Jewelry Trends: Show Your Colors

Oversized pendant earrings are still one of the hottest trends. For fall and winter designers are incorporating color, and lots of it, into their earrings. Like these examples from Christian Tse.

Large “slices” or thin faceted drops of precious and semi-precious stones are popping up in all of their colorful splendor adding emotion and interest to ear lobes everywhere!

Brown Diamonds: The Other Colored Diamond

If the mystique of colored diamonds intrigues you, but you find the price tag is keeping you from broadening your collection; take a look at brown diamonds.

A jewelry connoisseur should recognize the rarity and value that colored diamonds bring to any piece of jewelry. Brown diamonds, while not rare like blue, pink or even yellow, will receive a fancy color grade in a GIA Certificate. Brown diamonds come in a wide range of hues; these warm and neutral colors make brown diamonds very easy to wear. A beautiful brown diamond’s color adds more visual interest and a curiosity factor to your jewelry. The depth of color pops when placed next to white diamonds.

Hemmerle’s Genius

I encourage you all to visit www.Hemmerle.com, the website of one of Germany’s most exciting jewelry designers. The house of Hemmerle was established in 1904 by brothers Joseph & Anton Hemmerle, who were appointed by the Bavarian Court as Purveyors of Medals and Ornaments. Today the company is in the fourth generation and the designs, as well as the finished pieces, are as simply breath taking as one might imagine they needed to be for a royal appointment.

The unique website takes you from design to execution in a seamless flow of sketches to finished pieces, which combine rare colored gemstones and unusual metals of unique colors, all while listening to music which adds to the intellectual stimulation of the whole experience. Among my favorite pieces are a bangle of purple sapphires, wood and silver, and an stunning tassel necklace composed of tourmalines, sapphires and conch pearls. But, I don’t want to give all the good parts away.

In the age of mass-production-everything, take a virtual trip to Munich and visit a firm which displays old fashioned attention to detail with modern creativity.

Hula Hoops

One of the hottest looks this season is hoop earrings. While perhaps no one carries off this look better than Jennifer Lopez, you can do it too!

Hoops can be found in all sizes from the smallest huggie, which might be perfect for the office, to over sized hoops. Don them as big as you feel comfortable with; big hoops are very alluring. They are also more versatile than one might think (you don’t have to dig out your “Flash Dance” outfit for this fashion recall, please). Hoops are great with jeans, a ruffle collar blouse, a simple dress, and recently they’ve even started popping up on the red carpet. So, hoops truly go with everything.

Pair them with a few thin bangles and South Beach here we come!

What’s Hot This Summer: Dangle Earrings

Very feminine and glamorous, dangle earrings are still gaining in popularity.  All different styles from sleek geometric Art Deco drops to more fluid designs inspired by styles of the 60’s are being seen on the red carpet and in your favorite restaurants. Nothing says Summer! like the pink of angel skin coral or the vivid blue of turquoise; Victorian, or Victorian-style, ear pendants with a single colored stone pear-shaped drop are perfect for day. Chandelier earrings, adorned with briolettes and faceted stones in all colors and many shapes are a great way to bring color, movement and sparkle to your evening jewelry. Finally, oversized hoops of warm yellow gold or in-and-out diamonds hoops are hip and very youthful for day or night. You will love the way they feel and look!

Am I Blue?

Not if you are wearing blue gemstones. Blue is a cool color, and is associated with the sea and sky. It also symbolizes trust, wisdom and intelligence; blues can also invoke the idea of tranquility and calm. Blue is easy to wear and is a safe way to incorporate color into your jewelry.

Gemstones can be found in a number of different blue hues. The sapphire, a variety of corundum, is the most commonly thought of blue stone. Sapphire and diamond jewelry is very traditional, which does not mean boring. The most famous jewelry houses in the world have produced amazing sapphire and diamond pieces throughout history; important both in the quality of design and stones. Sapphires can also come in many tonalities of blue, including pastels and almost colorless; price is based on the color, size and transparency of the stone.

Turquoise blue is a symbol of youth. Although this color incorporates green it also has soothing effects. Turquoise has often been used in amulets to provide protection, health, confidence and strength. Turquoise and diamonds jewelry is one of my personal favorites. It is an unexpected combination that produces fabulous effects both in the pop of the turquoise color against the white and because turquoise is a moderately priced material compared to diamonds.

Other gemstones with a “blue” color include aquamarine, blue topaz, iolite, tanzanite and lapis lazuli. Blue topaz is relatively less expensive than sapphire and aquamarine, which its color mimics. It has been popping up in some great designer jewelry this spring, including some designs which caught my eye like the ear pendants shown here by David Yurman.

When in doubt…

A black cocktail dress with a fabulous pair of earrings is always appropriate for an evening out. Drawing from Audrey Hepburn and the glamour of the 1950s, keep it simple and elegant.

The earrings can also set the tone for the outfit; the same black dress could be worn with 1950s style platinum and diamonds cluster earrings for a night on the town, or dressed down a bit with large shell ear clips reminiscent of Seaman Schepps designs. Oversized yellow gold ear clips always make a cheerful statement. Keep it simple…keep it fabulous!