Look Book

18 www.thejewelrybook.com Year of the Statement Earring BY ALLYSON BAINBRIDGE The Fall runways confi rmed an accessories trend that's been building steam for the past 6 months or so: 2016 is THE year of the Earring! And after a few seasons of focus on unusual and mainly delicate ear jewelry (cuffs, crawlers and the like), we are now seeing big and bold take center stage. Perfect for balancing the off the shoulder, ruffl ed and puffed sleeves and camisole top silhouettes that dominated fashion collections and editor picks. There's also a practi- cal aspect that should appeal to fi ne jewelers in particular: earrings are one-size-fi ts-all, and some of these outsized beauties are even designed to be clip-on to better support the weight of the drop – no piercing required. That trans- lates to universal appeal and interest, so take note as you plan a strategy for your upcoming gemstone and jewelry purchases! COLOR By now you've heard that Pantone® selected not one, but two hues as their 2016 Color of the Year – Rose Quartz and Serenity. Lovely pastels that offer so many options gemstone-wise, but I'm more interested in how these colors integrate with the full Spring 2016 selection, as it's much more evocative. Inspired by palettes of artists like Matisse and Picasso, and destinations like Cuba, pops of primary colors feel fresh and inviting – evoking the kind of optimism and confi dence that's been in short supply for too many years now. From left: Rose Quartz, Serenity, Snorkel Blue, Buttercup, Fiesta Rose Serenity Topaz, Opal, Zircon, Sapphire, Aquamarine, Lace Agate, Chalcedony Margery Hirschey asymmetric earrings in 22K gold with Opal, Moonstone, Kunzite and Blue Beryl. W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 T R E N D R E P O R T T R E N D R E P O R T S TAT E M E N T E A R R I N G S

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