Category: Ask Jeff Cooper

Ask Jeff Cooper: The Right Hand Ring

So who’s wearing right hand rings, and why?

Madonna and Mariah Carey, for starters. And Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Ashanti, Minnie Driver and Eve are just some of the famous women who’ve sported an incredible ring on their right hands.

What does it mean? It depends.

When Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor the 69 carat “Burton-Taylor Diamond” for her 40th birthday, she moved her engagement ring to her right hand and wore both. Why wouldn’t she?

And Jeff Cooper rings aren’t just for getting engaged and married. We see a lot of our eternity bands given as anniversary gifts or push presents. And some of our bolder designs make great statement or cocktail rings to wear on occasion or all the time. This custom design we created would be a perfect right hand ring.

Then there’s the old saying ” the left hand is for thee, the right hand is for me.” For some women, right hand rings are a celebration of independence and happiness. Why wait around to fall in love when you have the means to enjoy yourself now?

While we tend to associate simple solitaire rings with engagements, and minimal platinum or gold bands with wedding rings, there really are no rules. When it comes to right hand rings, just do what you love!

What’s your ideal right hand ring? Leave us a comment!

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Photo Elizabeth Taylor via the AP.

Ask Jeff Cooper: Wedding Ring Inscriptions

Looking for wedding ring inscription ideas can be a challenge. You want unique, charming and perfect. You don’t want generic, dated or cheesy. Here are a few ideas to spark up your inspiration, and guide you to a wedding inscription you’ll love forever.

Biblical

The Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs, is the most romantic part of the bible. Translations online vary wildly, so you may scan a bunch to find something that speaks to you. Here are three lines we love, that work for modern couples.

Take Me With You

How Beautiful You Are

My Lover Is Mine

Cheeky

Lots of couples inscribe a little humor into their wedding bands with nicknames, inside jokes or “Put it Back On.” We like funny wedding ring engravings when they make the wearer feel special and loved every time they look at it. Here are some sweet ones.

You’re a Gem

You Are So Mine

Wink Wink

Song Lyrics

We like this approach for couples who want to express themselves, and like to be a bit different. Keep looking (and listening) till you find a phrase that expresses your feelings. Here are some cool, not obvious ones to get you started.

If You Will Dare, I Will Dare (The Replacements)

Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)

Satisfy My Soul (Bob Marley)

What do you think of these? Got your own wedding ring inscriptions to share with the world? Tell us in the comments!

Photo via Shahir Zag.

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Ask Jeff Cooper: Making a Ring

Nothing’s more interesting to us than ring making, so we’re thrilled whenever our customers and fans are curious how we do it.

We made this video to explore the process of ring design and production, and to talk a bit about our company values and aesthetic.

Like our rings, it was a labor of love and we hope you enjoy it!

Click through our photo gallery above for some cool shots of the process.

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Ask Jeff Cooper: The Push Present

What are Push Presents?
The push present or baby bauble is a celebrity trend that’s definitely reached the rest of us. Babycenter.com revealed that 38% of new moms received a push present. As one mom told Babyzone.com, “Was it necessary? No. Was it an unbelievably special gift that oftentimes will help me recall one of the most beautiful and amazing experiences of my life? Absolutely.”

According to Tori Spelling, “a push present is supposed to be something you wear forever, as a token of your child.” Her husband Dean McDermott once gave her a Balenciaga bag as a push present. For Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, it was a gold bracelet. Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Garner a classic diamond ring.

Some Daddies give creative push presents, like the four pairs of biker boots Tim Burton gave Helena Bonham Carter. Some are more thoughtful than glamorous. One mom came home to a new king-size bedroom set she’d wanted for months. Others are totally extravagant. Marc Anthony showed his appreciation by giving Jennifer Lopez a $300,000 canary diamond ring and $2.5 million earrings!

How to Pick a Push Present
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Rachel Zoe with a 10-karat cushion-cut diamond, surrounded by a halo of many more diamonds in a platinum setting. Her husband Rodger must have had some help coming up with a push present that reflected her style so perfectly, right?

An element of surprise is fabulous, but it’s okay to get some guidance from Mama on what would make the best gift. Sometimes the new mom chooses the gift and the husband puts a personal touch by engraving an inscription that makes it a keepsake.

In Hollywood, the standard is something sparkly, and it’s hard to go wrong with precious jewelry. Mathew Broderick went relatively subtle with his charm bracelet for Sarah Jessica Parker. Liev Schrieber gave Naomi Watts a platinum and diamond locket. Gifts that can be personalized make memorable push presents.

Personalized Push Presents
Jay-Z gave Beyonce a blue jeweled ring for the birth of their daughter Blue Ivy. Jessica Simpson’s fiancé Eric Johnson imported a collection of bracelets, necklaces and rings from Jessica’s favorite jewelry designer in Capri. Nick Cannon gave Mariah Carey a necklace that spelled the names of their twins in diamonds and pink sapphires. Special, right?

