The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-07
WEDDING RINGS.
The Diamond Hoop Rival of the
Flat Gold Band.


In view of the fact that many thou
sands of wedding rings are sold in
New York alone every year. it is some
what surprising that nine-tenths or
more of them are almost exactly alike
"a plain band made of Is or % carat
gold. which costs anywhere from $3
to SIS or S1S-and that the poorest, as
we'll as the richest man buys prac-
tically the same sort of ring for his
bride.
Despite the f1ck1eness of fashion in
most things, the plain gold wedding
bring has been in vogue for more years
than even the historians are sure
about In America very few wedding
rings other than those of the plainest
style have ever been worn. How
much longer the fashion will continue
is an interesting question. There are
now many more exceptions to the rule
than formerly. From time to time of
late. in New York. women of fashion
have been married with other than a
plain gold ring.
A Fifth avenue ieweler had two or
ders last winter for a wedding ring
each OF which was a complete hoop of
small diamonds. set very fiat and so
close together that not particle of
the setting was in evidence.
gu are quite sure the ring was not
intended for an engagement ring?' the
jeweler was asked by the reporter to
whom he related this vagary of
fashion.
Certainly I am was his reply. 1.-THE
engagement ring was ordered from us,
| too.
TT is not often, though, that we are
asked FOE anything but plain gold we'd
ding rings he went on, land I fancy
no other style will become popular very
SOON You see there is really no stone
except diamond suitable for that pur-
pose, unless it is ruby. which is all
most too costly to be wasted on a very
1 Hat setting. and h11t a LOT rir, 0
for a marriage ring seems to be wanted
have never made a wedding ring
with jewels in a high setting"
| Evidently the diamond hoop is gain
ing IN favor for a. wedding ring. 1t
has been ordered of more than one of
the well-known jewelers. during the
| last year.
And several times,'' admitted a
dealer. I'VE have made a wedding ring
in which Were sunk three diamonds
placed a trifle more than one-eighth of
an inch apart. The surface of the dia.-
nonds was even with the surface of
the gold. We also made a wedding
ring for a bride last winter which had
one very beautiful ruby sunk into the
gold in the center. In conversation with
the lady it came out that she had read
somewhere that the wedding ring given
/ by James, Duke of York, to Mary of
Modena was decorated with a ruby,
and the idea caught her fancy.
I'm the old days royal bride nearly
always wore a jeweled wedding ring,
whatever they may do now. although
biographies of Queen Mary. who mar
ried Philip of Spain in 1854, say that
after long discussion as to what jew
els should adorn her wedding ring, she
chose to be married with a plain gold
band, like a maiden of the people, as
she said. In the jeweled wedding rings
of those days, though. the stones were
set high and deliberately, whereas the
few that Americans are using are placed
very inconspicuously. The old-tine jew
ish wedding ring was quite ponderous
affair of filigree gold, enaneled in col
ors. A dome or temple in miniature
which rose from the middle of the hoop
was a favorite device. Sometimes the
hoop was about three-quarters of ar
inch wide and had raised edges.
'.One ring of this kind is described by
an authority as having five elevations or
the upper part-the center hexagona
tower, with penthouse roof slipping
down to the hoop. the gables and sides
pierced with Ia holes. or windows. anc
/ the roof scored to initiate tiles. On eth
er side of this was smaller tower with
i out windows No other ring could FIND
room on a woman's finger besides this
i I don't think there is the slightest pos
sibilify that this style of ring viii bt
revived. New York Sun.