Weddings Summer 2009 > Planner

Elizabeth Locke at Peipers + Kojen

Elizabeth Locke’s hand-hammered bands in yellow gold ($1,500 to $20,000) are an alternative to traditional solitaire rings. Images etched onto the surface set Locke’s jewelry apart from the rest-as do her stacked bands of colored stones.

Eric Originals & Antiques, Ltd.

Eric Originals carries a wide variety of cushion-cut and old-mine-cut diamond rings (from $2,000), as well as signed originals from well-known designers like Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., David Webb, and Cartier.

Etsy.com

An online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade, this is the perfect place to find an assortment of unique bridal accessories, from jewelry to ring pillows.

Fragments

Brides who come to this downtown shop favor Annie Fensterstock’s vintage-inspired rings in 22-karat gold (from $1,000 for simple bands; $2,000 for diamond bands), and they also appreciate her eco-friendliness. Also popular is the made-to-order Ray Griffiths 18-karat-gold or platinum wedding band (from about $2,000).

Fred Leighton

Fred Leighton’s elegant diamond and platinum engagement rings are celebrated for their antique cuts, some of which have original mountings. The jeweler specializes in styles from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and their signature collection harks back to these vintage gems. Rings from $20,000.

Ginkgo New York

Ginkgo’s tasteful options come in all shapes and sizes. An intricate, diamond-encrusted band runs $3,420; a gorgeous diamond-and-Colombian-emerald dazzler will run $43,000.

Graff

This Upper East Side jeweler is packed with impressive white and yellow diamonds (as well as natural pink and blue). Graff is one of the few places that carry a flawless 40-carat, D-color diamond.

Greenwich Jewelers

This boutique stocks the exclusive Polar Bear diamond (mined, cut, and polished in Canada). They also do on-site jewelry repair, gem setting, sizing, engraving, and appraisals. They work in 80- to 90-percent recycled metals. Prices upon request.

Harry Winston

This Fifth Avenue landmark has more than twenty wedding band styles and diamonds in an extensive range of sizes, shapes, and prices. Winston can easily customize rings to satisfy almost any whim. Full-circle diamond wedding bands start at $3,500.

H.Stern

An appealingly low-key, no-nonsense source for clean designs, H.Stern has a strong selection of princess-cut and radiant-cut diamond rings. Wedding bands in white or yellow gold start at $495. Engagement rings start at $6,000 and go well into the six-figure range.

James Martin, Ltd.

James Martin, the New York branch of L.A.’s Martin Katz, often bejewels Hollywood celebrities and has designs for the unconventional bride. His playful, Art Deco rings feature rare stones in funky settings. Engagement rings start at $15,000.

Jelena Behrend Studio

Behrend makes handmade engagement rings and wedding bands in platinum and yellow, rose, white, or green gold; she combines them with details like precious stones and custom hand-engraving. From $225.

Jeri Cohen Jewelry

At this Upper East Side jewelry boutique, designer Jeri Cohen hand-selects diamonds from Canadian mines and then crafts personalized rings. Engagement rings from $5,000; diamond wedding bands from $900.

From the Winter 2008 New York Wedding Guide