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Spring Trends...

3/6/2017

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According to the team at the Pantone Color Institute, which calls itself the “global color authority,” green will be everywhere in 2017. Not just any old green, of course, but the green that evokes images of spring.  The yellowy green of new grass and trees budding.

“Greenery” is Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017.  According to Pantone spokesperson, Leatrice Eiseman, “This is the color of hopefulness and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to."

Because Pantone's color selections aren't licensed to other companies, Pantone has no way to gauge the effect of their color choices in the marketplace.  They are however picked up by  designers of clothing, textiles and furnishings as well as, jewelry and accessories and can be seen in use in these arenas.

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While some may think that green is hard to wear, it has shown up all over the Red Carpet and runways, as well as in clothing and furniture stores.  In jewelry it is rare to find a natural green gemstone, such as emerald. 

However, there are some more affordable alternatives.  The closest to the emerald color that comes to mind is chrome diopside.  It is a beautiful, rich shade of green and much less expensive than emerald but still a bit hard to come by.  Agate is a great alternative and comes in any shade desired because it can be dyed.  Turquoise also comes in green shades and is a nice change from the more widely recognized blue tones it comes in.

As a designer, I am embracing the Color of the Year and can't seem to get enough of it!  So enjoy this Spring and all of the colors that remind you of it.  The sunny yellows, bright pinks, vibrant purples and even the toned down pastel shades of these colors.  I was ready for the change from the deeper, richer colors of fall and winter and am going with the trend in my new designs.

Look for amethyst, rose and purple quartz, lemon quartz, aquamarine and peridot for your jewelry selections.  I will definitely be using these in my designs this spring and summer!,

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The New York Times, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/fashion/color-of-the-year-2017-pantone-greenery.html?_r=0
Emilio Pucci, spring 2017; Michael Kors, spring 2017; and Balenciaga, spring 2017. Credit Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times; Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times; Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times
UnbuttonedBy VANESSA FRIEDMAN DEC. 8, 2016
http://www.jewellerymag.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/jewellerymag-ru-1-cover-greenery-pantone.jpg




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March Birthstone...

3/6/2017

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March has two birthstones – aquamarine and bloodstone.

Aquamarine
Aquamarines vary in color from deep blue to blue-green of different intensities, caused by traces of iron in the beryl crystal. Naturally occurring deep blue stones are the most prized because they are rare and expensive. However, yellow beryl stones can be heated to change them to blue aquamarines.
The best commercial source of aquamarines is Brazil. High quality stones are also found in Colombia, the Ural Mountains of Russia, the island of Malagasy, and India. In the United States, Colorado, Maine, and North Carolina are the best sources.

The name aquamarine was derived by the Romans, “aqua,” meaning water, and “mare,” meaning sea, because it looked like sea water. Aquamarines were believed to have originated from the jewel caskets of sirens, washed ashore from the depths of the sea. They were considered sacred to Neptune, Roman god of the sea. This association with the sea made it the sailors’ gem, promising prosperous and safe voyages, as well as protection against perils and monsters of the sea. Its first documented use was by the Greeks between 480-300 BC. They wore aquamarine amulets engraved with Poseidon (the Greek god of the sea) on a chariot.

Beginning in the Roman period, the aquamarine was believed to possess medicinal and healing powers, curing ailments of the stomach, liver, jaws, and throat. During the Middle Ages, it was believed to be an effective antidote against poison. Aquamarines were thought to be the source of power for soothsayers, who called it the “magic mirror,” and used it for telling fortunes and answering questions about the future. It is said that the
Emperor Nero used it as an eyeglass 2,000 years ago. Much later, aquamarines were used as glasses in Germany to correct shortsightedness. In fact, the German name for eyeglasses today is “brille,” derived from the mineral beryl.


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Bloodstone
The second birthstone for March is the bloodstone. Bloodstone – also known as heliotrope – is a form of the abundant mineral quartz. This particular form of quartz, known as cryptocrystalline quartz is also called chalcedony. Green chalcedony spotted with flecks of red is known as bloodstone. Found in rocks, or as pebbles in riverbeds, the best sources of bloodstone are India, Brazil, and Australia.

Babylonians used this stone to make seals and amulets because it has been a widely used stone for carving religious artifacts, It was also a favorite with Roman gladiators. In the Middle Ages. Bloodstone was believed to hold healing powers, particularly for stopping nosebleeds. Powdered and mixed with honey and white of egg, it was believed to cure tumors and stop all types of hemorrhage. Alchemists in ancient times also used bloodstone to treat blood disorders, including blood poisoning and to stop the flow of blood from a wound. Bloodstone was also believed to draw out the venom of snakes.

While all of these legends and myths are fascinating to learn of, today, the bloodstone is a unique and beautiful stone in itself.  Personally, I don't find it readily available but would love to use it in jewelry just because of the colors and sturdiness of the stone.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the birthstone series here.  Next month will be about Diamonds!

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http://earthsky.org/earth/march-birthstone-aquamarine-bloodstone
http://gemdictionary.blogspot.com/2013/06/aquamarine.htm
http://amykozak.com/gemstone-style-glam-aquamarine


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    Author

    I am excited to begin bringing you new information about trends in design and colors as they relate to jewelry and gemstones.  I'll also be adding some great links that I've found along the way from professionals in both the fashion and jewelry industries.  And I would love to hear from you!

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