Tiffany & Co Will You?

Jeweler Tiffany & Co is featuring a same-sex couple for the first time in its advertising history

Eric Bourne (right), a Midland, Michigan native, and his husband Thomas Trube were the models for Tiffany & Co.’s latest marketing campaign. It’s the first ad for the famed jeweler to feature a same-sex couple.

A highly publicized advertisement for famed luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co featuring a Michigan native and his same-sex partner has been named one of the top LGBT-themed advertisements ofthe year. The two men depicted in the ‘Will You?’ campaign are a real-life couple. The new campaign comes at a time when public support for gay marriage has reached a new high.

The campaign was shot by fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh and features six other couples. The ads are meant to broaden the 178-year-old jeweler’s portrayals of marriage, Tiffany & Co said. For example, another pairing shows a couple with their child during their wedding, a nod to people who have children outside marriage.

Nowadays, the road to marriage is no longer linear, and true love can happen more than once with love stories coming in a variety of forms. The Tiffany engagement ring is the first sentence of the story that a couple will write together as they create a life that is deeply intimate and exceptional, which is the message we hope to convey through this campaign.

Tiffany & Co

The ad, which features the men sitting on the steps of a New York City brownstone in the West Village, went public in January. The black-and-white ad shows Bourne and Trube with arms linked together and reads:

“Will you promise to never stop completing my sentences or singing off-key, which I’m afraid you do often? And will you let today be the first sentence of one long story that never, ever ends”

Set of Tiffany & Co Platinum Wedding Rings

Eric Bourne and his partner were the only actual couple in the entire campaign, which featured seven different couples, covering the gamut of marriage.

The campaign is all about the nontraditional marriage and how love and marriage follows its own journey. To be part of that is really exciting

Eric Bourne

In recent years, several other major fashion companies have also featured same-sex couples, including Benetton, Gap, Banana Republic and J. Crew. I think this Tiffany & Co ad really promotes the beauty of marriage, no matter the gender. I hope this ad encourages other companies to support same-sex marriage. I think it’s great that a huge, iconic and traditional company like Tiffany & Co is recognizing homosexual couples.  Also because no other brand embodies the emotion and trust that Tiffany & Co does for those who are committed to one another.

 

 

The Meaning of Colored Gemstone Engagement Rings

 

 

Boucheron classic 3.91 carat briljant cut diamond platinum engagement ring

While diamond engagement rings remain as popular as ever, some people prefer colored gemstone engagement rings as a vibrant alternative. Each precious gemstone has its own meaning, with their symbolism often being a factor in selection. Here are some of the meanings behind colored gemstone engagement rings.

A true classic, for men and women: Tiffany & Co Jean Schlumberger 16 Stone Diamond Platinum Gold Band Ring

Ruby engagement rings are said to symbolize love, passion and courage – perfect for a colorful engagement ring that represents your relationship. For those born in July, ruby rings are particularly poignant. If your loved one’s birthstone is the ruby, it is worth considering whether a ruby center stone or side-stones would be a gorgeous choice for their engagement ring.

Tiffany & Co 18kt yellow gold, ruby and diamond engagement ring

Blue sapphire engagement rings  represent loyalty and devotion. As such, sapphires are a stunning and particularly meaningful choice for bridal jewelry. September’s birthstone is formed in a wide range of colors, from the popular blue to more unusual pink, yellow and purple. At 9 on the Mohs scale, diamonds are at 10, they are the third hardest mineral and are therefore durable. This means they can be worn daily, as long as they are cared for over time.

18kt White gold, blur sapphire and diamond halo ring

Representing truth and trust, pink sapphire engagement rings are a distinctive alternative to blue sapphires. These romantic gemstones are most stunning when set in rose gold, as the coppery hue of this metal accentuates the warm tones in the center stone.

18kt Rose gold, pink sapphire and diamond halo ring

The green gemstone peridot is associated with rebirth, renewal, prosperity and compassion. This makes is a stunning , yet rare, choice for gemstone engagement rings, symbolizing the next chapter in the wearer’s life. Women with August birthdays might enjoy receiving a peridot engagement rings, in particular.

Peridot diamond gold engagement ring

Blue topaz engagement rings have traditionally been believed to encourage clear, calm communication, personal growth and the desire to learn. Since communication is key in any marriage, it’s clear to see why topaz might be a wise choice for your engagement ring. November’s birthstone is naturally formed in a wide variety of colors and intensities, so it’s likely you’ll find the perfect gemstone ring for you.

14kt White gold, blue topaz and diamond engagement ring

From fiery orange to mysterious green, garnet gemstones are naturally found in a variety of vibrant hues and tones. A garnet engagement ring is said to ensure good health, prosperity and enduring happiness. Red garnets are often compared to rubies, representing passion and love with their depth of color. Orange garnets (called Spessartite) is said to channel the energy of the sun, suitable for creative dreamers. Green garnet is believed to instill confidence in the wearer. As January’s birthstone, garnet engagement rings are particularly sought after those born in the first month of the year.

18kt Rose gold, cushion cut spessartite garnet and diamond halo ring

Purple amethyst engagement rings are said to promote happiness, contentment and peace. If you and your partner value a calm relationship, free from tension and disagreement, an amethyst ring might be a style to consider. Amethyst is the birthstone for February, and thus would be extra meaningful for those born in the month.

