Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake is coming out in December 2021 and we are snapping with excitement! Although the 1961 original was historic, it’s undoubtedly time for an update. With critics raving about this sublime version, it’s time to weigh in with matching sparkle.
Classics persist through the ages and are reborn through the ages. West Side Story most definitely proves this rule, with the Broadway run re-envisioned in the 1961 movie, and now the 2021 cinematic remake. West Side Story itself is a modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
In West Side Story, love, tragedy, anger, class tension, and disenfranchised rage are put on display in a rumbling, technicolor flurry. A powerful production deserves worthy statement pieces. At James Allen, we were inspired by the gorgeous costumes, iconic soundtrack, and ageless story to hand-pick the perfect engagement rings for Broadway fans.
Read on for West Side Story-inspired lookalike engagement rings!
Maria’s Dress | Ruby and Diamond Sunburst Halo Engagement Ring
Perhaps the most iconic costume in West Side Story is the dress Maria wears to the neighborhood dance: a simple white dress accented with a bold red ribbon. We’ve got the perfect complement to her outfit: this white gold ring with a ruby center stone. An engagement ring is a perfect accessory for this outfit because 1) it’s at the dance that Tony and Maria have their first encounter, and 2) Maria’s outfit is made by Anita, her best friend, a talented wedding dress seamstress.
2021 Anita | Bird of Paradise Engagement Ring
In Spielberg’s version, Anita struts through the neighborhood dance in a gorgeous bright yellow dress with a red ruffled petticoat. There’s no better ring to match her twirling antics than this yellow gold bird of paradise engagement ring set with a beautiful ruby center stone. Round and marquise cut diamond dot its unique asymmetrical halo.
1961 Anita | Amethyst and Diamond Engagement Ring
In the 1961 movie, Anita, played by Rita Moreno, is instantly recognizable in her purple mermaid dress. She leads the pack in every dance, swirling her skirts in an unforgettable purple vision. This 1.8-carat emerald-cut amethyst will, like Anita, mesmerize a crowd.
Tony & Maria meeting | Intertwined Bypass Engagement Ring
Tony and Maria’s first meeting at the neighborhood dance is magical. Almost instantly, they lock eyes and are besotted with one another.
The Challenge Dance | Double Halo and Shank Pavè Engagement Ring
The Challenge Dance in the gym starts out as a get-together dance. Glad Hand sets the kids up in two circles: “Boys go on the outside, girls on the inside…when the music stops, each boy dances with whichever girl is opposite.” What better to wear to a Challenge Dance than a blingy double-halo engagement ring that resembles the dual-circled dance floor?
Puerto Rico in America | Red, White, and Blue Engagement Ring
Here you are free and you have pride! This patriotic ring’s red, white, and blue colors represent the national flags of both Puerto Rico and the United States. This white gold setting, rubies, and a stunning sapphire make this ring one that you’ll feel proud to wear throughout the country.
Rita Moreno’s Valentina | Vintage Navette Engagement Ring
In Spielberg’s remake, Doc no longer runs the local drugstore; rather, his place has been taken by his widow, Valentina. And Valentina is played by Rita Morena, who won the best supporting actress Oscar for playing Anita in the original 1961 film! We’ve chosen an intricate vintage ring to honor this timeless Hollywood legend. A beaded navette pattern gives off an effortlessly French air, and a pavè halo adds even more sparkle.
Maria and Tony’s Balcony Scene | Bypass Solitaire Engagement Ring
Oh, the world is wild and bright with this dual-leveled bypass ring. The center diamond’s offset mounting resembles the couple’s late-night meeting on the balcony: with Tony professing his newfound love from the alleyway to Maria, who lovingly looks down upon him from her second-floor apartment and responds in kind.
Sharks vs Jets | Half Bezel-Set Pavè Engagement Ring
This symmetrical half bezel-set ring brings to mind the confrontation between the Sharks and the Jets. The half-bezel setting is designed almost as if the side stones are pushing the pavè half-halo up and over the center diamond like a cresting wave.
West Side Story is all about simmering class tensions that can’t help but boil over when confronted with the love of a young couple, and this seemingly overflowing diamond engagement ring captures the story’s teeming emotions.
Something’s Coming, Something Good | Petite Pavè Engagement Ring
Like Tony, we can’t help but burst with optimism at this petite pave ring. It’s one of our most popular styles, with over 1000 five-star reviews! Its band twinkles thanks to its French Cut pavè settings, which feature tiny v-shaped slots along its edges that expose each diamond to even more light. And more light = more sparkle.
Anybodys | Two-Tone Solitaire Engagement Ring
A tomboyish outsider for most of the play, Anybodys tags along with the Jets until she’s officially welcomed into the gang after a post-rumble act of bravery. Anybodys is tough, persistent, and plucky, deserving of a unique engagement ring that can withstand Jet-worthy hijinks.
This two-tone ring, with white gold on the outside and yellow gold within, suits the code-switching Anybody’s comfort across the neighborhood’s borders. Sure, she says “I ain’t never gonna get married. Too noisy.” But everyone deserves some sparkle, and diamond rings aren’t only for engagements.
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