Rock Stars of The AGTA and Couture Shows in Las Vegas

We’ve been talking a lot about the designs and trends I uncovered at the Couture Show and the rare period pieces at the Antique Show during Las Vegas jewelry week. But there was also some serious treasure hunting to be done at the AGTA Gem Fair, where I got lost in a small world of vibrant colors, magical moonstones, mystical opals and some mysterious new rock stars I never knew existed. The most fun was seeing how the emerging and established designers at Couture transformed these loose gems into imaginative and often lyrical pieces of jewelry.

While rock hunting for several hours, I noticed there was a different type of 4C’s than those associated with diamonds.

Here is how the gems from AGTA translated into the jewels at Couture:

C–ontrasting mixes of gem colors are more popular than ever, both in natural occurring variations and combinations of warm and cool tones.  Watermelon tourmalines in rough and ultra fine cuts made a strong showing at AGTA and then in finished jewelry at Couture. There are also  gems, which feature ombre effects.

WATERMELON TOURMALINES

AN EXPLOSION OF COLOR IN TOURMALINES

 

WARM AND COOL TONED GEMS

C–olor  at the shows made a 64 pack of Crayolas seem dull by comparison. These vibrant hues are predominant in the multi-shades founds in the tourmaline, sapphire and garnet families of stones. The exuberant palette continues in vivid spinel, rubellite and tanzanite as well as the more classic emeralds and rubies.

DARING MIXES OF DIFFERENT GEMS

MULTI-COLOR SAPPHIRES

C–abochon cuts are enjoying a renewed popularity, particularly in big, bold juice oval and pear shapes, which are being featured in statement pendants and rings.

MAGICAL MOONSTONES

 C–reativity abounds in nature with stars, radials and tree-like motifs as well as one-of-a-kind patterns that are formed in the stones while they are still in the ground.

TRAPICHE EMERALDS

 

NATURAL LAPIS

A DIFFERENT SHADE OF BLUE

Pamela Huizenga ring of Aquaprase. Photo courtesy of Sanchez Arias photography

PAINTERLY BOULDER OPALS