Review: The David Yurman Bubblegum Pinky Ring

Released to the public on September 2 but teased for weeks previous, the David Yurman Bubblegum Pinky Ring has been called many things. "Limited edition." "Scratch and sniff." "Entry level." "Brilliant." "Bizarre." Allow me now to add another voice--albeit this one very loud--to the cacophony of media buzz. Here is my full review, objective, unbiased, and (in a spirit of full disclosure) written after five days of wear.

Background

The David Yurman Bubblegum Pinky Ring is available in five varieties, each of a different color and fragrance. Yes, that's right. Fragrance. The rings feature inlays of scented resin set in 18K gold. The five flavors are cotton candy (blue set in yellow gold), grape (violet in yellow gold), bubblegum (pink in rose gold), licorice (black in yellow gold), and peppermint (white in rose gold, shown throughout this post). The rings are produced in sizes 3 to 5, are part of a "limited edition" collection (whatever that means), and retail for $875 apiece. They are being sold as Evan Yurman designs. (Remember, dear reader, that David Yurman's son, Evan, was named the company's Chief Design Director in 2013.)

The Aesthetic

No buried lead here: The rings are simple and stunning. A critique commonly lodged against David Yurman is that the company's designs are overwrought, over-designed, if you will. There is too much going on. Not so with the Bubblegum Pinky. It is sleek and straightforward, which is, in this case, a very much winning combination. Do not confuse sleek, simple, and straightforward with "safe," however. There is a definite boldness here--I mean, check out that chevron shank. It is just presented subtly.

The Wearability

The DY Bubblegum Pinky wears rather weightlessly, which is good news because, really, who wants the humble pinky finger pressed under the yoke of some unwieldy behemoth? No, the ring is incredibly light and, per usual with DY, boasts a "comfort-fit" interior, ensuring a snug but low-catch embrace of the digit. The care instructions that come with the ring warn against exposing it to acetone, hair spray, perfume, soap, hand washing, swimming pools, direct sunlight, and intense heat.

The David Yurman F/W '15-16 Press Preview Roundup

This week David Yurman previewed its fall-winter '15-16 collections to select press at its corporate headquarters in New York City. Out of love for you, dear reader, I've gone ahead and done the tiresome, time-consuming work of combing through social media--and scanning every single post tagged "David Yurman"--to get you the scoop. Here's what I've been able to dig up thus far:

Coming soon are bow rings designed by Evan Yurman in honor of and tribute to his mother, Sybil

There are conflicting reports as to whether or not the pieces are designed for wear primarily on the pinky finger. What is clear, however, is that Evan designed the pieces for Sybil who, apparently, has always desired a bow ring. Previewed were rings with pave-set rubies and sapphires (see below). The price point is unknown at this time.

Image Credit: stylewriternyc (Instagram)

Image Credit: blackbookmag (Instagram)

David Yurman Unveils "Enduring Style" F/W '14 Campaign with Little Fanfare, Classic Photography

Image Credit: DavidYurman.com

Via an official website refresh, David Yurman unveiled today its F/W '14 campaign titled "Enduring Beauty," which yes, stars model Kate Moss, who has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the company since she first sat for its photographers back in 2004.

While many bloggers and Twitter users were quick to express approval of Moss's work--Modelinia asserted the model "looks better than ever"--there has been, it seems, little reaction to the campaign as a whole. Perhaps this is because the unveiling was, well, strangely quiet. Recall, if you will, the unfurling of the F/W '12 campaign, which starred Gisele Bundchen. Days before the great reveal, teaser photos dropped. On Facebook, a date (and time!) of debut was set. Heck, a short film was shot, previewed, and then, at precisely 7:30 PM EST on August 1, released.

This year, there was a website update.

Yes, the photography is classic Yurman. Yes, Moss does, indeed, stun, but where is the publicity? Where were the buzz-producing sneak peeks? And I'm sorry; where is the social media synchronicity? (David Yurman's cover photo on Facebook hasn't changed in months, and the company's clearly-on-a-scheduler tweets are backward looking, promoting S/S looks.)

Well, I think I've made my position on this year's "big reveal" abundantly clear. I must say, however, that I am curious to know your thoughts, dear reader. Tell me: Has DY dropped the proverbial ball with the whole of F/W '14? Is the season just off to a rocky start? Do you have, perhaps, an altogether opposing opinion? (Maybe you feel DY moving in the right direction with its reined-in campaign launches.) No matter your view, sound off; post a comment or shoot me an E-mail.

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Five: The Pinky Ring

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His fifth and final pick, which is his "best overall" for the season in general, is the pinky ring, a look that DYguy maintains "brilliantly offsets yet reinforces one's masculinity."

From DYguy:  The pinky ring is here to stay, and I love what it says about its wearer, which is, essentially, this: "The man's a bad ass." After all, who else is confirmed enough in his identity and masculinity to adorn his daintiest of fingers? My advice to all gentlemen out there is to "man up" this season and rock this devil-may-care look, which I consider to be one of the subversive and edgy in jewelry today.

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Four: Meteorite

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His fourth pick, which is for the new year of 2014, is meteorite, a stone which recently secured its very own collection at David Yurman.

From DYguy:  Put simply, meteorite ravishes the eye. Its crystal structure lures, intrigues, and stimulates. No other exotic stone in my collection has garnered more compliments from friends, acquaintances, and colleagues alike. There is no better way to start a new year than by putting your best foot forward, and that "foot" in men's jewelry is undeniably meteorite.

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Three: Cognac Diamond

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His third pick, which is for the winter holidays, is cognac diamond, DYguy's longtime preference over white diamond (and even more so over black).

