Colorful Geometry – 21st Century Cocktail Rings

Colorful Geometry – 21st Century Cocktail Rings

Bold, sassy, and daring, the so-called “flapper” of the “Roaring ‘20’s” embraced her new-found freedom from corsets and housewifery with long loose sheaths (“flappers”) and the newly created “cocktail rings” that flickered in the dim lights of her favorite taboo speakeasy. Over the century since, cocktail rings have come to symbolize female empowerment. In the post-#metoo era, women are once again embracing self-purchased rings to express their individuality. Today’s cocktail rings have a sleek sense of style, reflective of the rebellious zeitgeist of the times. PICCHIOTTI’s cocktail rings pair the beauty of colored gemstones with the geometry of architecture for heightened sophistication but with understated elegance. These contemporary baubles harmonize beautifully with today’s “modern flapper” vibe (Vogue), offering distinctive designs for all ring lovers.

“Superlative gemstones are perfect for cocktail rings,” says Giuseppe Picchiotti, founder and lead designer of PICCHIOTTI. “When I find a remarkable one-of-a-kind stone, I always start designing cocktail rings in my mind’s eye. I love to present the intricate beauty and geometry of the stone itself, in an elevated setting, surrounded by the brilliance of diamonds. A great cocktail ring is as unique and expressive as the person who wears it!”

The ruby is Giuseppe Picchiotti’s favorite gemstone. He and his son Filippo search the world for the brightest or deepest reds, and the entire family delights in crafting unique ruby rings to highlight the beauty of one of Nature’s most valued gifts to mankind. The PICCHIOTTI Xpandable™️ Octagonal ruby cocktail ring features a splendid Mozambique ruby that is certified “vivid red” in the highly coveted “Pigeon’s Blood” color. According to the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), “Color is the most significant factor affecting a ruby’s value.” Gem lovers around the world seek and collect the reddest of red rubies, especially those designated with the coveted “Pigeon’s Blood” hue. The term is often over-used, but this particular stone has a GRS (GemResearch Swisslab) laboratory report proving its Pigeon’s Blood designation.  

This remarkable ruby weighs over four carats and is cut in an octagonal shape to highlight the intensity of the deep crimson color. It came to Giuseppe’s attention at a gem show in the Far East. Out of all the rubies on the table that day, this one stone spoke to him, beckoning his attention as it softly glistened in the light. He could not leave without it. The design team debated whether to use this special stone in a pendant necklace or a ring, and ultimately all agreed that the ring is the best choice, as the wearer can see it every time they look at their hands. 

The most popular shapes for rubies are typically round or oval cuts, but this exceptional stone had such an intensity of color at the center that the design team decided it deserved to be “framed.”  An octagonal cut consists of facets of concentric planes that resemble stair steps around the edge of the gem, above and below the girdle (the small angular plane along the perimeter of the stone). The visual effect of the faceting creates an even greater intensity of hue when light shines through the gem. The rectangular shape also provides a wider surface to better view and enjoy this one-of-a-kind gemstone.

To further enhance its glory, the ruby is surrounded by baguette diamonds, a PICCHIOTTI signature style. The baguette diamonds beautifully frame the center stone and present it almost as if on a platter of splendor. The shank is created with PICCHIOTTI’s beloved Xpandable™️ technology that easily expands and contracts for long-term comfortable wear with no ring sizing. Along the shank, baguette diamonds frame the unusual “buff top” rubies, a special cut embraced by the PICCHIOTTI artisans because the top is domed like a cabochon, further intensifying the color of the rubies. Only the best ruby accent stones can be used with such a splendid center stone. The channel of rubies along the shank reflects and amplifies the grandeur of the octagonal ruby center. This is a ring for ruby connoisseurs. “I love this ring!” says Maria Carola Picchiotti, Marketing Director at PICCHIOTTI and daughter of Giuseppe. “It feels fresh and modern in design, but it is crafted with traditional workmanship to pay proper tribute to such a special ruby.”

For more unique ruby ring designs, check out the Masterpieces page of the PICCHIOTTI website or the Xpandable Cocktail Ring collection. To learn more about rubies and how to buy the very best, visit our post dedicated entirely to rubies.

Also called “the right hand ring” or a “statement ring,” a cocktail ring can stand out as the focal point of an outfit. It is often worn to match the palette of an ensemble, or can be used for dramatic contrast, or to add a vibrant pop of color to neutrals or basics. The PICCHIOTTI sapphire heart Xpandable ring is a wonderful option for fans of the color blue. It offers perfect symmetry for lovers of navy blazers, nautical blue sweaters, or the popular cobalt blue hues seen on fashion runways of late. Or this ring can stand out amidst one of the many monochrome white looks for Spring/Summer 2024 or serve as radiant adornment for a party frock, be it a little black dress (LBD) or a metallic silver mini. 

