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(April 2, '14, 2:04 Danielle Max, Basel) (IDEX Online) – The halls started emptying on Wednesday at the Baselworld show which ends on Thursday after a week-long gathering of the world’s biggest names in watches and jewelry.
While Basel is very much the watch show, many jewelry brands continue to choose this spring show to launch their new lines and collections, making it a great place to see the shapes, colors and designs of the coming seasons.
While the sheer variety of goods on offer makes pinning down specific trends difficult, there were some clear styles in evidence. When it came to rings, forget small and simple. Designers were going for big, bold and statement making. Cocktail rings were there in big numbers, both cabochon and with bold faceted gemstones.
Moving away from rings with large center stones, designers are continuing to go geometric with coils that go up the finger and lattice work pieces that are more finger shield than everyday rings.
Despite stabilizing metal prices, there was still a lot of open filigree work in evidence – a hangover from the years of skyrocketing gold and platinum – although there were also a lot of big, bold chains using a great deal of metal. Speaking of metal, there was a lot of rose gold about, and also a good amount of mixing metals and mixing metals with other materials, such as enamel or even leather.
Despite Radiant Orchid being the Pantonte color of the year, there wasn’t a great deal of purple in evidence. While there was certainly a great deal of color about, blue may just have edged out the other hues and it may take another few seasons for the jewelry industry to catch up with the color predictors – or this could be one trend that skips it by altogether.
If two years ago Basel was all about the dragon, a motif for this year was the snake (so does that mean that next year it will be all about the horse?). Snakes appeared at a number of booths in the form of earrings, necklaces and rings while other designers opted to take inspiration from the skin of the snake, rendering it in white and brown diamond pavé and enamel, to name just a couple of versions seen on the show floor.
Among the many serpentine offerings, the most impressive was the enamel and diamond cuff from Spanish jewelry house Masriera, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary. The limited edition piece (no more than 15 will be made) is set to retail at €100,000 ($135,000) and features 15 graduated color tones of enamel that help bring the scaly creature to life.
Sticking with nature, many designers – naturally – continue to turn to the natural world for inspiration. Butterflies, flowers and leaves could be seen in a great many vitrines and thankfully the pull of the macabre, which has been dying down in the past couple of years, seems to have vanished almost completely with barely a skull – pavéd or otherwise – to be seen.
Motivated by the recent focus on Russia, Brazilian designer Carla Amorim looked to that country for inspiration for her latest line. The collection takes its motivation from Russian architecture, icons and geography, including earrings shaped after the St Basil Cathedral, a ring inspired by the Hermitage and an Orthodox rosary necklace. The collection embraces a range of gemstones – such as emeralds and rubies set in a variety of colored golds – that pay homage to Amorim’s colorful Brazilian heritage.
Another company somewhat inevitably looking eastwards to Russia for inspiration is Fabergé, which has just launched its new Rococo collection. This modern take on rococo style draws its inspiration from the gold scrolls featured on the legendary 1902 Rocaille Egg, which was created for Russian heiress Varvara Kelkh and was itself based on 18th century Louis XVI style and the rococo artistic movement.
This collection is all about color with the arabesques of the cocktail rings, bracelets, necklaces and drop earrings set with dusky pink and purple spinels, emeralds, amethysts, aquamarine and white diamonds.
Finally, one company that was setting its own trend was Dani by Daniel K. Surprisingly, among all the high-end luxury brands, this new brand from ultra-lux jeweler Daniel Koren does not feature top-quality diamonds and gemstones, but rather cubic zirconia and lab created gems, such as corundum and spinel. The idea behind the brand is to make the Daniel K style available to women at an affordable price, without giving up on aesthetics and apparently a certain sector of the Basel crowd has been going wild for it. The brand launches later this year.
Step into the mesmerizing world of natural Pink diamonds, synonymous of elegance and sophistication. These exquisite gems have stolen the spotlight in the realm of fine jewelry, captivating the hearts of fashion enthusiasts around the globe.
In this article, we’ll explore the enchanting features of Fancy Pink diamonds, uncovering their origins, possible tones, and the growing fascination around them. As we delve into their unique characteristics, you’ll learn how they compare to other popular pink gemstones, revealing the distinct advantages that set them apart.
The Origin Of Their Mesmerising Hues
Fancy Pink diamonds are the result of a remarkable geological process that lasted millions of years. During their formation process, atomic traces of minerals such as hydrogen, nitrogen, or boron were introduced into their crystalline structure, resulting in impressive hues.
