Hollywood Engagement Rings

Just like celebrity engagement rings, Hollywood engagement rings can spark trends in bridal jewelry fashion and design off the screen as interested fans draw inspiration from the movie world’s happily ever afters.

Hollywood rings are more than props.

Defining Hollywood Jewelry

Hollywood jewelry refers to the baubles that are featured in movies and television shows, worn by characters as they become engaged, marry, or just enjoy a delightful night on the town. Unlike celebrity engagement rings that are often shrouded in secrecy and speculation, Hollywood engagement rings and other jewelry pieces are flaunted for a number of reasons, such as:

• Publicity for a sponsoring jeweler who may be providing trademark access or even real jewels for the set.
• Capturing viewer interest in the expense, design, and allure of the character’s jewelry.
• Creating signature jewelry pieces that can be replicated and sold to interested viewers.

Whatever the reasons behind the sparkle, Hollywood jewelry draws fans into jewelry stores seeking their own piece of stardom.

Hollywood Engagement Ring Symbolism

From small independent films to major big screen blockbusters, every detail of a movie is carefully planned to match the plot, characters, and overall message. This makes Hollywood jewelry, particularly engagement rings, highly symbolic, not only because they represent the characters’ nuptial commitment, but because the rings are designed to symbolize deeper themes in the movie itself.

Character Symbolism

Legally Blonde

For example, the two Legally Blonde movies starring Reese Witherspoon both featured highly different engagement rings. In the first movie, Elle Woods (Witherspoon) was desperate to wear the pear shaped, large carat heirloom ring from Harry Winston that her old money boyfriend, Warner, had received from his grandmother. Yet it is obvious that Elle Woods is not an old money, family hierarchy, traditional type of girl, so it is no surprise that this ring never makes it onto her finger. Instead, by Legally Blonde 2 she is engaged to a more unconventional lawyer who treasures her unique personality, which is reflected in her large oval pink diamond engagement ring flanked by trilliant side stones.

Heirloom engagement rings are popular choices on Hollywood sets because they show the characters’ sentimental, family-oriented side, regardless of the movie plot. This can humanize characters and make them more appealing to audiences who may feel that the special circumstances of the movie or the individual character may be unattainable, no matter how entertaining they are. For example, in the 2007 summer blockbuster Spiderman 3, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) uses his aunt’s simple vintage engagement ring when he seeks the hand of his lifelong sweetheart, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). The super powers, superhero battles, and high-flying antics of the movie are great special effects, but the nature of that simple, treasured ring has a special effect on the viewer’s heart.

Theme Symbolism

Some Hollywood engagement rings do more than just add to a character’s personality, they can actually represent deeper themes in the movie. In the 1998 blockbuster Armageddon, for example, the world is poised on the brink of destruction as a tremendous asteroid takes aim at the planet, but when A.J. (Ben Affleck) proposes to Grace (Liv Tyler), he uses a simple round diamond solitaire engagement ring that emphasizes the simplicity and beauty of love even in the most trying circumstances.

Simplicity is also the theme for the unlikely proposal in the 2001 romantic comedy, The Wedding Planner. Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) is pursued throughout the movie by a recent Italian immigrant whose bumbling attempts to snare her affections cause many laughs, but when he proposes to her he sets a simple solitaire into a dollhouse and uses the scene to explain how simple his devotion and love for her are.

Jewelry Symbolism

In some movies, the jewelry itself must blend with the scene yet still be an integral part of the overall symbolism of the picture. For example, in the family movie The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Princess Mia becomes engaged (though unwillingly), and her ring is fit for royalty: a three carat Chopard engagement ring in a classic cushion cut style. Incidentally, the ring and other jewelry used in the movie is real and was loaned to the production by Chopard.

Even when used in a movie, engagement rings must be believable and must match the personalities of the characters involved. It is no surprise then that one of the engagement rings featured on the hit television show Sex and the City is a stunning Asscher cut engagement ring, which perfectly matches the trend-setting style of all the leading ladies.

Why Hollywood is Influential

Whether they are simple engagement ring designs or more elaborate designer pieces, Hollywood engagement rings are very influential in the public marketplace. Just as movies spawn new fashion trends, video games, and other merchandise, they also spark interest in new types of engagement rings and jewelry styles. In an attempt to find that perfect happily ever after, couples may emulate the rings and proposals of their favorite Hollywood flicks. At the same time, many rings similar to Hollywood styles are more affordable than true celebrity engagement rings, which are often custom rings with far higher prices than most non-celebrities can afford.

By choosing to mimic Hollywood engagement rings, couples actually choose rings that are highly symbolic, not only because they represent that specific movie, but because they mirror the deeper symbolism that all movie props – including jewelry – represent.

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