From DYguy:  White diamonds, while undeniably stunning in their light refraction, can give off what sometimes seems a cold light. Not so with cognac diamonds from David Yurman. These gems, whose hue conjures sunsets and lazy summer afternoons, provide one with a visual escape from the greys, whites, and blacks of the winter months (not to mention their inherent color warmth complements just about any holiday party ensemble).

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick Two: Ironwood

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His second pick, which is for the months of November and December, is Ironwood, a collection to which DYguy warmed slowly.

From DYguy:  Ironwood didn't have me at hello... or at second hello... or third. The collection has won me over, however, and I'm now one of its most ardent defenders. The pieces are superbly styled, lightweight, and to my deep satisfaction, patina beautifully. I've made Ironwood my November-December pick because what better time of the year is there to wear jewelry exuding a wood grain motif than when, with the coming of winter, the inherent woodiness of trees is made bare? 

Fall for DY: DYguy's Seasonal Picks for Men -- Pick One: Dino Bone

In the "Fall for DY" five-part feature, DYguy runs through the gentleman's must-haves for fall/winter '13-14. His first pick, which is for the months of October and November, is dino bone, a surprising selection given DY no longer designs with the stone.

From DYguy:  Dino bone, though discontinued, is not just a stone for fall, it is the stone for fall. Its magnificent burnt orange color conjures turning foliage, and nearly all the pieces into which it is set are statement pieces, which I love to don in fall, a time of the year when even nature exhibits a flair for the dramatic. Oh, and just because a DY design is discontinued does not mean one cannot get the look. The DY outlet in Sunrise, FL (954.838.9979) still offers much dino bone (and at reduced prices!).

A Tease of New-for-Fall-'13 Pave Phantom for Men

Helping us out, @gregmaczko posted this (see below) to Instagram this evening, giving a glimpse at David Yurman's latest men's collection, which is kind of new, kind of resurrected and features color-change garnet set in black titanium.

Image Credit: @gregmaczko (Instagram)

Are these designs available now online? ...Are you kidding me? Much to my our mutual frustration, not a single piece from the F/W '13-14 men's line has debuted on DavidYurman.com. As evidenced by this 'gram, however, the pieces are available in the Nashville boutique, whose telephone number is 615.298.1190. (Yes, I had that on file.) Give 'em a ring, and surely they'll be happy to Fed-Ex one of these beauties to you.

That's all for now, dear reader. DYguy out.

Feast Your Eyes on David Yurman's Regal Willow Collection -- Images, Video (Updated)

At an inconveniently late hour on a Friday night, Twitter user @peterjprins posted a link to a site on which a David Yurman Willow Collection promotional video had been uploaded. The clip, which is 2:11 in length and classic Yurman in aesthetic, is everything the F/W '13-14 campaign videos should have been and more. Beguiling, seductive, and characteristically artful, it is not to be missed. Click through for additional screen captures and a link to the clip.

At Last, a David Yurman F/W '13-14 Men's Collection Preview (Now with Tag Necklaces!)

Late last night Instagram user @burniebear shared these (see below) images, which were captured, it seems, at a DY fall preview event at/for Nordstrom Perimeter in Atlanta, Georgia. Revealed are three bracelets and several rings, mostly band-style, from David Yurman's F/W '13-14 Men's Collection. Revel in the artistry. (My impressions are posted as image captions.)

Of the three designs showcased here,
my initial preference is for the middle one,
though I suppose I should see all in their full glory
before making any verdicts.

Hi-Res Photos of New Additions to David Yurman Meteorite Collection Emerge

In a Robb Report sidebar titled "Heaven Sent," the following two high-resolution images of soon-to-be-released pieces from David Yurman's Meteorite Collection were featured. (Do note that the latter was previously teased by Instagram user @gregmaczko.)

Image Credit: RobbReport.com

Get a Glimpse at the David Yurman F/W '13-14 Women's Collection

Instagram user @emilylkane was in Menlo Park, New Jersey earlier today previewing the David Yurman F/W '13-14 Women's Collection and was kind enough to upload for public consumption these collages of sumptuous new product:

I absolutely adore--ADORE--the ring in the middle frame
on the right, which is from, if I'm not mistaken,
the soon-to-be-released Willow Collection.

What Can't Come Quickly Enough

The store's usually-enticing displays
looked, on this visit, a little rough.

This weekend brought, among others things, a trip to the David Yurman Chicago boutique on Oak Street. While my visit was, overall, a positive one (is it ever not?), it was also, unfortunately, an unremarkable one in three ways, which I will now enumerate below. These are, officially, The Three Things That Can't Come Quickly Enough:

1. Removal of Bündchen, Posting of Upton (or Menghia... or Mali or Hemingway)
Hasn't Fall 2013 launched? Why is an oversize Gisele still featured to the left of the store's front doors? Don't get me wrong; I love the model and her work for DY, but that image is from the Fall 2012 campaign. Out with the old. In with the new, right?

2. Demotion of Griffin Collection
Yes, I solemnly declare I seek the withdrawment of the Griffin line. I've now inspected thoroughly most of the rings in the collection and can say they are as I've all along thought--that is, average at best. Being such, they should not occupy a half of a display case (as they presently do), not in a boutique with only four men's collection cases! According to the sales professional with whom I spoke, the designs are only selling "OK" due to their being crafted for a "very specific customer" and having not all the "kinks [in design] worked out." Enough is enough, I say. Feature one piece--my vote goes to the red jasper signet ring--and place the rest in back stock.

3. Release of New Men's Product
Part of me really believed F/W pieces had debuted, just not online. That part of me was wrong. There are, at this time, no new men's arrivals in the DY boutiques either. And so we continue to wait. I've heard rumblings of a mid-September release. As always, I'll keep you posted.

That's all for now. DYguy over and out.