NEIL LANE BRIDAL & NEIL LANE HIMSELF AT KAY JEWELERS
Neil Lane
Introducing the Neil Lane Bridal Collection exclusive to Kay Jewelers, a new offering of 36 engagement and wedding rings ranging from $2,600 – $7,800. When Hollywood’s biggest stars need an engagement or wedding ring, they turn to Neil Lane. And now, you can do the same for the biggest moment of your life with a ring from Neil Lane Bridal™, a contemporary vintage-inspired collection celebrating Hollywood’s glamorous past and your remarkable future.
Fashion Phoenix had the pleasure of chatting with the delightful Mr. Lane recently about the new collection, just in time for the local launch of Neil Lane Bridal on Saturday at the Kay Jewelers inside Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale. As much as we love chatting about fashion, Fashion Phoenix LOVES chatting about LOVE…diamonds, rings, engagements and we were enamored with the endearing Mr. Lane and his inspiration behind the new Neil Lane Bridal.
For over 20 years, Neil Lane has been designing jewelry for Hollywood and the World’s taste-makers. Describing his aesthetic as ‘pretty’, the master jeweler focuses on the entire ring setting (or as he describes as ‘the house’) for the stone, rather than focusing on the size of the center stone itself. Forgoing the simple, boring solitaires and wedding bands, Neil Lane is famous for his vintage-inspired, yet contemporary settings with inspirations from his collection of period jewels and implicating his love of art and architecture in each ring design.
We gleefully had a few minutes to ask the jewelry designer about the new collection and about the current trends and nuances of engagement ring selection. Here’s a briefing of our interview…
FP: Neil Lane Bridal is comprised of 36 engagement and wedding rings divided into four different inspirational styles including ‘Energy, Essence, Harmony and Timeless’. Can you tell us a bit about each and how to find what’s best for a bride-to-be?
NL: The collection offers a lot of variety. A woman’s engagement ring is a fashion statement. And women shouldn’t wear something that they aren’t completely happy with. So variety is important in the new bridal collection.
Energy is never-dying, eternal energy. It keeps the world going. Energy and the energy we create is always there, it never dies. (FP agrees!)
Essence has a historical reference in art and architecture. The essence is the basis of all design.
Harmony is creating actual design harmony between the big diamond and ‘the house’, which is the setting or mounting.
Timeless is from my fascination with period jewels – in the hand-work and details that I bring to my designs.
FP: How do you know what style of ring suits one best?
NL: Some people know what they like. Some people need reassurance of their selection. Sometimes one must eliminate what doesn’t fit their style to find what does. Most often, the reaction to a ring is natural, organic and it’s a physical reaction to the ring they love. One can build up their knowledge of their style and aesthetic through research before shopping.
FP: You mentioned solitaires aren’t as popular as in years past? How has shopping for engagement rings changed?
NL: Years ago, many women never liked their rings – they loved their husbands, but not their rings. Couples shop together now so there aren’t as many surprises and women can wear what suits their style.
FP: What do you think about the current colored diamond trend?
NL: Colored diamonds are not a staple and are not for everyone or everyday. The colored trend won’t take over the industry. White diamonds with white metals are just easier to wear. We use white gold in the Neil Lane Bridal collection, but you can special order some styles in platinum.
FP: What’s your favorite cut of diamond?
NL: I have fun with all cuts and it really comes down to the setting, but I love a cushion cut diamond because it’s romantic or a classic round is always nice.
FP: What was the inspiration for doing a more affordable bridal line with Kay Jewelers?
NL: It was kismet. Kay Jewelers is the perfect company for Neil Lane Bridal. It was serendipitous, from some divine inspiration. (just like love itself should be, right!)
FP: Any celebrity moments that you were most proud of?
NL: When Sandra Bullock won her Oscar last year (2010) in Neil Lane jewels. That was a proud moment for me.
Timeless
Energy
Essence
Harmony
Thank you, thank you to Mr. Neil Lane for the fabulous interview. Fashion Phoenix is super excited to try on the new Neil Lane Bridal collection and to meet Mr. Lane himself at Arrowhead Towne Center on Saturday. You could WIN a FREE ring!!
For more information about Saturday’s event, click Neil Lane at Kay Jewelers.
0 comments permalink | 1:42 PM | 2.9.2011 |
