Diamond Girls Ladies Flaunt Their Own Right-Hand Rings.

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Author: Hay, Carla

Diamonds & Music

"Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves" is the title of a 1985 hit for Aretha Franklin and Eurhythmics. But the song's message could apply to today's growing trend of women buying diamond right-hand rings for themselves, regardless of their marital status.

Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera and Ashanti are just some of the entertainers who have been sporting diamond right-hand rings. (Engagement or wedding rings are traditionally worn on the left hand.)

Lopez, of course, now likely prefers the Chopard seven-carat diamond wedding ring from husband Marc Anthony.

Jewelry experts say that women wear these rings on their right hands not just as a fashion statement but as a symbol of financial independence.

"Last September we launched an ad campaign that did a lot to give women the permission to buy their own diamonds," says Sally Morrison, director of the Diamond Information Center. The DIC is the publicity arm of the Diamond Trading Co., which in turn is part of the De Beers Group, the world's leading diamond supplier.

"For many women, buying diamond rings for themselves was taboo," Morrison adds. "But now, more women see diamond right-hand rings as a way to punctuate their sense of fashion, and it has nothing to do with their relationship with someone else."

Indeed, last year's right-hand ring advertising campaign declared: "Your left hand says 'We.' Your right hand says 'Me.' Women of the world, raise your right hand."

Lorraine Schwartz, a top jewelry designer and dealer to celebrities, says the diamond right-hand ring is "very empowering for women."

Schwartz, whose celebrity clients include Beyoncé, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Madonna and Britney Spears, says the trend of wearing right-hand rings really took off when celebrities began wearing them.

"Any time a celebrity is known for a piece of jewelry, the more merit and value it has," Schwartz notes.

DIC's Morrison adds, "The right-hand ring trend is going up because we're seeing a lot of right-hand rings at red carpet events and fashion shows."

The trend has become so popular that it has had a trickle-down effect to people who are not necessarily rich and famous.

"It has reached a point where the trend has become democratized," Morrison observes. "More women on the street are feeling comfortable making this purchase for themselves. People can find diamond right-hand rings at places like [retail chains] Kay Jewelers and Wal-Mart."

According to organizers of the 2004 Couture Jewelry Collection & Conference (presented by the exhibition arm of Billboard parent company VNU), right-hand rings are among one of the jewelry industry's biggest hits.

As designers to watch, the conference singled out Helen of London, Rodney Rayner and Stefan Hafner. But for celebrities in the music industry, some of the most in-demand diamond dealers and designers include Schwartz, Chris "Iceman" Aire, Jacob Arabo (aka Jacob the Jeweler), Neil Lane, Joel Rosenberg, Sol Safael and Mimi So.

Schwartz believes one ongoing diamond design trend will be "big stones with very clean mountings and workmanship that's incredible. We're seeing a lot of color stones, too."

The right-hand ring designs also distinguish themselves from their left-hand counterparts by the stones being arranged in more of a vertical direction as opposed to horizontal. Right-hand rings also tend to use more open space.

According to the Diamond Trading Co., the consumer profile of a woman most likely to buy a diamond right-hand ring is one who considers herself sassy and independent.

For the higher-priced right-hand rings, the female buyers tend to be affluent women who can support themselves and who view right-hand rings as fashionable additions to their diamond collection.

Custom-made diamond right-hand rings are also the standard for those who can afford them.

Most important, DIC's Morrison says, is that the right-hand ring signifies a liberating choice that shows women do not have to wait to receive diamond rings as gifts.

"This is a purchase they usually make based entirely on what they want, not what other people choose for them," she says.

Simply put, for jewelry connoisseurs, the diamond right-hand ring is the ultimate declaration of independence.

PHOTO (COLOR): Mariah Carey

PHOTO (COLOR): The So Sesi spinning diamond right-hand ring by Mimi is set in 18K white gold and retails for $8,600.

PHOTO (COLOR): MISSY ELLIOT AND MADONNA HAVE SPORTED RIGHT-HAND RINGS

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By Carla Hay