Think back to the stones that have dominated jewelry center pieces for years past. If you’re like many, you probably immediately thought of the big four stones: diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. No one can deny their beauty, but as customers’ tastes evolved, beauty alone isn’t enough.
They want something else. Something with a story. Something no one else has.
One way in which we’ve seen customers exploring this desire for uniqueness is with gemstone combinations that range from bold jewel tones that give the wearer confidence to sunny color unions that invite happiness.
Take it Back to the 1920s
Back in the 1920s, Cartier unveiled a bracelet that utilized an unusual color combination: green, red, blue, and white. Of course, those four colors came from the big four stones themselves — emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and a dash of diamonds — and thus a luxurious line of jewelry was born. Later on, these designs came to be known as Tutti Frutti.
While these shades seem to conflict with one another, Pierre Cartier was clearly onto something: the popularity of this combination has endured in the approximate 100 years that have passed since Tutti Frutti’s introduction. And with the record-breaking $1,300,000 sale of one of these bracelets at Sotheby’s last year, gem-intensive styles have enjoyed a renewed cultural relevance and fanbase.
The 2020 return of Tutti Frutti has opened the door for unique color pairings — and the more they pop, the better.
Blue and Orange
Bright, ornamental designs are trending in a huge way, especially when they combine a matte, opaque stone sitting in contrast beside a translucent faceted gem. Lapis lazuli, malachite, onyx, coral, and turquoise are but a few of the gems that are up for the task.
One of my favorite pairings is in the above image, where the complementary combination of blue and orange lends itself to a striking story of fire and ice.
While you can use a deep blue sapphire for this combination, how about swapping that deep blue gem for the soft blue of turquoise? Mixing textures is a visually interesting way to kick up the fun of any design.
For example, let a faceted orange stone (I suggest the ever-beautiful spessartite garnet) take center stage, and have a halo of turquoise frame it. Accent these designs with a sprinkle of white diamonds, and the result will be a seriously eye-catching design. The contrasting texture of opaque against faceted is one we absolutely adore — and your customers will too!
Pink, Green, and Teal
For younger customers who want to break away from the rubies, emeralds, and sapphires that their grandparents wore, a combination of pink spinel, teal tourmaline, and mint green garnet may strike their fancy.
This tropical combination is a contemporary take on classic red/green/blue designs yet still offers customers an effortless piece they can wear with any outfit. Try experimenting with the balance of colors to see what you like best. The size of the stones, the shapes you use, the metal quality, and so much more give you endless ways to play with this combination.
Of course, you can always try swapping out one of these gemstone colors for another of the same hue or vibrance. For example, what if the pink spinel not working for you? Maybe a yellow sapphire will do the trick.
Explore the Rainbow: Shop Gemstones by Color
This trend toward bright colors is sure to continue and will become the foundation of many custom masterpieces to come. To help you play a part in these future masterpieces, Stuller is here for you.
With more than 105 gemstone types, you’re sure to find what you need — especially because we’ve made it so easy with one key feature on our website. When you need some color inspiration, the Shop by Color feature on Stuller’s website can help you find the perfect shade.
How it works is quick and easy:
- Choose calibrated faceted, calibrated cabochon, or Notable Gems®.
- Pick your desired color or color range — select one or many!
- Browse available shapes and sizes for your selection(s).
- Toggle any additional specifics: origin, color quality, unique features, and more.
Stuller is Your Gemstone Source
Presenting your customers with relevant color choices positions you as the trend expert. And with Stuller in your back pocket, you can quickly and easily get everything you need to cement their trust in you.
- We keep an on-site, in-stock inventory of more than one million gemstones that are ready for next-day delivery.
- To remain close to operations and stay current with industry trends, we maintain a facility in Bangkok, Thailand.
- Our buyers travel more than 250,000 each year to procure the stones in our vaults and to visit suppliers, cutters, and miners.
- We have trained gemological experts on standby when you would like firsthand information about a specific gemstone in our inventory.
From the calibrated gems you rely upon to completely unique individual stones, we can support you and your customers in finding the perfect center piece or suite of stones for any special project.
Read more articles about Stuller’s gemstone offering and find exactly what’s right for you.
THE BIG 3: EMERALD, RUBY, AND SAPPHIRE REIGN SUPREME IN THE WORLD OF GEMSTONES
GEMSTONES FOR ALL: FIVE GEMSTONES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
ULTIMATE GRAY + ILLUMINATING: PANTONE 2021 COLOR OF THE YEAR
