Bridal jewellery around the world: six wedding traditions
From a white church wedding to a Shinto shrine, a Korean couple's rings, a Chinese dragon and phoenix bangle, a Latin American promise and an Arabian wedding night: what brides wear, and why.
Maison Shifora · · 3 min read
Every culture marks a wedding with something precious, and very often it is jewellery: a ring that says yes, a piece given by a family, a symbol of luck for the years ahead. Our Florence collection is drawn from these traditions. Here are six of them, what they mean, and how to choose a piece for each.
A white wedding: the solitaire and the band
In a church wedding the engagement ring comes first, often a single diamond, and the wedding band joins it on the day. Many brides choose a band shaped to sit flush against the engagement ring, so the two read as one.
What to look for: a centre stone with a grading report, claws that hold it securely, and a band whose curve matches the ring. Our cathedral oval solitaire raises a 1.5-carat lab-grown diamond on arches over a hidden halo, and its contoured band follows the same line.
Japan: the knot that binds
At a Japanese wedding the couple exchange rings, and platinum is a favourite for its white colour and its weight. The idea of musubi, the knot that binds two people together, runs through Japanese ceremonies, from the cords on wedding gifts to the shrine itself.
What to look for: a band comfortable enough to wear every day for decades, in platinum or white gold. Our musubi band is tied into a knot at the top, with a single diamond hidden at its heart, and is made for both partners.
Korea: a couple's rings
In Korea, couple rings are exchanged long before the wedding and worn every day. Wedding bands follow the same idea: two matching rings, often slim and minimal, with a line of diamonds.
What to look for: the same design in two sizes, and a profile slim enough to stack. Our Yeon band, from the Korean word for the bond between two people, carries 13 lab-grown diamonds across its face.
China: the dragon and the phoenix
At a traditional Chinese wedding the bride often receives gold from the groom's family, and the dragon and the phoenix appear together as a symbol of a perfect match. Red and gold are the colours of the day.
What to look for: solid gold of a high purity, and engraving that is crisp and deep. Our dragon and phoenix bangle is engraved in solid 18 or 22 karat gold, with lab-grown diamonds for the dragon's eyes and the phoenix's tail.
Latin America: a promise
In many Latin American weddings faith and family are at the centre of the day. A small cross, given as a promise, is a piece a bride keeps and wears for the rest of her life.
What to look for: a light, slender design that sits well on a fine chain. Our Promesa cross is paved with 15 lab-grown diamonds.
Arabia: the wedding night
At an Arabian wedding the evening celebration is grand, and the bride's necklace is its centrepiece. A riviera, a single line of diamonds that grows larger towards the centre, is the classic choice.
What to look for: each stone in its own setting, so the necklace moves freely, and a secure box clasp with a safety catch. Our riviera carries 58 lab-grown diamonds, 5 carats in all.
Ordering for a wedding
Every bridal piece is made to order, so allow at least six weeks before the day. Sizes, metals and lengths can be adapted, and we are happy to plan a full set with you on a private video appointment, wherever you are in the world: write to us at info@shiforaa.com.
Explore our Monaco collection for high jewellery and bridal ring sets, or browse every ring.
Questions about a piece, a size or a delivery? Write to us at info@shiforaa.com or book a private video appointment with the atelier.