Keith Urban gave Nicole Kidman a cross necklace after their daughter Faith was born. We love meaningful push presents, and we’re doing a series of pendants with initials and spiritual symbols, based on a custom push present we made for Mike Rubendall’s wife.

Ultimately, the best push presents are personal, they last forever, and they make a new Mom feel special and loved. If you’re in the market for a push present, CONGRATULATIONS! The best part of what we do is getting to be a part of your special milestones.

Photo by Sean Taylor Photography

Ask Jeff Cooper: Diamond Engagement Ring Trends for 2013

Happy Holidays! We’re already thinking about 2013, which is poised to be an incredible year in engagement ring style. Here are our top ten predictions for the best trends of the year.

1. Vintage-Inspired
Updated vintage designs are the single biggest trend we see, now and in the future. Who doesn’t want a ring that feels timeless? Vintage-inspired engagement rings have that innate sense of history and romance. Photo: Hope

2. Colored Stones
What do Penelope Cruz, Kate Middleton and Mariah Carey have in common, besides great hair? Colored engagement rings! Sapphires especially are seeing a huge rise in popularity, quite possibly due to Kate Middleton’s royal rock.

3. Halo & Double Halo
Modern brides are loving the architectural look of halos, and some couples also see them as symbolic of eternity. Either way, we think dramatic halos seem chicer by the day.

4. Princess, Emerald & Oval Diamonds
After Brad Pitt designed Angelina Jolie’s engagement ring with its impressive emerald cut diamond, was there any doubt the trend would take off? Three cuts we predict will be huge in 2013 are princess, emerald and ovals.

5. Personalization
Justin Timberlake included Jessica Biel’s aquamarine birthstone in her engagement ring. Our own Nikole Collection is based on the ring David Cooper designed for his wife, Nikole. In love and jewelry, the more personal, the better.

6. Twisted Bands
An elegant twist is such a classic, glamorous way to add dimension to a ring, we think you’ll be seeing a lot of this trend in the future.

7. Floral Motifs
Brides feel freer than ever to express their personalities, and unique engagement ring designs are gaining popularity. Floral engagement rings strike such a cool balance of feminine beauty and bold individuality.

8. Unique Settings
Blending in with the crowd is so over. While most brides want a classic look, choosing a unique setting is a great way to make it your own. We love barset diamonds for a look that’s bold, but still timeless.

9. Three Stone Rings
A lot of couples see the three-stone ring as symbolic of the past, present and future, or three of their own personal milestones. It’s just another way that couples are personalizing their experience, a trend we love.

10. The New Solitaires
Fresh, new versions of the classic solitaire will be big in 2013. We’re really feeling radically clean lines and understated details that make the center stone pop.

Keep up with all the trends in wedding jewelry. Like us on Facebook.

 

Ask Jeff Cooper: What to Look for in Wedding & Engagement Rings

Congratulations on finding your soulmate! Now you just need the perfect rings. Whenever you look at your wedding rings, you’ll remember falling in love. The proposal. The wedding. Pick the right engagement ring, and the meaning behind it can shine even more.

Most ring buying advice focuses on the 4Cs. Or how many months’ salary to spend. But there are subtleties to recognizing and buying the perfect engagement or wedding ring. We created this quick guide to help you pick an engagement ring of the highest quality.

At Jeff Cooper, our streamlined designs make the quality extremely easy to see so you, your partner and everyone else knows your rings are extraordinary. Simple designs allow your eye to take in every detail, so every detail has to be perfect. Here’s a list of things to notice, to help make ring buying simple.

Wedding & Engagement Ring Buying Guide.

  • Beware of gaudy, extraneous details used to distract the eye from flaws in craftsmanship.
  • All design elements and accent stones should have a distinct presence, yet work together within the piece.
  • The center stone should “pop” with a profound brilliance.
  • Precious metal is soft; a flat edge that is sharp, crisp and bright is a sign of quality.
  • Examine different rings with your hands, feeling for the hardest and heaviest piece of jewelry.
  • Look inside. A great ring will be polished and beautiful on the outside and the inside.
  • Metals should display a brilliant luster and bright polish. To know it when you see it, first take a look at the mirror-like finish of a Jeff Cooper ring.

To find a Jeff Cooper retailer near you, click here.

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Ask Jeff Cooper: Choosing a Men’s Wedding Band

Men should love their wedding rings every bit as much as our brides do, so we put a lavish amount of attention and craftsmanship into our men’s designs.

We recommend visiting one of our retailers and feeling a variety of men’s wedding bands. Feel the weight of each one in your hand. Compare the finish and the hardness of the edges. Most men haven’t spend a lot of time ring shopping, but hands-on experience and side-by-side comparison make it easier to see what you like and make a decision.

Image: The Mercer Men’s Wedding Band, from our Monogram Collection. ‘Like’ us on Facebook to be eligible to win a Jeff Cooper ring.