This is also a ring for heart lovers. This heart shaped sapphire comes from Sri Lanka, the home of some of the world’s most coveted sapphires. It weighs over 6 carats! It is beautifully cut with facets that look almost like flower petals when viewed up close in bright light. The heart adds an extra layer of meaning to the ring, as either an expression of deeply felt, enduring love when gifted, or as a reflection of self-worth when buying such a ring for yourself.  And according to the American Gem Society, sapphires themselves symbolize loyalty, nobility, sincerity and integrity, so this ring is like a heart full of noble attributes.

“I have been captivated by the magic of the sapphire since my apprentice days,” says Giuseppe. The profound cerulean blue of these treasured gems holds the vastness of the sky and the depth of the ocean. I love to design with them – it’s like making the sky wearable!”

In this design, precisely re-cut baguette diamonds “frame” the blue sapphire heart, atop a shank of buff-top sapphires center, flanked by more baguette diamonds. The buff-top cut here again intensifies the depth of the blue and shadows the majesty of the heart stone center. The shank is fully expandable, with PICCHIOTTI’s invisible Xpandable technology, so that it can be worn for generations with no ring sizing. The strength and durability of the spring-like technology allows even the most spectacular of stones to be set with an expanding shank. Before this technology was developed, such a luxury ring could never have been placed on an expandable shank.

Another lovely sapphire ring is the PICCHIOTTI “frame” ring featuring three diamonds surrounded by buff top sapphires (see feature image at top). For more information on how sapphires are created or what makes them blue, be sure to visit our sapphire blog post.  For more sapphire ring options, see the Masterpieces page of the PICCHIOTTI website or the Xpandable Cocktail Ring collection.

 

Emerald fans will gasp at this very PICCHIOTTI ring. Known worldwide as a premier source of superlative gems, PICCHIOTTI has created some of the more beautiful emerald jewelry ever created. The PICCHIOTTI pear emerald Xpandable cocktail ring is no exception. 

“Emeralds have the verdant energy of life itself,” says Giuseppe. “Their vibrant green hue holds within it the color of spring, of nature, of growth. The highest quality, deepest green emeralds are always a surprise and a delight, a true treasure from the depths of Mother Nature.”

The pear-shaped emerald that serves as the centerpiece of this gorgeous cocktail ring weighs more than six carats! It hails from Zambia and is “vivid green” in hue. According to the GIA, Zambia is considered the world’s second most important source of emeralds by value (second only to Colombia). The emeralds are found near the Kafubu River and have been coming from this region since 1928, with more significant finds since 1970s. This particular pear-shaped emerald has meticulous baguette workmanship around it (the house of PICCHIOTTI is known for such detailed craftsmanship), surrounding the translucent stone with the brilliance and radiance of diamonds. With so much reflection of light, the green hue becomes almost hypnotic, evoking a smile with a sense of spring-time renewal and joyful effervescence. 

True to the PICCHIOTTI signature style, the shank also features baguette diamonds that support and seem to uplift the buff-top sapphires along the center channel. For green-eyed beauties and of fans of the color green, this ring is pure delight.  Wear it with a wide variety green fabrics, from forest green sweaters to olive green blouses or avocado and sea green sheaths. Emeralds also pair well with earth tones like golds and rust hues like burnt Siena and terra cotta. Given the rarity of truly high quality emeralds, the ring also has somewhat of a fairytale image, allowing the wearer to evoke the inner princess or the genuine heroine inside.

Like many PICCHIOTTI rings, this one also has the popular Xpandable technology, allowing the ring to expand up to 2.5 U.S. ring sizes, so you can wear it on the ring finger one day and move it to the pointer or middle finger as the mood strikes. The luxury of this ring goes beyond its incredible design and intrinsic beauty – it is also comfortable to wear and comes without the hassle of ring-sizing.

For more information on emeralds and why they are green, be sure to visit our designated emerald blog post.  For more emerald ring options, see the Masterpieces page of the PICCHIOTTI website or the Xpandable Cocktail Ring collection.

How does one capture the beauty and radiance of the sun itself? Throughout history, artists have tried and photographers, as well, but few things in nature replicate the warmth of the brightest star in our galaxy like a natural yellow diamond. Like the hot glowing ball of hydrogen and helium that is the sun, an oval fancy yellow diamond can refract and reflect light, sending out pure rays of energy and delight. PICCHIOTTI’s yellow diamond Xpandable ring features a superb oval fancy natural yellow diamond, weighing over seven carts, with facets that shimmer like sunshine across a body of crystal blue water.  The stone emanates the feeling of summer and brings a smile to every face it encounters. 

Yellow diamonds are much rarer than white diamonds. Only about one of out of 10,000 carats of mined diamonds are yellow. With such a special and large yellow diamond, the PICCHIOTTI design team knew it deserved a rich mounting. To evoke the power of the sun, they opted to surround the oval with echoing rings of baguette diamonds, allowing the radiance from the facets to ripple out in all directions, similar to how the sun shines its beloved rays in 360 degrees. Master craftsmen worked for hours to precisely cut each baguette so that it perfectly rings the sunny center. The result is sheer harmony in light reflection – a work of art that can be cherished and admired with every wearing. 

