I'm the kind of girl who's always dreamt about my engagement and wedding day, and that reached a fever pitch during this year's Bridal Fashion Week. Needless to say, I beamed with excitement when I sat down with the legendary Pnina Tornai, a couture bridal designer who has more than three decades of experience.
"Whether I'm designing a couture bridal gown, an engagement ring, or a diamond necklace, my goal is always to make my brides feel like the most beautiful version of themselves," she shares. "I use design to express and enhance emotion, and the sculptural silhouettes, intricate detailing, and unique combinations of diamond cuts in the rings capture the spectrum of emotion we experience through love and romance. Each collection represents a different facet of love, like the many facets of a sparkling diamond."
We caught up with Tornai ahead of her cocktail event with Who What Wear to chat about her latest diamond collections with Jared Jewelers, why she loves a marquise cut, and her wedding day jewelry advice. Keep scrolling to read our conversation and discover all her dreamy, dazzling diamond creations.
What inspired these collections?
Pnina Tornai: The inspiration came from the moments that shape a couple's journey and was built around three distinct expressions of love. Gravity explores the magnetic pull between two people, with sculptural designs and captivating diamond arrangements that symbolize connection and attraction. Cinematic Couture is the story of my own life—I always wanted to be an actress, but my calling is to be a couture designer. The rings in this collection are red carpet styles, inspired by old Hollywood and life's most unforgettable moments, embracing drama, glamour, and couture detailing. Belonging tells the story of finding the person you wish to belong to—someone who will cherish and protect your heart, and you theirs, the same way you cherish a precious diamond.
What's your favorite piece from the collection?
PT: One of my favorite pieces is the marquise-cut engagement ring with the crown setting ($3752) from the Gravity collection. It's dramatic, elegant, and classic with a delicate couture-inspired twist viewed most clearly from the side, like a special story shared between you and your beloved. The crown speaks to me especially because I'm proud to be the queen of bridal, and I wish to bring joy and love to women through my designs, whether it's a spectacular gown or a dazzling piece of jewelry.
Do you have any advice for brides when it comes to wedding day jewelry?
PT: The jewelry you wear on your wedding day should encapsulate your love story and evoke emotion the moment you put it on. Exceptional craftsmanship is essential because these aren't pieces designed for a single moment; they should be pieces you envision yourself loving for years and passing down to the next generation, imbued with the meaning of your own personal love story.
The most important thing is that you truly love the pieces you choose to wear for your wedding day. Even if it's only one special piece, it's better to invest in something you really connect with and will love long after your wedding day. You can edit the photos, but you can't photoshop the feeling of that moment—you should feel like a princess on your special day, and your jewels are part of that."
This interview has been edited for length.
