Surprisingly sparkling green emeralds have come up from behind to perhaps take the lead in the 2011 gemstone popularity contest. It’s a contest that happens every year, most likely influenced by social trends and patterns, and it is surprising because there has been little emerald mention in the world of fashion in 2010.
Sapphires made a huge comeback, thanks to the help of Prince William and his fiancé Kate Middleton, and Jessica Simpson made waves with her red ruby engagement ring. But not since June of 1953 when John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier with a 3 carat emerald engagement ring has the gemstone seemed so relevant.
However, London-based gemstone producer Gemfields begs to differ, and if their last emerald auction is anything to go by, they may have just pinpointed the next jewelry trend. In mid-December of 2010, the gem producer’s emerald auction took in $19.6 million, a total that exceeded the revenue from all three emerald auctions held by Gemfields from 2009 to 2010, combined.
In fact, the average price at the December auction was $26.20 per carat; a 180 percent increase from the last auction held in July. The results, Gemfields told reporters, display a rising demand for emeralds, and they are “confident of continued increases in achievable emerald prices throughout 2011.”
The deep green color of emeralds certainly holds an appeal, with their compatibility with yellow gold and versatility as accent or side stones. The Insignia 7055P from Verragio is the perfect design to substitute diamonds for emeralds. Featuring a three stone design, the 7055P has a Princess cut center, which could be flanked by two smaller square cut emeralds, and pave’ set diamonds on the twisted shank.
However, for a subtle shade of green, try imagining the Couture 0391 with little emerald accent. Featuring a Round cut center diamond set onto a split shank decorated with smaller pave’ set Round cut diamonds. It is inside the four prongs that hold the center diamond where smaller round diamonds sit that are the perfect place for emeralds, creating green undertones, and when casted in yellow gold it offers a glamorous gold and green contrast.
With demand for emeralds gaining strength across all major markets, according to Gemfields, emeralds could very well pull ahead as the rising star of the 2011 jewelry world.