Wilkes Bashford

Wedding Stories: Ring Shopping Stage 1 – Trying on Rings, Finding the Right Style (Part 2)

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 | General | 4 Comments

Down the Aisle: Wedding Stories Tales from real-life as this bride reluctantly navigates the wedding industry and heads down the aisle toward perfect bliss… oh, and perfect flowers, the perfect dress, the perfect ceremony…

Meilily: Wedding Stories

Ring Shopping: Stage 1. Trying on rings and finding the right style (Part 2)

Continuing the ring shopping adventures from Part 1: A lot learned…

Random acts of desperation:
– Shreve & Co – We stop by the San Francisco store near closing time out of desperation to find something interesting. Shreve & Co has a decent selection of higher end brand name rings for women and men, however many of the rings look alike and do not jump out at me. The service is polite and the rings are pretty nice, but they aren’t quite my style – too classic, if that is possible. (Stopping by Shreve & Co in Palo Alto on a different day, staff there did not offer to help at all and largely ignored us. Wow!)
– Tiffany & Co. – I enter reluctantly, as my impression of Tiffany & Co is that they mostly have sterling silver baubles. Turns out they do have gold and platinum engagement rings, but the Tiffany’s experience leaves an odd taste in my mouth. Theirs is mostly a small selection of large diamonds on thick prongs (boring!), plus, sales staff seems oddly bored and reluctant to help.

Back to Cartier to Try a Ring in my Size!
– Cartier – Definitely less in awe the second time around, I confirm that my ring size is indeed European size “tiny,” but also realize that proportion and size both matter a lot. Proportional sizing can really change a ring remarkably. › Continue reading

Tags: Cartier, colored diamonds, Diamond in the Rough, diamond rings, diamonds, Engagement Rings, jewelry, Meilily Weddings, rings, rough diamonds, Shreve & Co, Tiffany & Co, Wedding Rings, Wilkes Bashford

Wedding Stories: Ring Shopping Stage 1 – Trying on Rings, Finding the Right Style (Part 1)

Monday, January 18th, 2010 | Jewelry, Weddings | 5 Comments

Meilily: Wedding Stories

Ring Shopping: Stage 1. Trying on rings and finding the right style (Part 1)

First stop: Wilkes Bashford (for Diamond in the Rough rings)
– I first noticed Diamond in the Rough brand rings in a Neiman Marcus catalog and fell in love. Searching the Diamond in the Rough site, I discover that their only local retailer is Wilkes Bashford, who just started carrying them. The rings are beautiful! Just what I am looking for – uncut, raw, and natural! My (first) favorite – a small white rough diamond in the “classic” halo style, set in white gold with a delicate pave band. I want it, but I won’t buy the very first engagement ring I try on! Plus, it comes in a different color, slightly larger. I will wait to see the other ring, but this could be true love! *More on Diamond in the Rough later… (Their rings actually appear in March 2010 on The Bride’s Guide, the Martha Stewart Weddings Blog.)

Next stop: Cartier Boutique (because I’ve always wanted to go in but never had a reason to)
– Oooh! I finally have a reason to open the huge Cartier boutique double-doors and step inside. As expected, the Cartier “bouncer” eyes me warily. The selection of Cartier engagement-style rings feels surprisingly small, but I do at least find one interesting ring style, the Ballerine band, which is different from your typical giant-gem-on-a-prong rings. There is only one in my size available in the country (yikes), but they offer to ship it over for me to try on. How nice! The Ballerine band is my 2nd choice ring, though, it is also one of the few rings I have tried on so far.

Surprise Stop: Shane Company
– Fully expecting a mall-type cheesy jeweler, I venture into Shane Company based on several recommendations, › Continue reading

Tags: Cartier, Diamond in the Rough, diamond rings, diamonds, Engagement Rings, Meilily Weddings, Neiman Marcus, raw diamonds, rings, rough diamonds, shopping tips, The Brides Guide, Wedding Rings, Wedding Style, Weddings, Wilkes Bashford