The October issue of Rapaport Magazine, out now in print and online, spotlights the bridal market, examining how changing tastes and buying habits are creating new opportunities across the trade.
Eileen McClelland speaks to three jewelers about tailoring the custom-sales experience to their own creative business models, and explores the growing appetite for diamond-set wedding bands. Beth Bernstein looks at the appeal of antique and vintage engagement rings among couples seeking authenticity and history, while Smitha Sadanandan profiles six brands offering distinctive alternatives to conventional bridal design. From the wholesale perspective, Joyce Kauf examines expectations that firmer diamond prices could bring greater profitability to the bridal market.
Elsewhere in the issue, Elle Hill explains how understanding clients’ underlying needs can lead to more successful negotiations. Francesca Fearon explores the creative possibilities of opal, while Laura Astrologo Porché reports on the breadth of colored gemstones on display during Paris Haute Couture Week.
Ruth Peltason turns to Piaget, tracing how the maison’s colorful, bejeweled timepieces helped set the tone for women’s watches and continue to captivate collectors today.
Finally, April Matteini, senior vice president and senior director of luxury at Freeman’s, points out opportunities for jewelers sourcing engagement rings at auction, from undervalued stones and antique cuts to the saleroom’s growing appeal for a new generation of couples.
Read the October issue of Rapaport Magazine here.
Image: Tacori