However, another scientific theory states that the pink hue comes from a deformation in the crystal lattice of the stone, a phenomenon caused by extreme pressure.
Whichever the cause, thanks to our Earth’s natural transformations, today we get to enjoy the exceptional shades of Pink diamonds.
From delicate pastel tones reminiscent of blooming cherry blossoms to intense, vivid shades that command attention, natural Pink diamonds offer a diverse palette of hues that ignite the imagination.
Rarity And A Growing Fascination
The allure of these unique stones lies not only in their enchanting beauty but also in their rarity.
As luxury enthusiasts and jewelry connoisseurs seek to come in possession of the most exclusive and coveted pieces, the interest surrounding fancy pink diamonds continues to grow. With the recent closure of the renowned Argyle mine in Australia, a significant source of Pink diamonds, their scarcity has skyrocketed.
Pink Diamond’s Unparalleled Properties
Brilliance
The refractive index of a diamond is approximately 2.42. This high refractive index is one of the factors that contribute to the exceptional brilliance and sparkle that diamonds are renowned for. The high refractive index allows diamonds to bend and reflect light in a way that creates maximum dispersion and brilliance, resulting in their captivating play of light and fire. It is this unique optical property that sets diamonds apart from other gemstones and contributes to their timeless allure and desirability.
Hardness
Diamonds are renowned for their exceptional hardness, ranking 10 on the Mohs scale, which is the highest possible rating. This remarkable property makes diamonds highly resistant to scratching and abrasion, ensuring their longevity and durability even with daily wear.
The hardness of a diamond contributes significantly to its value. Diamonds are prized for their ability to withstand the rigors of everyday use without losing their beauty or succumbing to damage. This durability ensures that diamond jewelry, such as engagement rings and heavily worn pieces, can be cherished forever and passed down through generations.
What About Other Pink Gemstones?
Tourmaline
This pink gemstone is often used in jewelry for its vibrant color. Pink tourmaline can be found in various parts of the world, including Brazil, Afghanistan, Mozambique, and the United States. Each location may produce unique variations in color and quality, making it more complicated for the regular customer to understand how to measure and compare characteristics.
Tourmaline ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs' scale of hardness, making it moderately durable, but relatively softer compared to Pink diamonds. With a refractive index between 1.624 and 1.644, pink tourmaline exhibits a good amount of brilliance and light dispersion.
Pink quartz
This mineral showcases a soft, delicate pink hue that does not typically offer much sparkle. There are multiple levels of transparency available, from very translucent to milky opaque or smoky with yellow or brown undertones.
Scoring a 7 on the Mohs scale, pink quartz is relatively durable and suitable for some types of jewelry. However, it is still important to protect it from impact, and best suitable for earrings and low-wear pieces.
Pink Sapphire
The intensity of its color depends on the place of origin and the combination of trace elements present within its crystal structure.
With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, pink sapphires are very durable and resistant, making them suitable for all kinds of jewelry pieces. However, they are more prone to scratches than diamonds.
Kunzite
Kunzite is quite affordable because it’s relatively unknown although it can be found in many places like Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, and the USA.
Like most color stones, kunzite can be undergo irradiation or heat treatments to enhance its color. Exposure to heat and bright light can cause color in both natural and treated kunzite to fade over time.
Morganite
Most morganite deposits are found in Brazil, but the highest quality specimens come from Madagascar. Typically, morganite enjoys a high transparency with minimal inclusions resulting in clear, polished stones.
Scoring a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, Morganite is safe and durable enough for jewelry.
Your Best Choice: Pink Diamonds
There are multiple options to choose from to create a jewel with pink gemstones. However, they all fall short when compared to the durability and brilliance of natural Pink diamonds. With sources becoming more scarce while demand continues grows, Pink diamonds keep appreciating in value making them a better financial choice when compared to other gemstones which tend to loose value in the resale marker. Pink diamonds present multiple advantages for their investment potential and as a valuable asset to be passed on for generations.
When purchasing color gemstones, it’s important the buyer requests a professional laboratory report that discloses any enhancements to make an informed decision. Unfortunately for most consumers, it’s hard to find full-detailed information on a finished jewelry piece and it requires additional effort and inquiries to confirm the quality of a gemstone.
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Langerman Diamonds has over 50 years of expertise in sourcing and trading natural color diamonds. Explore our online inventory and contact us to learn more about the purchasing process.