WEDDINGS
What a Gem!
Explore the world of colorful gemstones, each as unique as the bride who wears them. Written by Diana Lentini
They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but who’s to say that one should be limited to a single, colorless confidant? While diamonds remain as the top choice for engagement rings, they haven’t always reigned supreme. Intricate, delicate Edwardian engagement rings of the early 1900s—named after the English monarch Edward VII—often featured a center gemstone, surrounded by clusters of diamonds or other colored stones. This style transitioned into the Art Deco designs gaining popularity in the 1920s, identified by their striking geometric patterns, accentuated with dazzling colored gems, including sapphires, rubies and emeralds. In fact, according to the American Gem society, it wasn’t until the late 1940s that diamonds became de rigueur, with De Beers’ iconic “A Diamond is Forever” slogan spurring sales in the United States.
152 BAY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2020