Vintage milgrain 14kt yellow gold, amethyst and diamond engagement ring

Do you love colored gemstone engagement rings? Which gem’s meaning is most significant to you?…..

by Jean Amr

 

Royal Asscher, a fascinating history and the height of vintage style

Today’s Royal Asscher-cut diamond engagement rings, with their vintage-style design, continue Joseph Asscher’s diamond-cutting legacy.

Joseph Asscher (Click photo to enlarge)

Royal Asscher cut engagement rings may be a relative newcomer in the world of diamond cuts, but the illustrious history that led to the creation of this cut includes some of the world’s biggest diamonds, as well as royalty of both the blue-blooded and Hollywood variety.

The original Asscher cut was created in 1902 by Joseph Asscher, owner of the Amsterdam-based Asscher Diamond Company. As a renowned diamond artisan, he was entrusted to cut the largest gem-quality diamond ever unearthed, the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond. Found in a De Beers-owned South African mine near Pretoria in 1905, the enormous diamond was bought by the Transvaal Colony government and given to King Edward VII as a token of its loyalty. The rough stone was presented to the King on his 66th birthday and he commissioned Joseph Asscher to cut it into smaller gems to be incorporated into the historic Crown Jewels. After breaking the blade of the specially designed knife on his first attempt, legend has it that Asscher fainted when he managed to cleave the diamond in two with the second cut.

The Cullinan diamond was eventually cut into nine, large, gem-quality stones and 96 smaller stones. The largest stone, at 530.20ct, is known as Cullinan I, or the Great Star of Africa. It was cut into a pear shape and set into the head of the Sceptre with the Cross. The 317.4ct Cullinan II, or the Second Star of Africa, is a cushion-cut diamond mounted in the front of the circlet of the Imperial State Crown.

As the Asscher cut was never patented, over time it became a universal term to describe a stepped square cut with 58 facets. However, many of the Asscher-cut diamond engagement rings available on the market today do not adhere to the strict criteria set out in Joseph’s 1902 design. Authentic Asscher-cut engagement rings are in fact very rare.

The revival of Art Deco-style jewellery has catapulted Asscher-cut diamond engagement rings back into the spotlight and its popularity has been further boosted by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba, both of whom opted for personalised Asscher-cut engagement rings.

The most famous Asscher-cut diamond of all was worn by the late Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor. The story goes that Richard Burton bought the 33.19ct Krupp Diamond for the actress after she beat him at a game of table tennis. The diamond was previously owned, and named after, Vera Krupp, who was part of the Krupp dynasty that supplied arms to the Nazis during the Second World War. Burton bought the diamond for $385,000 in 1968 and Elizabeth later remarked in an interview: “When it came up for auction in the late 1960s, I thought how perfect it would be if a nice Jewish girl like me were to own it”.

The amazing 33.19ct Asscher cut Krupp diamond was named after its original owner Vera Krupp, but is more commonly known as the Elizabeth Taylor diamond.

In 1980, the Asscher Diamond Company became the Royal Asscher Company after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands granted it a royal title in recognition of its contribution to the diamond industry. In 2011, Queen Beatrix extended the royal prefix for 25 years.

Almost 100 years after the original Asscher-cut was created, Joseph’s great-grandchildren Edward and Joop Asscher introduced an enhanced version, known as the Royal Asscher cut. Developed and perfected over a two-year period, the Royal Asscher cut has a high crown and 74 facets (16 more then round briljant cut!), each of which is carefully measured to ensure total symmetry. Unlike its predecessor, the Royal Asscher cut is patented to ensure other diamond companies cannot replicate the design.

Living up to its Royal moniker, in 2011 Royal Asscher Diamonds presented a spectacular bridal tiara to Kate Middleton in celebration of the Royal Wedding. Created by Toronto-based jewellery designer Reena Ahluwalia, the vintage-inspired tiara was set with 36 Royal Asscher-cut diamonds, as well as pear- and round-shaped diamonds.

Lita Asscher, president of the Royal Asscher Diamond Company, said the one-of-a-kind tiara was a tribute both to the royal wedding and to the Asscher-cut diamonds that grace the Crown Jewels. She said the company wanted to “bring back the love for royal pieces and show that the tiara does not have to be old-fashioned, but can be beautiful, romantic and modern, all in one.”

That statement also rings true for the modern-day Royal Asscher-cut diamond engagement rings featured below, which connect Joseph Asscher’s diamond-cutting legacy with a contemporary design fit for a Princess – or Prince..

Royal Asscher diamond engagement ring. Also available in platinum and yellow gold. 

Royal Asscher cut diamond engagement ring in white gold, with accompanying shoulder set diamonds. Also available in platinum and yellow gold. 

Royal Asscher cut diamond engagement ring in white gold. Also available in platinum and yellow gold. 

Diamonds are a girls best friend! ….but not only for girls! They have also an amazing collection for men…  The Asscher Collection is availble through Schaap and Citroen, the famous Dutch jeweler (since 1888), in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven

Come into the beautiful world of Schaap and Citroen