2006 Jewelry Trends: Carl Blackburn, Cocktail Rings, & Glamorous Jewelry Fun

It was the age of Gatsby, Speakeasies, and Dorothy Parker bon mots; of bohemians and blondes; when flappers danced the Charleston, and diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds were de rigeur. The Jazz Age and its flamboyant fashions have always enchanted designers and the public alike. And no more so than today, with legendary jewelry houses Tiffany and Harry Winston, and sought-after designers such as David Yurman, Judith Ripka, and Carl Blackburn continuing to introduce stunning cocktail rings that have come to symbolize the world’s renewed fascination with colorful styles and dramatic flair.

Large, vibrant rings have been seen everywhere on the Hollywood red carpet in recent months—an extraordinary Sol Rafael multicolor diamond cocktail ring worn by Entertainment Tonight’s Mary Hart at the Golden Globe Awards being among the many notables. And as summertime approaches, bigger and brighter rings are blooming in abundance at garden fetes and skyline socials. The resurgence of cocktail rings comes as no surprise to California designer Carl Blackburn, whose vintage-inspired designs have helped power the retro trend. “Right hand rings have been popular for some time now,” says Blackburn, “and cocktail rings are a joyful extension of that theme. The colorful bold styles are perfect for this time of year, when everything becomes new again.”

According to Blackburn, cocktail rings are different from other right hand rings (which are usually worn every day as a reflection of a woman’s individuality), as they are champagne celebrations, nights on the town, and festivities of every stripe. The darlings of Carl Blackburn’s latest collection are gorgeous quartz, amethyst, and topaz works of art. Set in lustrous 18K gold with regally designed prongs, the rings are pave diamond accented and dazzlingly finished with milgrained edges and hand-engraving. Says the designer, “I think of these new rings as timeless, glamorous fun…rings that’ll brighten her mood, as well the mood of the whole party.”

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