Colours of jewellery

Of all the beauties found in nature, colour has the most striking and memorable appeal. There is nothing more satisfying to the eye than the intense blue of a cloudless sky, or the fresh green of grass after rain. Jewellery discount engagement rings colours have the same impact, but they offer an added delight because their colours last forever.

There is an infinite variety in natural colours, caused mainly by the delicate nuance between one shade and another. The rainbow is really only a sample of the whole range. A parallel may be found in gemstones. The known colours of familiar jewels have become part of the language and are, therefore, more easily brought to mind: emerald-green, ruby-red custom wedding bands, pearly-white, sapphire-blue and even diamond-bright. Gems are usually remembered by one particular shade; they do, however, appear in other colours, perhaps less familiar and rarer in occurence, but none-the-less fascinating.

Diamonds are known and prized for their radiant quality and usually are thought of in varying shades of white. They can come in natural, fancy colours to include sweet pea shades of pink and blue unique wedding bands, as well as in yellow and amber. The characteristic brilliance of these gems adds an extra dimension to their appearance.

The unique lustre of pearls is mostly thought of in terms of creamy-white or faintly tinged with a pink glow. But these gems, too, can be fancy-coloured and come in definite shades of yellow, bronze, gunmetal, rose, green, blue and even black, the most romantic sounding of all, if a little melancholy.

Tourmaline is a jewel of many colours. It is probably best known when bottle-green or in varying shades of
 
red, from pink to a deep, wine shade. As well as blue, brown and yellow, it is found in a lilac colour. Perhaps the most fascinating type of tourmaline is the 'water¬melon'; this descriptive term calls it to mind immediately. The way the delicate pink and green colours are deposited conjures up this attractive fruit, as if by magic. The blue of the sapphire is familiar largely because of its popularity as an engagement ring, often framed in diamonds. The so-called 'star' sapphire is quite different, being an exquisite smoke-blue. The star-shape seen in its depths is caused by bunches of needle¬like crystals, reflecting the light. The effect is emphasised by the smooth, dome-shape or cabochon cut, in which it usually appears.

Precious topaz, something of a rarity today, is recognizable, when yellow-gold, honey-yellow or deep sherry. It also comes in other colours, all of them beautifully described by Oscar Wilde as "yellow as the eyes of a tiger, topazes as pink as the eyes of a wood pigeon, and green topazes that are as the eyes of a cat": an excellent example of how colour can be caught and held by words.
As there is such a bewildering array of gemstone colours, it is difficult to recall them at will. Finding and remembering corresponding colours in living nature can ease this task and even heighten the enjoyment of unfamiliar stones.

For example, there is Labradorite, which belongs to the same group as Moonstone and is basically dark grey with flashes of green and blue, due to the play of light. A similarity can be drawn to the irridescence seen on the wings of some butterflies. In contrast there is the fresh apple green of Chrysoprase which looks its best in a necklace of beads. A number of these appetising gemstones need to be worn in order to show them off to their best advantage. Eilat stone captures two elements in its depths, giving the effect of a swirling, turquoise-coloured  unique wedding bands, with moss green undertones.

The frail pink of spring blossom is held forever in Rose quartz, while Citrine recalls autumn leaves, going from light golden-yellow to a reddish-yellow. Aquamarine, as the name suggests, mirrors sea shades, from pale blue to clear green. A gem that shows a distinct change of colour within itself is the rare Alexandrite. By day it is quite definitely grass-green but under artificial light it assumes the red of a succulent raspberry.

Natural colours do not clash. There is never a jarring note in a garden where the various shades of green found in grass, leaves, shrubs and trees blend quite happily. A herbaceous border shows an array of colours that only gives delight to the eye. The same can be said of jewellery. Gems seem to complement each other and there is no disharmony when their colours are worn together.
The value of a gemstone depends on its carat-weight, colour and clarity.

A great deal of importance is placed on the colour-quality. It is interesting to note that a gem of good colour can cost more than a larger one of poor colour. With regard to the five principal gemstones, certain colours indicate those of finest quality. Blue-white is the top colour for a diamond. But it must be explained that this is really a contradiction in terms, for the blue-white should be completely colourless. It is, in fact, a trade description and accepted as such.

The most rare tand valuable colour for a ruby is 'pigeon's blood' red. Where sapphires are concerned, the pale cornflower blue is considered to be the finest and not the dark-blue variety. A definite grass-green makes for a prize emerald and their scarcity adds to the worth of this variety. The choicest pearl is the rose; it shows a pinky hue, which seems to emphasise the lustrous quality.

It is obvious that people who find a particular delight in the colours of nature should respond in equal measure to gemstones. However, unlike flowers, they never fade, but do have in common a depth and richness of colour. There is a timeless quality about jewels that gives a feeling of mystery. Like trees they have taken centuries to evolve and have lain in the earth for so long, that when they are found, they appear to emerge like buried treasure.