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Set in stone
Post Star Tuesday
February 10, 2009
M any women dream of the day they will get engaged. They dream about the person they'll marry, the proposal and about the shining diamond ring that will forever adorn their left ring finger.
There are a lot of factors that go into choosing that engagement ring. The base of the ring is the actual ring itself and the setting used to hold the ring. According to Kimberly Adams, a jeweler for Frank Adams Jewelers in Saratoga Springs, platinum is the choice for most customers today.
"Very few couples choose (yellow) gold anymore," she said. "Also, since the price of platinum has dropped, this option has become more affordable."
Jeweler Casey Scoville of Scoville Jewelers in Glens Falls also says that white gold is a popular option because it gives the same appearance of platinum.
Both jewelers and their respective saleswomen agree that women today are looking for a more feminine approach to their rings, which includes vintage styling. "
A look we are seeing a lot more of is pave-cut diamonds around an asscher or cushion cut," Adams said.
Asscher and cushion cuts are among the many cuts of diamonds that are available to engaged couples today, as well as round, princess, marquise, emerald, oval, radiant, heart and pear. Both jewelers agree that the last two aren't very popular, especially the hearts.
"You have to really like hearts to get a heart-shaped diamond," Scoville said. "We generally see heart-shaped diamonds in children's jewelry very rarely for an adult woman."
Both jewelers also agreed that round diamonds are still the number-one selling cut for engagement rings.
The size of the diamond picked generally relies on not only budget, but personal taste as well.
"Some men will come in and say that their girlfriend is very simple and will get something small, elegant and tasteful," Scoville explained.
Adams said she generally sees a different clientele. "Women want big diamonds!" she said with a laugh.
According to the jewelers, their biggest sellers are anywhere between 3/4 of a carat and 1-1/2 carats, with 1 carat being the single most popular size. Adams also said she has seen an increase in the number of couples shopping together.
"A lot of couples make the decision to get engaged together, and they come in together women today really know what they want," she said.
She also said that the men who do come in alone either know exactly what their fiancee wants or choose something simple that can be added upon.
If you are thinking about taking that big step this St. Valentine's Day, there is one more thing to consider the wedding band itself. Scoville suggests buying something that complements the engagement ring, and Adams suggests buying the band with the engagement ring.
"Many men are hesitant, because they are putting so much money into the engagement ring, they don't want to think about buying the wedding ring, too," she said. "But buying the band that complements the ring with it is a great move. If you come back a few months or years down the line, there's no guarantee they will still make the ring you had wanted."
Contact Jordan Reardon at jreardon@poststar.com
Handbag maker finds independence through personal line
By Jordon Reardon
Post Star Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Personal style is an important thing.
It's a concept Eliza DeRocker understands very well.
"Everyone wants their own style their own look," DeRocker said while sitting in at a table covered with fabric and material samples.
DeRocker has design in her genes. After spending time at Skidmore College and the Fashion Institute of Technology, DeRocker, daughter of local interior designer Edmond DeRocker, took her first job just days after graduation at Wathne Limited. The handbag licensee corporation makes bags for brands, including Chanel and Express.
"Measurement is key with bags," DeRocker said as she showed her portfolio.
The desinger started her personal line, DeRocker, nearly two years ago when she realized she was ready to leave the corporate fashion world and expand into the market on her own terms.
Her bags are sold at specialty shops around the region and also are created on a custom basis. She has shopped her products to nationally known boutiques, including Henri Bendel in New York City and Fred Segal in Los Angeles. The bags start at $150 and come in a variety of materials and hardware choices.
While each bag is beautiful and individual, there are certain pieces that are quite eye-catching while still being versatile.
The "Stella," for example, is made to be two bags in one. Folded up, the bag serves as a long clutch, perfect for a night out with friends or even a more formal occasion. There are snaps on the side where a strap can be attached. When the snaps are unfastened, the bag drops into almost a sack shape, perfect for a laptop or business portfolio.
The concept of a multi-function bag has been popular this year, with many designers finding that women in this economy like a little more bang for their buck. Bags with similar ideas were Foley + Corinna's popular "Mid City" and "Jet Setter" totes.
"Women, especially women here, want bags where they can just throw all of there things for the day in and go," DeRocker said.
This concept also has inspired DeRocker to look into launching a line of "new mommy" diaper bags.
While her bags come in an array of different leathers and fabrics, DeRocker said that some of her most popular bags are sold during track and polo season in Saratoga Springs. These bags almost always have an equestrian theme, whether it is a horse-print fabric or horseshoe hardware.
DeRocker currently is working with her sister, Abbey, to help get the business going. They are expanding into coats, and eventually, hope to get into shoes and dresses. As Eliza DeRocker packs up her bag, she talks about her upcoming trip to New York City to meet with manufacturers and her trips to different stores to replenish their stock.
Her passion for her products is incredibly high.
DeRocker is excited at the progress her line has made and hopes that some bigger name stores will come on board in 2009 or 2010.
There really is a way to find the right clientele in any market "you just have to know where to look".
E-mail Jordan Reardon at jreardon@poststar.com.
Information Eliza DeRocker sells her handbags at local retailers, including Saratoga Trunk in Saratoga Springs and Scoville Jewelers in Glens Falls. Many of her bags, however, are made on a custom basis and start around $150. For more information on her designs, go to www.DeRockerbags.com or call 792-6555.
During the month of March, Scoville Jewelers will set a diamond in a Chamilia bead of your choice when you spend $100 or more on a Chamilia purchase. What a way to start off your spring with a little extra bling!
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