Jewelry News

Pink: The Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color in Jewels

In celebration of the fashion exhibit at the FIT Museum

by Marion Fasel

People who like to turn the fashion-page have been trying to kill off pink lately and move on to other colors of the rainbow like yellow or orange. It really hasn’t happened. There is something about the blush tone that just works as an antidote to some of the harsher realities of the day.

Well, now the color is being celebrated with Pink: The History of a Punk, Pretty, Powerful Color at the FIT Museum in New York City. The divine show, that will be on display until January 5, 2019, was organized by the museum’s director and chief curator Dr. Valerie Steele. It features approximately 80 ensembles from the 18^th century to the present. The gorgeous book accompanying the exhibit reveals how the meaning of the color has changed throughout the centuries and in various cultures. Over time pink has been used by romantic designers and the most avant-garde names in the field. It has transformed from a girly-girl favorite to a hue of empowerment found in symbols like pink Pussyhats.

All the thinking about pink in the clothes exhibit heightened my awareness of how ubiquitous the color is in jewelry as well. There are all kinds of pink gems not to mention rose gold infusing the work of designers today. Every box is checked in jewelry styles: punk, pretty and powerful styles. See a few of my favorite examples below.

The Aviary Classic Earrings by Of Rare Origin are composed of bubble pink, fuchsia and white gems set in 18K yellow gold vermeil.

Silvia Furmanovich Botanical Marquetry Butterfly Earrings are made of pink wood and diamonds.

Sarah Hendler Ballet Slipper Earrings set with rhodolites.

Irene Neuwirth pink opal earrings studded with diamonds.

Maria Canale rose gold Peacock earrings set with diamonds.

Marie-Hélène de Taillac Candy Pink Tourmaline cuff with diamond shaped gems set in 22K gold.

Retrouvaí Lollipop ring set with guava and pink tourmaline in 14K gold.

Pink tourmalines shine in Nikos Koulis‘s diamond and black enamel earrings.

Spinelli Kilcollin Nova Rose ring set with micro pavé light pink, dark pink, and lilac sapphires.

Kat Kim‘s 18K gold Ombré Thread Ear Pin set with pink sapphires and rubies. The diamond rendition in the image at the left above shows how the piece is worn.

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