The market for same-sex wedding and engagement rings is a fast-growing one, and sales could soon lead to big changes in the wedding industry.
Last year it was revealed more than 15,000 same sex marriages had taken place since the law change - but it’s about far more than statistics. Brides and grooms-to-be are specifically seeking out jewellers who take pride in supporting equal marriage.
“We have found that LGBT couples want a jeweller who understands that it’s all about love and not gender,” Paul Hewitt, co-owner of LGBT specialist jewellers Woolton & Hewitt, told The Huffington Post UK.
Hewitt believes the wedding market needs to adapt to reflect same sex couples.
“The high street is very traditional,” he said. “Images of the happy couple are almost always of a bride and groom, and rings are described as ‘for him’ and ‘for her’,” he said.
Woolton & Hewitt only categorise rings by style, allowing individuals to choose for themselves what suits them.
“If a man wants to choose a delicate diamond set ring why not?,” Hewitt added.
The brand’s signature wedding ring is the stunning ‘Rainbow’ design (above) - created with five shades of gold and platinum, set with colour coordinated diamonds.
With so many styles to choose from, Woolton & Hewitt offers personal consultations at its Berkhamsted showroom to help couples pick the perfect rings.
“A wedding ring is not a fashion statement but a symbol of your everlasting love,” Hewitt told us.
“We recommend that it reflects both your personality and the bond you are forming with your partner.”
A Stephen Einhorn customer proposes to his fiancé at the Grand Canyon
British jeweller Stephen Einhorn, who launched his London-based eponymous brand in 1995 with a dedicated section for same-sex couples, has always been proud to support the LGBT community.
“We had been waiting for a lot of the world to catch up with us and stop being so prejudiced, so until that time we wanted all our same-sex couples to feel very welcome,” Einhorn told us.
He feels that it’s not a lack of ring options, but a lack of “respect” that leads same-sex couples to swap the high street for dedicated jewellers.
“Being inclusive and treating every single customer with respect is the point here,” he said.
Einhorn says his customers enjoy the option of putting more personality into their purchases.
The brand’s Geo range (pictured above) is one of the most popular with male couples, who often customise the rings - adding coloured enamel and precious stones.
“This is good to see,” he said. “Men are tending to not want to miss out on the engagement ring, which women have monopolised for so long!”