Even the shank was thickened to draw attention to the largeness of the center stone. Large baguettes create the shank with a center rail of vertical cuts and framed edges on either side with horizontal baguette-cuts. Every possible turn or twist of the ring will radiate its sparkle into your heart. Here again, the shank is fully expandable, even with a seven carat yellow diamond! The proven strength and durability of PICCHIOTTI’s invisible Xpandable technology makes it possible. This ring can be worn with comfort and ease for a lifetime and beyond. 

Another spectacular heart diamond ring stars a fancy yellow diamond heart center, surrounded by PICCHIOTTI’s distinctive baguette workmanship (see feature image above). Discover more yellow diamond designs on the Masterpieces page of the PICCHIOTTI website or the Fancy Color Diamonds assortment and the Xpandable Cocktail Ring collection.

Another rising trend in the luxury design world is the return of Art Deco. Stellene Volandes, editor in chief of Town & Country magazine noted the start of the trend as it relates to high jewelry in 2022 –  “Art Deco is a style born post-crisis, when boldness was embraced and imaginations were unleashed. The jewelry is marked by fearless lines, irreverent inspiration, and wildly unusual materials. Is it back?” Many other jewelry journalists and trend reporters have been noting the resurgence of Art Deco inspirations in modern high jewelry collections ever since. PICCHIOTTI has always looked to architecture as one of its two primary inspirations. Art Deco buildings, in particular have inspired some of its newest creations, including this PICCHIOTTI diamond and emerald Xpandable cocktail ring. 

This chic, sophisticated cocktail rings bears twin long baguette diamonds at center, weighing about 2 carats each, that form a mirror reflection each other and broaden the width of the “center stone.” They are enhanced by state-of-the-art buff-top emeralds, each carefully re-cut to fit along the broad rectangle created by the two diamonds. Tapered baguettes along the shank are also enclosed with buff-top emeralds. This masterpiece showcases quintessentially PICCHIOTTI baguette workmanship! The geometric shapes of the baguettes and their facets, as well as the tapering around the shank, are all nods to Art Deco architecture, with its beloved linear and angular forms.

“The recent renaissance of the Art Deco design aesthetic is exciting for me,” says Giuseppe Picchiotti. “I love the angular precision of Art Deco architecture, and it reminds me of the facets in gemstones. It feels elevated and fresh, with a little nod to the past and catapulting us into modern style. I also love how technology allows us to make these rings effortless and much more comfortable to wear.”

This contemporary cocktail ring, like many PICCHIOTTI rings, is crafted with the PICCHIOTTI patented* Xpandable technology which allows the ring to expand and contract, easily sliding over knuckles. The dominance of the white diamonds makes the ring wearable with a wide variety of fashion trends, and the pop of color added by the emeralds makes it feel like a personal expression, in spite of its universal relevance. 

Explore more distinctive emerald designs on the Masterpieces page of the PICCHIOTTI website or in the Xpandable Cocktail Ring collection.  

Lovers of color can also explore the many options in the For the Love of Color Xpandable collection, including ruby, emerald, and sapphire designs. There are also new Reversible Xpandable ring options that can be diamond one day or gold the next or crisp clean white on one side and bright colorful coral on the other.  

Cocktail rings may have come into popularity in the 1920s, but today, they continue to be for people who want to express something unique and powerful about themselves. Elsa Peretti once said, “What can I say about my jewelry? It speaks for itself.” This is true of all great cocktail rings. Here’s hoping these five rings, plus the ones in the feature image at top, inspire you to say something bold about yourself. Be sure to personalize your ring by selecting your favorite color or gemstone or your favorite design. Many women enjoy multiple cocktail rings in their fine jewelry wardrobe because some days feel like diamonds and others call for more colorful or playful options.  

Vogue recently noted the wide variety of fashion designers embracing what they call the “Modern Flapper” trend for 2024. So, consider permission granted! Embrace the 21^st century flapper in yourself and toast with cocktails or mocktails that sparkle with the adornment of a fun, geometric cocktail ring

* Patent applies to specific designs.

 

Feature image at top – top to bottom on the right – PICCHIOTTI Xpandable Fancy Yellow Heart Diamond cocktail ring, PICCHIOTTI Masterpieces Diamond stripes ring, PICCHIOTTI Xpandable Diamond and Sapphire Frames ring, PICCHIOTTI Xpandable Ruby and Diamond cocktail ring, PICCHIOTTI Xpandable Fancy Yellow Heart Diamond cocktail ring, PICCHIOTTI Three Stone Emerald Xpandable cocktail ring, PICCHIOTTI Xpandable Three Stone Ruby and Fancy Yellow Diamond cocktail ring  

If you liked this, you might also like:

The Baguette Cut and the Creation of a Signature Style

How to Buy Emeralds – Guide for Selecting the Highest Quality

How to Buy Sapphires – Guide for Selecting the Highest Quality

How to Buy Rubies – Guide for Selecting the Highest Quality