Wedding Jewelry Shopping in Houston

By Ashley Bailey , Thursday, March 31, 2011 7:33 AM

Whether you are already engaged and are planning your wedding, or are thinking about taking that next big step with your significant other, you are about to find out that there is a lot of jewelry buying that comes with engagements and weddings. First, you will need to buy an engagement ring—whether the guy picks that out himself or you do it together is up to you. Then, you will need wedding bands that match the engagement ring and coordinate with each other. Finally, you will need to buy all the jewelry and accessories for the big day itself. If you live in Houston, you’re in luck. There are tons of options for every kind of jewelry in the world in Houston’s famed diamond jewelry market, so whether you want to buy a loose diamond and have an engagement ring custom-made, or you want to find the perfect statement necklace to wear down the aisle, Houston jewelry stores have got you covered.

Pearls

Pearls have been traditional bridal jewelry since the Middle Ages. Simple and elegant, lustrous and glamorous, pearls match every bridal gown style and give any bridal ensemble a look of timeless elegance. Nearly every Houston jewelry store will carry a basic string of freshwater pearls or a simple pair of pearl studs, but if you want a large selection of pearl jewelry, visit Almog Jewelers. Almog in Houston carries simple tiffany rings, elegant gold and silver jewelry, and can even help you rework an old piece of jewelry, but they are perhaps best known for their wide selection of bridal-ready pearls.

Eco-Friendly

One of the biggest trends for brides in the last few years is a new emphasis on wearing bridal jewelry that doesn’t hurt the planet. Green Karat in nearby Magnolia, Texas, is a world-renowned center for the most environmentally friendly jewelry around. Green Karat offers what they call “true ecological alternatives for fine jewelry”. Every piece sold there comes with a full disclosure of its origins and eco-footprint. Green Karat also runs a gold recycling program where you can bring in old or unused jewelry and have it refashioned into something beautiful and new—creating jewelry that is earth-friendly and sentimentally precious! Green Karat strives to reduce the mining practices that aren’t good for the earth, and tries to find unusual and creative new gemstones that will show the world that you mean green!

Custom Jewelry/Fine Diamonds

The best custom engagement ring design starts with the finest diamonds, and luckily, you can find both at the same Houston-based online jewelry vendor. Whiteflash.com, owned and operated in Houston, is known worldwide for their exclusive brand of genuine Hearts and Arrows loose diamond, the A Cut Above. Combine that kind of fire and brilliance with the engagement ring design know-how and technical perfection and you have an engagement ring that will draw every eye in the room. Or, take it one step farther and have a completely unique ring built around an ACA loose diamond, just for you. The skilled designers and jewelers in the Houston office will design and craft the perfect engagement ring and wedding band exactly according to your specifications, creating a truly Houston engagement ring—big, bold, and unabashedly gorgeous.

Tiaras/Hair Jewelry

Your wedding is probably one of the only times in your life that you will be able to wear a tiara and not look like an extra from a Disney movie, so if you’ve been harboring secret princess fantasies, now is the time to let them fly! Houston jewelry stores tend to cater to those looking to buy engagement rings and other diamond jewelry, so if you are looking for gorgeous hair jewelry and tiaras, your best bet will be bridal boutiques and other stores that carry bridal accessories. Marry Go Round Bridal is one great option—an affordable bridal boutique hidden away on a quiet Houston street, they have won raves for their wide selection of affordable veils, hairpins, and tiaras, as well as for their personalized and friendly service. Mia Bridal Couture in the River Oaks shopping district serves brides by appointment only, showering each lucky girl with personal attention and helpful advice. If you can dream of the tiara, Mia will help you find it.

One of a kind/Statement

Not every bride wants to look like the cover of Brides magazine. Some brides have different kinds of bridal dreams—the kind that include wearing a bold white minidress to the ceremony and riding away on a Harley motorcycle. If you’re a fearless fashionista the rest of the year, there is no reason for you to buy an engagement ring that looks like everyone else’s and wear bridal jewelry that could have come from David’s Bridal. Hello Lucky is a Houston jewelry and accessories boutique that carries one-of-a-kind pieces from local designers. Support local artists and find that perfect necklace, cuff bracelet, or whimsical little fascinator that will have everyone talking.

Designer

If your heart is set on the little blue box, or you want to be able to look back at your wedding pictures and sigh at the day you dressed like a movie star, you will want to hit up the Galleria Mall in Houston for the widest variety of top-notch designer jewelry shops in all of Texas. If you can find their ad in Vogue, you can find their store in the Galleria. Prepare to empty your piggy bank and max out your credit card on the drool-worthy diamond baubles at the likes of Bulgair, Cartier, David Yurman, Fendi, Tourneau, and of course, Tiffany and Co. If you can’t quite manage to buy your engagement ring or wedding band at one of these premium designers, you can always buy a small pendant necklace or stud earrings—just enough to walk down the aisle feeling like a star.