A Brooklyn travel guide for wedding sh!t?

Hi there,

I've loved the travel guides you've been posting recently. As a new reader, please forgive me if I missed the Brooklyn wedding version. (I promise I did look through the archives.)  

Where besides Catbird should I go to find interesting/artisan/unusual/finely designed/ohpleasegodnotthis rings, and to browse wedding dresses that don't make me feel like the dress is wearing me? The honest truth is I used to live in Brooklyn, but at that time I was 100% never ever ever going to get married, so now that I'm eating my words I need someone to remind me where all those awesome places I saw out of the corner of my eye but insisted on ignoring can be found!

Thankyouthankyouthankyou

*****

Brooklyn is the jewelry-that-I-love capital of the world. Catbird, Scosha, Macha, and Erie Basin are all worth visiting, and if you don't find SEVERAL rings you love, there is something wrong with you.

Brooklyn is not, however, a good place to shop for a wedding dress. I am sorry to say. (Or maybe not that sorry actually. Go to Soho? Or make an appointment at Stone Fox Bride. While you're in the neighborhood, you should probs make an appointment with Anna Sheffield, too.)


Miranda Kerr by Terry Richardson for Harper's Bazaar

THIS BABY doesn't need a matching band

Mid-1700s Diamond Cluster Ring from Erie Basin (obvs)

Found: Victorian wedding earrings

Remember this bride?

BOY DID I EVER JUST FIND HER EARRINGS.

(1880s Victorian Scarabs from Erie Basin)

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE DIAMONDS

May 14, 2012

Hello ESB -

It's simple: I like old, he likes new. I like a story and a particular style, he likes shiny and flashy. I collect allsortsofthings and have a clear aesthetic identity, he... well, not so much.

We both work with our hands (he's a touring musician, I'm a photographer, mixed-media artist, waitress, and teacher) so our rings have to be durable.

I have been looking at a wide range of engagement rings from vintage/antique (eriebasin, ebay) to new but off-beat (catbird, bario-neal, conroy & wilcox) and just can't find something that's NEW (and according to him, doesn't have anyone else's SHIT attached to it) but has the kind of soul I want. Here are some rings that have appealed to me thus far and perhaps you can make some other suggestions?

Elisa Solomon Ancienne (with matching band!?)

Digby & Iona Bears

Erie Basin Deco

EraGem Deco


As you can see I am all over the place. HELP?!

Though we aren't even engaged yet, (yes I am thinking this far ahead), I want to engrave a wave-form into a ring kind of like Sakurako Shimizu (i do rings) but engraved rather than cut through for his band (don't worry, they will say something other than "I do..") and am looking for an artist who is capable and would enjoy a commission like this. (I might get a matching one too, just daintier.. but it would have to be just right...)

We just moved from down South to Boston for a bit, but don't know where we will be getting married. He travels all over so location isn't much of an issue for checking out rings. Thoughts?

Also, I love reading your smart-assery and I think you always have spot-on style suggestions.
kthx.

xo

*****

May 24, 2012

Hello Again Sweet ESB,

Sorry to be a bother again, but I saw your twitter post of one of the new Digby & Iona Diamond rings and figured you'd have the downlow on when the collection would be released and if one would have to be in some super-special club to get their hand in one.

(I emailed you a week or so asking about rings and I'M SORRY TO BE A SQUEAKY WHEEL AND ALL THAT CRAP.. I know you must get annoyed with obnoxious repeat emailers, last time, I promise.)

And I love their stuff. And I know my man is paying close attention to my strategically left open tabs of your posts about different ring styles I like and my fav vintage finds etc. as he has informed me he is doing it all on his own without consulting my friends or mother.

*****

Voila!

Leave this baby open for a few hours.

CONFLICT-FREE PASTE

And vintage?

Who cares if it's not real!

Seeking: An antique engagement ring in EUROPE?

Dear East Side Bride,

We live in Amsterdam and we're in the market for an engagement ring*. We want to find an antique, and we want to spend less than 500 euros, which should be easy because we are in Amsterdam, and this place should be heaving with gorgeous rings.

Problem is, we're totally overwhelmed. If we were in the US we'd be in to Erie Basin like a shot, but here there are so many stores and we don't know anything about jewelry or antiques and a lot of those stores feel like tourist traps and shouldn't we go to Antwerp or shouldn't we go to some kind of antique fair etc etc etc.

I was hoping one of your network of informants (conspirators? comrades? keepers-of-wisdom?) might know a little something about how to go about shopping for antique (or is it estate? I NEED HELP) jewelry in Europe. We're happy to travel because train tickets are cheap and it's always nice to get out of town, and I am very happy to spend a lot of time reading guides to jewelry.

East Side Bride is absolutely wonderful, btw. And sane. I promise I will never ask you about dresses.

Are we meant to give ourselves our own pseudonyms? I'll go ahead and call myself Gollum.
______________________________

* !!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS A THING THAT IS HAPPENING!

*****

Dear Gollum,

I just had to say "Dear Gollum."

So I went ahead and asked Russell Whitmore of Erie Basin (The. Man Himself.) if he might be willing to respond to your query.

FUCK YEAH I DID.

He replied in record time (thanks, Snowtober!) which has given me an incredibly swelled head.

I've got pull in Redhook, people.

Um, yeah. Anyway. Here's what Russell had to say:

I wish I knew more about shopping for antique jewelry in Europe. In general it's a much more exciting place to look for antiques. But when it comes to antique engagement rings unfortunately there's probably no better place than New York. Today's most common notion of an engagement ring originated out of New York-- the Tiffany & Co 6-prong solitaire, which was introduced in the 1880s. And some of the most defining Art Deco and Edwardian engagement rings were made in New York in the early 20th century. But if you can't do your shopping in NYC, there are still plenty of good options.

