— Las Vegas, Nevada, home to the world’s largest adult playground of gaming and entertainment, also hosts one of the leading international jewelry fairs — Jewelers’ Circular Keystone (JCK) Show — every June.
Trends gauged at the show reveal jewelry must-haves into the New Year, particularly in the United States.

As colorful as the neon lights along Las Vegas Boulevard, were the booths of jewelry designers and manufacturers at JCK this year. The days of minimalism are long gone! It’s all about big, bright color in dangling earrings; necklaces that are substantial in length or use of gems; chunky bracelets that jungle jangle; and bold, flashy cocktail rings. From rich warm hues to soft dreamy pastels, the gamut in color is trendy. Designs reflect a range of influences including nature, ethnic styling, and period looks from ancient times to the groovy 1960s. Also, more designers are creating convertible/adaptable jewelry like necklaces that transform into bracelets or earrings that can be worn as pendants.


In step with Hollywood’s love of vintage styling, many of today’s leading designers unveiled collections with Victorian and Art Deco flare that have lots of color and movement. Great examples are in designs by Judith Ripka, New York, and Cathy Carmendy, Santa Monica, California likeRipka’s frosted crystal, rubellite tourmaline, citrine, amethyst, green quartz, coral or onyx drop earrings with bezel-set diamond and gem chandelier accents and "Lola” or "Wini” rings of fire opal with diamonds — all in 18k gold.



Or, Carmendy’s Moulin collection of undulating morganite earrings in 20k gold and diamonds and ornate turquoise and diamond platinum cross on a twisted silk cord.

In a "Red Carpet” fashion show during JCK, N.Y. designing manufacturer Le Vian adorned Escada couture eveningwear with Deco-inspired jewels in geometric and floral designs showcasing rubies and sapphires with diamonds on white, black and antique gold or silk cords.
Other collections unveiled on the catwalk feature white, chocolate, canary, silver and black diamonds; cabochon turquoise, emerald, lapis, onyx, and coral; and fancy color sapphires and diamonds set in a variety of gold colors.


There’s no doubt that bigger is better in gemstones! And, the designs offering the best bang for the buck are in gem bead necklaces. Imagine all kinds of shells and mother-of-pearl mixed with aquamarine and peridot or maybe pink opalite from Peru. How about coral and turquoise in wild, unusual combinations? The mixture of colors and materials, in different and daring ways, is what makes these necklaces alluring.
Take the stunning designs of Laura Gibson, Tucson, Arizona and Marya Dabrowski, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, who create luscious cluster necklaces with gem beads; like Gibson’s citrine, tourmaline, apatite, and aquamarine piece with 22k gold or Dabrowski’s with rhodolite and red garnet, amethyst, citrine, rubellite tourmaline, ruby, and 18k gold.

Color is key in pearls too, as many manufacturers combine different shades and shapes of Chinese freshwater and South Sea cultured pearls. The Bora Bora collection by Elizabeth Blair for the N.Y. Tara & Sons, for example, clusters Tahitian pearls like grapes on rings, earrings and bracelets.

While Patrick Murphy of Minneapolis, Minnesota features multi-colored New Zealand abalone pearls in 14k-gold designs with tourmalines, tanzanites, spinels, and diamonds.
Another Minneapolis designer, T Lee weaves white and gray pearls with onyx, red garnet, carnelian, peridot, or blue topaz beads in leopard gecko-patterned necklaces.

Overall, symbolism — from hearts and crosses to gem folklore — is paramount in jewelry design today, revealing its message in both an obvious and subtle way. On the two extremes are: Los Angeles-based Nancy Davis with her "Peace & Love” jewelry and Atlanta-based Jane Wullbrandt with her "Gemories” line. Davis, who contracted Multiple Sclerosis 12 years ago, created her jewelry line from a thank you gift that N.Y. designer John Hardy helped create for celebrities assisting in her 10th annual Race to Erase MS benefit 2003.

Designs in 18k gold and diamonds include gem briolettes, gem beads and pearls, and part of the proceeds of their sale benefit MS. While Wullbrandt’s "Gemories” is a line of 18k gold charms/pendants (and earrings) set with traditional and alternative birthstones in a lantern-style design. A card accompanies each charm, highlighting what its gem signifies — a new twist to birthstone jewelry


Fashion forward, classic, nostalgic, contemporary, or out of this world, color gemstones signify personal style and mark life moments like no other material on earth. Their popularity is not a passing fad, but rather a staple in innovative jewelry design.