5 Coloured Gemstones to Consider for Your Next Jewellery Purchase

Words by Sophia Miller

Have you heard? Fashion is fun again. From Matthieu Blazy’s joyous CHANEL piña colada skirt to Jonathan Anderson’s playful beaded Dior Haute Couture pumps, the mood is decidedly maximalist – think more-is-more colour, embellishment and sparkle. Sound up your alley? It’s only natural that the trend should extend to your jewellery box, too.

From multicoloured eternity rings to delicate necklaces studded with your personal birthstone, colourful gems are having a moment this summer. In the spirit of maximalism, no colour or stone is off limits – but if you’re struggling to choose your next piece, here are five of our favourites.

Wear the Rainbow

The ultimate choice for any card-carrying maximalist? A piece of jewellery sporting all the colours of the rainbow. Rings from Anita Ko and Suzanne Kalan spotlight rubies, sapphires and emeralds, while a new edition of the ever-favourite Cartier Love bracelet features sunset-hued amethysts and garnets in place of the usual golden screws. The already vibrant nature of these pieces means they’re surprisingly easy to style – just mix, match and stack them with your everyday jewellery to add to the eclectic effect.

Rubies are Red

As the rhyme goes, rubies are seen as symbols of love, passion and power – and they also happen to be the birthstone for those born in July. Their statement-making red shade is one of the colours of the season, but these pieces won’t go out of style any time soon – rubies have been worn for over 2,500 years, and were traded along the Silk Road as early as 200 BC. Choose a pair of delicate stud earrings or a necklace like Shay’s Art Deco-inspired choker, and wear it alone to showcase the deep colour at its best.

Going for Green

It’ll always be our favourite colour, but green is also having a moment beyond the walls of Harrods right now. That might mean a classic emerald cocktail ring – like this showstopper from Azlee in collaboration with Zambian miner Gemfields – or it might mean embracing the organic texture and pattern of malachite, a material embraced by the likes of L’Atelier Nawbar, Boucheron and Messika. Envious glances incoming.

Ladylike Pearls

Less colourful, but still a timeless addition to your collection, pearls have shrugged off their old-fashioned reputation in recent years to become one of the style set’s go-to gems. That’s in no small part due to Sophie Bille Brahe, the Danish designer whose organic shapes and clustered pearl creations are as modern as they are delicate. Also to be considered is mother-of-pearl, the iridescent material that coats natural pearls and lends itself beautifully to inlaid pendants and rings like those from Jacquie Aiche and L’Atelier Nawbar.

Into the Blue

And finally, a gemstone that shares its colour with the ocean: sapphire. Available in a scale of hues ranging from pale aqua to deep azure, it’s another long-time favourite of jewellers for its ability to pair seamlessly with both yellow and white gold – though the latter especially brings out its natural cool tones. If you’re looking for a something-blue piece of bridal jewellery to complete the rhyme, this is absolutely the gem to consider.