rings to be constant, the styles chosen are quite classic.


Belinda: Do diamonds still rule as far as engagement rings are concerned? What coloured stones are most popular?
Richard: Diamonds still rule but different cuts such as cushions are increasingly popular! Coloured stones, especially sapphires have become much more popular, but this trend has not followed through as strongly as last summer.

Lucie Campbell wedding bands

Belinda: Are commitment and eternity rings increasing in popularity?
Richard: Eternity rings and what some people call “push present” rings are very much in demand. Budget permitting this is on every couples wish list soon after the birth of their first child. Jewellery is a wonderful way to mark significant and joyful events in one’s life as a couple and a family!


Belinda: Are matching/interlocking wedding bands/engagement rings becoming more popular? is this something that you offer?
Richard: Many couples want matching wedding bands, but accept that a truly matching band may not suit both the bride and groom, so most couples settle on matching styles or metals or finish. Interlocking wedding bands and engagement rings is not something we offer and we have not been asked for them. Most brides want a wedding band which matches and complements their engagement ring perfectly, and this is our goal.


Belinda: Do you anticipate that the economic downturn will see sales of wedding rings drop or do you think that couples getting married will always want to buy the best that they can and just save up?
Richard: Yes, as I mentioned this is such an important purchase/event that most couples will adjust other expenditure rather than compromise on their wedding bands.


Belinda: Any final thoughts?
Richard: Yes, engagement and wedding rings are such important objects and symbols that their significance is not about their size or value but the love and care with which they are exchanged.


See our full engagement rings collection here
and our wedding bands & eternity rings here


For more details about The Jeweller magazine, the official publication of the National Association of Goldsmiths, visit http://www.thejewellermagazine.com

And the BAFTA for red carpet jewellery goes to...

We were pleased to see Livia Firth’s ‘green’ credentials fully embrace the high jewellery tradition – she wore vintage Cartier tassel diamond & emerald earrings with her wonderful tuxedo. Christina Ricci, Gillian Andersen and Hayley Atwell also wore impressive earrings. Diamond drop earrings are a classic of the red carpet for good reason, lengthening the neck, dazzling in the flicker of flashbulbs, setting off long column gowns. Our Taj collection all-diamond drop earrings were designed with precisely these effects in mind.

Tilda Swinton was distinctive as ever in a modernist white gown, her sole accessory an outsize cocktail ring by Italian brand Pomellato, whom she represents. Others sporting large signature rings included Penelope Cruz with an impressive ruby and diamond ring from Chopard. Large gemstone rings are a particular interest of ours since Lucie Campbell specialises in sourcing exceptional stones and designing pieces which maximise their natural beauty and impact. See our gemstone rings

Once again we saw stacked diamond bracelets, wide cuffs and wrap-around diamond bracelets on the red carpet, sometimes on both wrists and with large rings to boot, or in the case of Ricci, Andersen et Atwell balancing out their generous diamond drop earrings. As red carpet trends go this one is only gathering followers. We’re finding many happy new combinations amongst our own extensive collection of diamond and gemstone bracelets

One choice we hope to see more of: Jessica Chastain wore long looped chains with her ‘gold leaf’ Oscar de la Renta gown; the very definition of red carpet glamour. We do so love our own very long, very flattering briolette diamond chains

Look out for our Oscar coverage week commencing Monday February 27th.

Find more BAFTA red carpet images at Elle UK

The Act of Giving

Lucie Campbell Box of Smiles

Well this my first blog! So might as well tell you something interesting and topical.

I received the below email from a client this morning:

Dear Richard,
Firstly, Happy New Year to you.
Secondly, many thanks indeed to you and your team with regard to sourcing Amanda's birthday present at such short notice. You really pulled out the stops, got me out of a hole and nothing was too much trouble. I can assure you that the pendent looks fantastic, it brought tears to her eyes and I am firmly in her good books (for the time being at least)!
Once again, many thanks.
Kind regards…

And it got me thinking about the act of giving and all that it entails and the reactions it provokes.

Isn’t wonderful that in this day and age that we can still bring joy and happiness through the simple act of giving. The act of giving transcends the object or the gesture. It is really the thought which makes it so valuable. The time and effort of picking that just right item is really what it is about, not the cost.
              So lets all try and give something to someone today!