The palette of spring

By Gitte Mortensen

Spring: A season most of us look forward to with great anticipation. The weather is slowly getting warmer, the days longer, and flowers are in bloom. Let us celebrate the start of this season by getting inspired by some of our more unusual coloured gemstones, reminiscent of the spring days to come!

The first gem on our spring palette is coral, a precious organic gem said to provide happiness to the wearer. Gem quality coral is typically classified by its hues, such as white, angel skin, salmon and oxblood. Of all its hues, one of the most desirable is angel skin coral, a lighter pink which can be found in the seas around Japan, Taiwan and Hawaii. Due to fishing restrictions, angel skin coral is hard to find today, and is so rare, that a strand of perfectly matched beads, can sometimes take decades to collect!

As the colour of hope and new beginnings, green is often associated with the renewal of plants and flowers following winter and is showcased wonderfully in the lush green world of jade. This particular gem dates to before 6000 B.C. and has been regarded historically as possessing mystical powers to ward off evil and was considered by many as a symbol for longevity, wisdom and purity. Like many other gemstones jade can come in an array of colours including lavender, red, orange, yellow, white, black, and of course, green. Lavender jade, with its pale purple hue, is the second most valuable jade surpassed only by the green imperial jade.

But why settle for just one colour? This ring and earrings from the whimsical Oscar Heyman Brothers ‘Pansy’ collection features a bedazzling array of gems, from amethysts and pink tourmalines to yellow diamonds – a perfect springtime look, and of course, what would Spring be without flowers? Did you know that the pansy flower is supposed to represent thoughts between lovers before a word is spoken? Named for the French word for ‘pensee’ (thought), the pansy was said to be a charmed flower.

Visit Berganza's showroom in Hatton Garden, for a closer look at our antique and vintage jewellery collection which at this very moment is in full bloom! From bright yellows, oranges and pinks, to uplifting peaches and lilacs, wear spring as a fashion statement, and add some panache to your wardrobe; I dare you to show off your true (spring) colours!