While the PANTONE Color Institute certainly surprised everyone with its choice of white—otherwise known as Cloud Dancer—for the 2026 Color of the Year, jewelers can thankfully express their own energy and joy through vibrant colors of gemstones.

The PANTONE Color of the Year largely nods to runway couture and home décor trends, but it matters to jewelers who’ll need to help clients color-block with the new clothing trends. Jewelry brands can easily brighten up white outfits this spring with ample varieties of colored gemstone jewelry. Look to Samuel B., Rembrandt Charms, Marathon Company, MJJ Brilliant, Mastoloni Pearls, Imperial, and many more manufacturers who use not only trending gemstones but also enamel, resin, and other colorful accents to punch up precious metal jewelry designs.

ODI / Original Designs

In talking to makers themselves, many are surprisingly pleased with PANTONE’s choice of white. “We think it is an interesting choice and great for jewelry, because it is a color that almost everyone would like,” observes Phillip Gabriel Maroof, creative director and designer for the Royal Chain Group.

Maroof has company, too, in that opinion. “I really love it,” says Valerie Fletcher, vice president of design and product development for ODI / Original Designs. “It’s the polar opposite of the chaos all around us. And it’s the exact aesthetic we need right now—peaceful, restorative, hopeful, uplifting.”

In fact, Fletcher has four strong reasons why white is ideal for 2026. “First, it’s the ideal neutral foundation for the current jewelry trend of minimal, refined, effortless luxury,” she continues. “And the perfect backdrop for yellow gold, in both ‘clean-girl’ aesthetic (small hoops, dainty rings) and glamorous links and luxe layered looks. Second, it’s a blank canvas for colored gemstones. White doesn’t compete – it frames. You can go monochrome for a clean look or make a bold statement mixing colors. Third, it has a full year fashion arc, playing well in all four seasons, plus bridal. So, your marketing carries through the whole year. And fourth, white is a classic choice for showcases and displays, so you probably already have some available for Pantone-themed vignettes.”

White gems include pearls, opals, and diamonds, as well as white topaz, mother of pearl, and pale aquamarine. Another wildly popular gemstone that speaks to the white trend? Rainbow moonstone, thanks to a pocket found in Madagascar in 2024. That material was of such high quality that top-end dealers and designers were working with it in faceted forms for its high transparency and orange flash.

              Chatham

In lab-grown gems, diamonds, opals, and white sapphires beautifully capture Cloud Dancer while brighter colors of lab-grown gems (think emeralds and blue spinel) will pop boldly against a backdrop of white clothes.

“Bright, vivid colors (pink tourmaline, amethyst) and bold, saturated hues (emerald, sapphire) will deliver the strongest contrast,” adds Fletcher.

“[Cloud Dancer] acts as a blank canvas for your customer’s creativity and personality,” says Monica McDaniel, vice president and marketing director for Chatham. “We encourage our retailers to still promote the power of color to drive emotion and sales since every color pairs beautifully with Pantone’s Cloud Dancer.”