If you know exactly what you want, buying jewelry online isn't as scary as it seems. We pretty regularly ship period engagement rings overseas-- especially to the UK and Australia. But I can appreciate the need to see things in person. If you can travel to London, I'd recommend the Saturday market on Portobello Road. The prices will vary widely, but the selection is great. You'll be able to find good American and French Deco rings there, but English rings will be cheaper.

(1920s Art Deco Lapis Lazuli Ring, 18K, Probably French)

One of my favorite 20th century diamond ring designs is English. Simple rings with one, three, or five diamonds set in platinum bezels with a simple tapered yellow gold band were popular from about 1910-1930. If you go to any antique market in the UK, you're sure to find rings of this style. Many of them are more recent reproductions, so if you're interested in having an original one, it would be best to find a knowledgeable/honest dealer. In fact, finding a good dealer is probably the most important part. If you can find someone knowledgable who also has good taste, the rest will be easy.

(Two English Deco diamond rings, 1920s + 1930s)

Buying at antique markets is not for everyone. It does require a basic understanding of old jewelry, and at the very least, a stomach for bargaining. Buying from a store affords more customer service, and often more assurance that what you're buying is authentic and not in need of repairs. If you can find a recommendation for a local store, that would probably be the easiest road.

Lastly, I would just say that shopping for vintage requires an open mind. In my early days of antique hunting I would make shopping lists. Inevitably, the things on the list were notably absent when I wanted them. If you keep your eyes open, you're bound to find something unexpectedly amazing, even if it's not what you had in mind. And that's the best part of buying old things. 

 (Above:1900s Rose Cut Diamond Knot Ring, 18K Gold, 
At top:1900s Mine Cut Diamond Cluster Ring, Platinum, 14K)

Seeking: The Unicorn of Engagement Rings

ESB,

Do you know of any great vintage jewelry shops? I’ve found Erstwhile, but any other recommendations would be most appreciated. I’m looking for an Art Deco, preferably rose cut ring.

Thanks!

*****

Funny you should ask... I've finally landed a vintage jewelry sponsor, and I could not be more stoked.

Badass + Modern + Antique = THE TRIFECTA

I emailed my guy at EraGem to ask which of his Art Deco rings are rose cut and he told me "the use of rose cut diamonds predates the art deco period. Art deco jewelry used predominately old european cut diamonds."

Such as:

Here's a (SOLD) example of a late 1800s rose cut ring from Erie Basin:

This would not have been an engagement ring.

Mike says, "Engagement rings weren't always a part of getting married. They seem to start about 1880s late victorian with old miner cut diamonds..."

Here's a (SOLD) example of a Victorian mine cut ring from Erie Basin:

And here's an Art Deco ring with a big ol' mine cut diamond from EraGem (also SOLD):

Mike says "I haven't actually seen an engagement ring with a rose cut center stone..."

The ring you're looking for may not exist.

Pictured at top: Vintage Estate Diamond Cluster Cocktail Ring

What would a gent from the 20's wear?

Hey East Side Bride,

I'm a groom, not a bride, and I have a question for you.

My gal's wedding band is a vintage ring from the 1920's. It is white gold with gorgeous, high filigree work and is a classy, ornate heirloom piece.

My question is, if I was trying to match her band, what would a gent from the 20's wear to compliment his lady? A vintage or a modern update/spin are both options for me. I like to keep an open mind.

*****

Erie Basin just this instant put up a new stash of vintage men's wedding bands. Apparently they're hard to find.

I dig the Decorated 18K White Band, twelfth from the left. It's from 1935, but close enough right?

Any chance you're a size 8??

(HOP ON IT. That sh*t sells fast.)

Holy Vintage Engagement Rings, Batman

Check out what Erie Basin just hauled in.

Maybe Ms. Fussypants should send her bfriend the link?

PEZ for the kids and turquoise for the bride

Heidi emailed me this morning as I lay in bed feeling sorry for myself:*

Hi Again! Wanted to say thanks again for the awesome ideas for the kids at the wedding. Things went swimmingly. We did however run out of time... (and... um... money) and ended up getting the kids pez dispensers instead. (FYI... KIDS LOVE pez dispensers & when then lose and or get tired of them.. you know you only spent a couple of bucks anyways). Just thought i'd pass a couple pics along. FYI, i know you've been featuring some rings lately, so i thought i'd send a ring shot... i am a non-diamond fan.. but i have this retardedly huge love for turquoise. My mr. found this most lovely turquoise and diamond ring at erie basin and that was my engagement ring. He did such a fab job. My band was my grandmothers... My new MIL made my dress and the flower girls dresses... and they were TO DIE FOR...

It was a blast. We were lucky. We had the most GORGEOUS weather... and now it's over & i have the kindest and most sarcastic man i could have hoped for.... yeah for crazy artist husbands!

*****

Mkay. PEZ???!!

Heidi, I'm not gonna lie. I was pissed at you for about five seconds. I honestly think it would be better to buy nothing for the kids than plastic crap. (I feel the same way about favors, obv.)

But then the photos loaded and your adorable face beamed up at me. How could I be pissed at you? Plus your vintage ring is gorg. I love the way you brought the turquoise into your wedding colors. And hellooo, nice shoes on the mister!

* The wind is riling up allergies I didn't know I had. I don't wanna go into it.