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The preferred gemstone colour varies according to the latest hues of this season’s fashions. For World One, various experts point out where this year's gemstone voyage will lead.
Everyone has their own favourite colour. But these preferences vary according to the mood of the day, the general atmosphere and the time of year. Fashion designers have long been aware of this and develop new colour variations for each season. According to the Chinese calendar, we are now in the year of the rabbit, which represents a pure zest for life. So it is fi tting that fashion as well as jewellery will incorporate more colour than ever before. “My favourite colour is colourful!” as the German Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius once put it. The year 2011 would have been a real pleasure for him. Demand for coloured gemstones looks set to increase signifi cantly this year – after a robust trend in 2010.
Renowned colour guru Leatrice Eiseman has explained to the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) where this year’s gemstone journey will lead and which natural nuances will be particularly sought-after. Eiseman is executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, which determines the trend colours for the world of fashion each year.
Nicole Ripp from gemstone cutters Groh + Ripp, based in Idar-Oberstein, has been investigating colour trends and their signifi cance for the jewellery industry for many years and weighs in on what she foresees. “The same applies to jewellery as a sought-after accessory as it does to fashion. Trend colours infl uence the choice of coloured gemstones as clothing and jewellery should ideally be of the same tone or a complementary shade,” says the gemstone expert.
TINGLING PINK AS A TREND COLOUR FOR 2011
According to the Pantone Color Institute, honeysuckle is the colour for 2011. It has an intense tone as well as being dynamic and uplifting – just what people need after the crisis. This is a reddish-pink, closer to red and warmer than the baby pink of the past few years. It is a colour, which seems to be infl uenced by Latin American culture. The colour suits people of all ages, from teenagers to 80-year-olds. It even suits men as it is not really girly. Honeysucklelike pinks include tourmaline, red spinel, rhodolite garnet and fancy pink sapphire. Those who prefer a pastel shade can opt for kunzite, morganite, rose quartz and natural pink diamonds.
Markus Wild from Paul Wild in Idar- Oberstein is also focusing on vibrant red shades as the trend colours for 2011: he has secured for himself what is probably a historically unique deposit of spinel from Tanzania, defi ned by an elegant and lively redtone. He has also noted a growing demand for padparadscha, Burma rubies and sapphires, which cover the full range from pink to dark red. “Over the last two years, berry tones have become an essential part of jewelexpert, she adds: “Berry colours are nuances, which can be combined particularly well. Every woman can fi nd a colour to suit her from a wide range of tones".
TURQUOISE AND OTHER BLUE TONES
Fashionistas will certainly remember that turquoise was the Pantone color of 2010. But it is certainly not a colour on the way out, as Eiseman explains. Turquoise and other blue tones continue to play a key role, especially when skilfully combined with purples. After all, purple is a mixture of red and blue. This results in a fresh and modern look. Amethyst, purple sapphire, alexandrite and turquoise all fi t in with this trend. Moonstone, labradorite and blue tourmaline have also been trend stones for the last two years – and they are still hot.Markus Wild from Paul Wild in Idar- Oberstein is also focusing on vibrant red shades as the trend colours for 2011: he has secured for himself what is probably a historically unique deposit of spinel from Tanzania, defi ned by an elegant and lively redtone. He has also noted a growing demand for padparadscha, Burma rubies and sapphires, which cover the full range from pink to dark red. “Over the last two years, berry tones have become an essential part of jewelexpert, she adds: “Berry colours are nuances, which can be combined particularly well. Every woman can fi nd a colour to suit her from a wide range of tones".
TURQUOISE AND OTHER BLUE TONES
Paul Wild offers rare stones like Kashmir sapphires to tie in with this new blue trend. Constantin Wild, also from Idar-Oberstein, sees moonstone from Tanzania as a particularly fashionable stone.
“The stones shimmer with transparency in an unbelievable luminous blue tone. A necklace in this colour complements any skin tone and personality.” “Blue is a classic,” confi rms Ripp. Blue is far and away the most popular colour among both women and men. It is associated with many positive characteristics: sympathy, harmony, friendliness and friendship. Blue is like the sky and stands for expanse and infi nity. As a colour of trust and reliability, it has a peaceful and relaxing effect. “Delicate blue aquamarine, intense blue tanzanite and exquisite sapphire are a key theme,” says Ripp. A great value alternative for blue stone fans is blue topaz, which comes in all shades.
According to Eiseman, green is also an essential trend colour, in addition to honeysuckle. However, this does not mean normal green but rather yellow or olive green – the “dirtier” greens. The stones, which refl ect this trend are yellow-green peridot, apple green chrysoprase, some shades of zultanite, green tourmaline, beryl, chrome diopside, chrysoberyl, jade, prasiolite, demantoid garnet, prehnite and aventurine.
Let's Goes Green
“Delicate green, as offered by heliodor for example, is also a theme in the current trend for green,” explains coloured gemstone expert Ripp. “Mint-coloured Paraiba, Mozambique tourmaline and light green tourmaline also tone in well with the trend.” Paul Wild’s collection comprises Paraiba tourmaline from his own mine in Brazil to satisfy this demand for green.
