(NAPSA)—Jewelry designers from New York to Paris are sharing a similar mood this spring and the overall sentiment is luscious colors—like those which evoke an idyllic tropical beach. In contrast, embellished and bold shades from last year have blended with the serene taste of this year’s to make a colorful splash in jewelry. As a result, turquoise, pink, green and poppy red—hues that reflect the vibrancy of nature and the appeal of the seashore—are popular choices for designers this spring. Think palm trees, lapping waves and exotic birds and flowers and come springtime you'll start to notice other important shades: coral, yellow, lavender and softly grayed blue. Flowers, animals and plants have also lent their imagery to some of the newest jewelry designsthis spring. The color spectrum for spring is flattering to any complexion and the gemstone palette remains more alive than ever with the mix and match of last season’s stillpopular colors with this year’s eclectic styles. Blush pink and mauve, all the way to boldly saturated shades of fuchsia and violet are being seen in jewelry—everything from pink tourmaline, spinel, and ruby, to blue sapphires, tanzanite and amethyst. Charm bracelets are gaining renewed popularity this year. This platinum bracelet features land and sea creatures and flashes of green faceted gems. Morganite, pink sapphire, tourmaline and the hot pink of rubellite have also made their way into spring jewelry picks, all in the form of chunky rings, linear beaded earrings and charm bracelets. Emerald, tsavorite, green tourmaline and peridot are among a host of vibrant green gem choices. Some of the trendiest new rings are centered with a single faceted stone or a three-stone design with a bold colored center and complementary or contrasting colored gemstonesat thesides. In addition to rich colors, the dark and bright flash of facets is important for any gemstone jewelry, say experts at the Gemologi- cal Institute of America (GIA). The way a transparent faceted gemstoneis cut greatly influences the way it interacts with light, according to GIA. The return of white light from the gem is known as “brilliance” or “brightness” and that, coupled with its color, influence its beauty andvalue. This season, perhaps more than any other, gems are cut into all manner of fancy shapes, with checkerboard, diamond-patterned andbriolette cuts. In fact, the briolette drop, a teardrop-shaped stone with faceting on all sides like a chandelier crystal, has become a favorite of many designers. The pastel-toned briolette is used on earrings, necklaces and bracelets— even rings—where it moves and shimmerswith every gesture. If the exotic isle is not your style and you prefer a more classical look, pearls in all shapes and colors are the perfect accent. Or, to add color to the refined nautical designs being seen, choose a bold gemstone pendant, such as a Kashmir sapphire, suspended from a leather cord or earrings and bangles painted with multicolored enamels. For additional information about gemstones and jewelry, as well as education opportunities in these fields, visit GIA at www.gia.edu or call 800-421-7250.
