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Surprise her with a statement ring

BY JOSEPH V. AMODIO | SPECIAL TO amNEWYORK

March 22, 2006

The diamond was yellow. Bright yellow.

"My first reaction was, 'Absolutely not,'" said Michael Keefe, a Manhattan developer, recalling the hell grooms-to-be know so well: choosing the engagement ring.

Keefe had turned to Tom Shamy, a Manhattan jewelry designer, in search of something unique.

But yellow?

"Trust me, she'll love it," Shamy told him.

Sure enough she did. And she's not alone.

Heidi Klum married Seal last year, wearing a canary yellow sparkler. And actress Beverly Mitchell, of TV's "7th Heaven," got engaged this New Year's Eve with a yellow diamond.

Colored gems -- whether diamonds, rubies, emeralds or sapphires -- first hit the bridal spotlight in 2002, when Ben Affleck proposed to Jennifer Lopez with a pink diamond from Harry Winston. Those wedding plans fizzled, but the popularity of such gems soared, particularly last year.

"Unexpected hues add a new dimension of personality," said Monica Cotto, fashion editor for Elegant Bride magazine. "The sapphire's bold blues suggest sincerity and faithfulness, while the ruby's deep red can pronounce a fiery passion."

Of his customers buying first-time engagement rings, maybe 5% go for colored gems, compared to some 20% of second-time ring buyers, estimated certified gemologist Eric Freedman, of Freedman Jewelers in Huntington, Long Island. "Pink diamonds can run $200,000 a carat," he noted.

Other trends -- spotted everywhere from Tiffany & Co. and Cartier to Bailey, Banks & Biddle -- include Edwardian-inspired vintage looks, with intricate filigree work. Sportier designs, with wide bands and low, bezel settings are also in demand.

"The metal of choice for all these is platinum," said Brian Ensor, vice president for the Northeast region of Tiffany. It's the purest of metals and is durable. "And it's white," he added. "It's not going to infringe its color on the diamond. It allows the stone to tell its own story."

Another take-control option is a custom-designed ring.

"To have input in the design of a ring is new for most people, and very rewarding," said Shamy. The process -- from initial drawings to wax models to a final glittery product -- can take three weeks to several months, designers said.