Colour Theory: Fine jewellery turns expressive, with vivid gemstones and bold pairings

Fashion

For the past few years, jewellery has spoken in more of a whisper. Delicate chains, sculptural gold, pared-back silhouettes designed to slip quietly under a cuff or over a neckline. Beautiful, certainly, but built to blend. But now it seems coloured gemstones have entered the chat, underlining a concerted shift towards more striking and expressive designs. Vibrant stones, enamel finishes and unexpected colour combinations are making a compelling case for adornment that announces itself. Emeralds and cobalt, magenta pinks, sunny yellows and pastel-hued gems have become a bold act of bejewelled self-expression. It’s a shift that speaks to something broader, too: a move away from uniform styling towards something far more personal. Metals are mixed, contrasting gems are thrown together, and the rules that once governed a jewellery box have been abandoned. The new approach is eclectic, instinctive – and it has plenty to say.

Graff High Jewellery, 118-carat Cushion Cut Sapphire and Diamond Necklace