When you sell jewelry of any kind, it’s critical to be in touch with current trends. And if one thing sets a trend faster than the jewelry selections made by celebrities, it’s royalty!

So when Prince William recently proposed to Kate Middleton with his own mother’s engagement ring ... an 18ct oval cut sapphire surrounded by diamonds and set in platinum ... boom ... he set a trend! Now, jewelers everywhere are scrambling to get their hands on replicas of Kate’s ring knowing consumers will be clamoring for them.

This event has also set in motion another trend: the use of gemstones of all kinds and colors in engagement rings. We can expect to see green and yellow tourmaline's, orangey-pink padparadscha sapphires and that eternal color of love, rubies, appearing in engagement rings over 2011. To give you some idea, shown below is the Spectrum Award’s winning engagement ring: it is the work of Omi Gems and features a 5.55ct oval tsavorite garnet gemstone surrounded by 0.71cts of yellow diamonds:

Speaking of diamonds, they’ll still want diamonds, but they’ll be going more for the colored diamonds ie.. canary yellows, pink, green, and even black which is currently very much in vogue. In fact, the eminent Tiffany and Co is at the forefront with its latest offering of yellow diamond engagement rings. They already looked ahead back in 2010, which is what all who sell jewelry should always do, including those of us who sell vintage.

This trend toward colored gemstone jewelry extends beyond rings. The winners of the 2011 Spectrum Awards, the “Oscars” for the American Gem Trade Association, were in all cases, those using brilliantly colored gemstones in rings, necklaces and bracelets. The multi-gem necklace below won first place for Samuel Getz who used yellow and blue sapphires, red spinels and diamonds set in platinum and 18k gold. Isn’t it stunning?

In evening wear, the first place went to Cynthia Renee Zava for this elegant palladium necklace made with 75.89cts of green tourmalines!

And when it comes to bracelets, this magnificent Sapphire and diamond bracelet below won the Spectrum award for the best use of platinum and color:

Now I don’t know about you, but what strikes me about all this marvelous award-winning diamond and gemstone jewelry is how similar they are to what those of us who have been selling estate jewelry for years now have on offer. Just look at the art-deco influence in that bracelet! And tell me that multi-gem and diamond necklace isn’t reminiscent of the glorious designs by Cartier?

My point is, if the trends for 2011 are what these Spectrum Awards indicate, then those of us who sell fine diamond and gemstone jewelry have something to look forward to this coming year. I know we have items similar to these in our shops and I bet you do too. If you don’t, maybe this is the time to dig these pieces out of your drawers and boxes and list them. Not everyone can afford the prices of new pieces and that’s when buying older, pre-loved gemstone jewelry makes so much sense for those who follow the trends. So jump on board: follow the trend! If predictions are accurate, your customers will be looking for just what you have!

Viga Boland of VIANVI JEWELRY at Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza

http://rubylane.com/shops/vivijewels

http://rubyplaza.com/shop/vianvi