Between the runway, red carpet, and pop culture, specific colors have a way of hitting the limelight. Think of Brat Green—the lime-like peridot hue from summer 2024; it was the color of the album “Brat” by pop star Charli XCX, and had fast and furious appreciation with nearly every part of society, from gemstones to public spaces.

The “Barbie” film of 2023 drove an affinity for all things pink (think cars, clothes, and even doughnuts), while Broadway play turned film “Wicked” has inspired many to make the duo of pink and green popular. And, of course, PANTONE’s Color of 2025 is showing some love to brown by way of its choice of Mocha Mousse.

Ostbye

As for colors that will be hot this year, think of those that will complement the chocolate-brown hue and those that will color-block with it.

“Color-blocking is a great way to showcase gems in a visually appealing way that draws attention and gives your customers inspiration for ways to add new pieces to their collection,” observes Valerie Fletcher, vice president of design and product development, ODI / Original Designs.

Colored gemstones that are abundant and well-priced in the market should also be top of mind. For example, the public’s love of emeralds, one of the gemstone world’s most popular stones, coupled with wide availability of Zambian-origin emeralds, make it a category of note. In fact, there are so many Zambian emeralds in the market that prices are poised to drop.

Emeralds are a fixture in collections of many. LALI Jewels features modest cuts of them in vine-inspired and halo-style designs, while SHEFI Diamonds offers suites of birthstone styles featuring May’s gem as well as statement pieces.

“Trends are shifting towards bold, vibrant hues and unique color combinations,” explains Surbhi Jain, marketing director, SHEFI Diamonds. “Customers are increasingly seeking statement-making pieces that reflect their personal style and align with seasonal fashion trends like the PANTONE Color of the Year. Retailers should prioritize offering a diverse range of colored gemstones that cater to these preferences, focusing on both classic and modern designs that capture the current demand for vibrant and meaningful jewelry.”

Ostbye’s Theresa Namie, merchandise manager, maintains that green and blue “are still big this year,” adding that PANTONE’s Mocha Mousse could give a boost to salt-and-pepper diamonds. “There’s interesting coloring in them, and people could be inspired by browner shades to embrace them.”

The four seasons also affect trending colors. Soft shades come calling for spring, turquoise sits prominently in summer jewelry selections, warmer tones surface in fall, and winter settings cast a spotlight on jewel tones.

“SHEFI Diamonds highlights pastel gems for spring and summer and deeper tones for fall and winter,” explains Jain.

Her best tip for driving home the color of the moment? “Combine captivating storytelling with emotional connection and ensure the highest-quality gemstones.”

     SHEFI Diamonds

Meanwhile, Namie, suggests “selling the value of the gems with the story.”

“Our sales reps will do training to help retailers, and we work fashion elements into our social media,” she adds.

Finally, when it comes to mixing colors, what’s not hot anymore is staying in one color lane.

“Nobody does matchy-matchy anymore,” notes Namie. “Different colors can help ‘make’ an outfit—just be careful to suggest fine jewels that will have some longevity in collections. Nothing too trendy.”