As men’s jewelry continues to grow with new categories such engagement rings and more designers getting into the mix, the addition of Monique Lhuillier to the men’s wedding jewelry landscape makes perfect sense.
Lhuillier recently added a men’s wedding band collection to her Bliss line at Kay Jewelers, bringing her eye for detail, her affection for fashion-forward statements, and her desire to give couples a ring set that not only works together but also works for them for life.
The Monique Lhuillier Bliss men’s collection features 18k white gold, some dramatic two-tone gold designs, and lots of diamonds. In fact, diamonds are a significant design element in this collection, featuring traditional shapes including round and oval as well as more dramatic ones such as marquise and on-trend baguettes. Prices range from $2,200 to $6,500.
Lhuillier says her work as a longtime bridal designer and evening-wear expert plays heavily into her work at Kay, and she wants her engagement rings to reflect that—these are jewelry collections that mark significant occasions, so they need to be special and memorable.
The men’s collection is like a perfect partnership to the Bliss line Lhuillier launched in 2021 for brides, she says. This meant bringing in her favorite elements in art, nature, and fashion, including vines and floral accents.
“A couple’s wedding bands will be worn for the rest of their lives, so I wanted this collection not only to be a special symbol of love, but a complement to their partner’s ring,” Lhuillier says.
What about those diamonds? They’re everywhere in the men’s Bliss collection for good reason, Lhuillier says.
“As much as they say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, they’re for men too,” Lhuillier says. “I feel like men today are willing to be more of a risk taker, similar to modern brides. They listen less to tradition and more to designs that reflect their true personalities and style.”
Men also deserve to have wedding bands that are just as detailed and well constructed as their partner’s, Lhuillier says. It’s something you see in their suiting for everyday as well as wedding attire, so their rings should be the same way.
“My design philosophy is to develop a sense of confidence and beauty to those looking to celebrate life’s special moments. I only want to create new product that will enhance somebody’s life and give them a unique form of self-expression,” Lhuillier says.
And when you look around the fashion industry today, Lhuillier says you see men of all generations taking chances, exploring new styles, and thinking about what kind of expression they want to put into the world—and that should be true of their jewelry. That should be especially true of what they put on their hands to honor and celebrate their marriages, she says.
“I love seeing how people find ways to express themselves through their jewelry and fashion. We’re seeing a lot more men feel comfortable wearing what they like regardless of the traditional styles they have been accustomed to,” Lhuillier says. “This collection is geared toward someone who has a unique and luxurious sense of style.”
Top: Diamonds play a prominent role in Monique Lhuillier’s new Bliss men’s wedding band collection at Kay, including this band ($2,999.99) featuring baguette-cut diamonds (photos courtesy of Kay).
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine