EditorsJul 14, 2022
In ‘The Radiance,’ 13 Talented Designers Offer Distinctive Points of ViewTrendsJul 25, 2022
Current Jewelry Trend: Color Craze
At the Couture show, designers told colorful stories with gemstones, enamel, and gemstone beads.
At Couture 2022, designers were feeling bold color. Pictured from left to right are a cuff by Brent Neale, a necklace by Rosa Van Parys, and a ring by Retrouvaí.
Las Vegas—Like everyone, the jewelry designers who descended on the Couture show this year have been feeling cooped up.
Many skipped the 2021 Las Vegas jewelry trade show due to COVID-19 fears or international travel restrictions. Most have enjoyed a bustling couple years of business. These factors led to a joyful Sin City reunion featuring collections bursting with color.
Among the current jewelry trends in the market, color was the reigning theme at Couture 2022, and expressed in different and compelling ways per designers’ unique visual identities and inclinations.
Below are the dominant ways designers showed off fine jewelry’s recent bout of prosperity, in every shade of the rainbow.
The New Enamel
Buddha Mama 22-karat gold rings with enamel and aquamarine ($5,900) and tourmaline ($6,400)
Susanna Martins ring in 18-karat white gold with 5.55-carat Zambian emerald, diamonds, and enamel (price upon request)
Selim Mouzannar one-of-a-kind bangle from the Aïda collection in 18-karat gold with orange enamel, a 30.26-carat spessartite garnet, and 0.99 carats of sapphires ($100,570)
Tariq Riaz 18-karat white and rose gold ring with enamel and diamonds ($6,300)
Nadine Aysoy “Catena” earrings in 18-karat yellow gold with topaz, emerald, and turquoise enamel ($6,535)
NeverNoT 14-karat gold and enamel pendant necklace with blue topaz ($1,690)
Emily P. Wheeler 18-karat yellow gold “Cheshire Earrings” with 34.24 carats of aquamarine and enamel ($68,000)
Bea Bongiasca “Double B Vine Ring” in 9-karat yellow gold with 0.68 carats of marquise-cut topaz and enamel ($1,050)
Enamel has enjoyed renewed industry prominence for the better half of the last decade. It allows for color experimentation that simply isn’t possible when sourcing colored gemstones.
So, while enamel is nothing new, brands are pushing the medium in new and exciting ways.
Take Selim Mouzannar, for instance. Enamel jewelry is a mainstay of the Lebanese designer’s collection, but his continued experimentation with guilloche enamel and the metal patterns beneath it represent continued innovation, as seen in the above slideshow’s spectacular monochromatic cuff.
Susana Martins, the designer behind the eponymous line, made her Couture debut this year.
The Dubai-based creator’s adventurous eye for color felt completely modern, thanks to shades of curry red, lime green, or turquoise blue enamel, the latter particularly compelling when paired with emerald.
Emily P. Wheeler embodies joyful, you-only-live-once color. Her most unexpected enamel showed up at the recent jewelry trade show in the form of white stripes, which lent an ever-more-playful energy to bold gemstone pieces.
In Couture’s Design Atelier, Tariq Riaz showcased his flexible “Circle of Life” rings that prove no color combination is off limits. The brand offers more than 100 shades of enamel and encourages mixing metals as well.
Year-Round Gemstone Beads
Jacquie Aiche pink and purple opal beaded necklace with pink tourmaline trillion-cut center stone and diamond pave set in 14-karat yellow gold ($4,625)
Renna “Lobster Clasp Bracelet” in 18-karat gold with diamonds, tourmaline, beryl, and emerald ($7,800)
Harwell Godfrey “Rainbow Baht Foundation Necklace” in 18-karat yellow gold with malachite, apatite, lapis lazuli, amethyst, jasper, sandstone, moonstone, agate, quartz, angelite, aquamarine, and garnet ($7,950)
Ananya “Chakra Bracelet” in 18-karat rose gold with 74.29 carats of kunzite, 3.10 carats of diamonds and 0.77 carats of quartz ($9,550)
Emily P. Wheeler “Cinderella Necklace” with Ethiopian opal beads and 14-karat rose gold removable locket with 17.41-carat rubellite cabochon and 5.49 carats of diamonds (price upon request)
Sauer “Sofia” necklace in 18-karat yellow gold with emerald, rubellite, jade, and pink opal ($42,630)
Sorellina one-of-a-kind 18-karat yellow gold and opal bead necklace with diamonds ($6,800)
Gemella pink tourmaline and aquamarine beaded necklace with pink opal and aquamarine cabochons set in 18-karat gold ($3,060)
Azlee 18-karat yellow gold necklace with approximately 130 carats of sapphires ($4,840)
Jewelry’s current mood for color translates to chains, with lots of designers rolling out gemstone bead necklaces and bracelets that aren't just for summertime.
Ananya’s signature piece is a luxurious gemstone bead bracelet, available in a huge variety of gemstones and fixed with an 18-karat gold and diamond closure.
Jacquie Aiche is synonymous with sinuous, second-skin bezel-set diamond chains. After myriad iterations, gemstone bead chains were a logical next chapter for the designer’s neck mess, providing a substantial counterpart to more delicate diamond layers.
Now, the designer has a plethora of gemstone varieties that combine a faceted gemstone for an elegant-yet-bohemian silhouette.
Azlee boasts a muted gold and diamond color palette, occasionally dipping its toe into emerald pieces, and, as of Couture 2022, sapphire. Sapphire beads are a new take on the “big three” gemstones, providing a more organic and unisex energy to the gem.
Renna, the brand that provides a sophisticated and sentimental take on sea-inspired jewelry, proves large, tumbled gemstone beads are a perfect match with her ocean motifs.
Cocktail Hour
Brent Neale one-of-a-kind ring in 18-karat yellow gold with peridot and multicolor sapphires ($9,800)
Sauer “Chakras” necklace in 18-karat gold with onyx, emerald, topaz, citrine, orange citrine, amethyst, garnet, and diamond ($10,080)
Beck Jewels’ “Grotto Ring” in 18-karat yellow gold with 3-carat blue topaz ($3,450)
Nadine Aysoy “Rainbow Bracelet” in 18-karat yellow gold with topaz, citrine, green amethyst and pink sapphire ($10,470)
AnaKatarina “Blue Valentine” ring in 18-karat gold with opal, peridot, amethyst, and blue sapphire ($6,640)
Gemella 18-karat rose gold necklace with Mandarin garnet ($6,960)
Robinson Pelham 14-karat yellow gold “Arena” ring with yellow beryl, enamel, and ceramic ($4,800)
Melissa Kaye one-of-a-kind “Lenox” pendant with 2.44-carat Mozambican Paraiba-like tourmaline and pastel pink enamel over 18-karat yellow gold ($28,450)
Retrouvaí one-of-a-kind “Heirloom Ring” in 18-karat yellow gold with mint tourmaline (price upon request)
In this editor’s opinion, the most compelling trend under the overall color mania umbrella is the cocktail jewel: a necklace, bracelet, ring, or pair of earrings defined by the presence of at least one bold and juicy colored gemstone.
See: Brent Neale’s peridot ring, replete with delicate gold bead and gem halo, or Nadine Aysoy’s fancy-shape gemstone bracelet.
AnaKatarina adapts the style to its aesthetic via textured, sea urchin-like gold and inverted accent gemstones. Beck Jewels is more straightforward with its solitaire gemstone encompassed in a multi-level gold setting.
Melissa Kaye’s new foray into bespoke pieces, thanks to carefully sourced stones set in an enamel halo, show the intersection between the cocktail jewel and new enamel trends.
More Is More
Harwell Godfrey one-of-a-kind earrings in 18-karat yellow gold with opal, blue tourmaline, coral, beryl, and morganite (price upon request)
Rosa Van Parys “Dagger No. 8.5 Pendant” with diamonds, pink and yellow sapphires, aquamarine and tsavorite set in 18-karat yellow gold on the “Links 3.5” necklace in 18-karat gold ($36,200)
Brent Neale “Wide Braided Friendship Cuff” in 18-karat yellow gold with multicolor sapphires (price upon request)
M. Spalten “Gemfetti” earrings in 14-karat gold with turquoise, tanzanite, amethyst, and pink opal ($2,880)
Paul Morelli “Wild Child” necklace in 18-karat yellow gold with diamonds, multicolor sapphires, aquamarine, spessartite garnet and tsavorite garnet ($28,000)
Robinson Pelham “Zouk” earrings with 3.7 carats of multicolor sapphires in 18-karat yellow gold ($9,990)
Milamore multicolor sapphire and diamond necklace in 18-karat gold ($5,200)
Three Stories Jewelry “Elongated Starburst Charms” in 14-karat gold with multicolor sapphires and diamonds ($3,960 for the pair; hoop earrings sold separately)
Some color is simply an energetic milieu of shades, thanks to nature’s candy.
M. Spalten’s “Gemfetti” jewels, featuring a mix of colored gem varieties, sizes, and cuts, follow designer Melissa Spalten’s personal color preferences, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing and gem-diverse array of stones.
Robinson Pelham is a champion of the rainbow jewelry trend, proving time and time again the complementary effect of every major hue combined together.
Rosa Van Parys started her collection shying away from bright color but has now branched into its many possibilities in her signature “dagger” necklace silhouettes.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Trends
The Latest
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
SourcingJul 10, 2026
CFO of De Beers’ Consumer-Facing Division Leaves Company Shaun Wills joined the company in 2024 and was chief financial officer of the De Beers Brands and Consumer Markets division.
WatchesJul 10, 2026
Brilliant Earth Expands Into WatchesIn honor of its 20th anniversary, the jewelry brand has released a limited-edition collection of Swiss-made timepieces.
