Introducing Classic Blue: Pantone® 2020 Color of the Year
Classic Blue: 2020 Color of the Year
Last week, the color aficionados at the Pantone® Color Institute announced Classic Blue — a timeless, enduring hue — as the 2020 Color of the Year. This tranquil shade is suggestive of our desire for a dependable and stable foundation as we cross into an exciting new decade.
As a naturally restful color, Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility, soothing the body, mind, and spirit. Its reflective blue tone fosters resilience and boosts concentration and clarity in the viewer. Going into 2020, could there be a better shade? Image © Pantone Color Institute
As technology continues to dominate our world, it’s easy to see why we seek a reprieve from it all. We gravitate toward colors that offer comfort, protection, and honesty — all qualities Classic Blue provides.
Classic in Application
Classic Blue is a self-assured blue hue — simple yet elegant. The shade complements color mixes throughout the spectrum yet, at the same time, makes a strong statement on its own. Classic Blue takes on distinct appearances when applied to different materials, finishes, and textures, from shimmering metallics, lustrous sheens, and high-tech materials to handcrafted mixes and more fragile fabrics.
Blue Knows No Bounds
Because of its tradition and elegance, Classic Blue pairs well with many shades throughout the color spectrum. Pair with warm, peachy gemstones for a calming effect. Incorporate sparkle and shimmer for added sophistication. Add a hint of neon or even Living Coral, the 2019 Color of the Year, into your color palette for added enchantment.
Complementary Classic Blue Gems
Blue Sapphire
Blue Sapphire gemstones set the standard by which other blue stones are measured. As one of the “big three” precious stones, Sapphire’s breathtaking blues have captured our imagination and inspired designs. Within blue, there are many variations from lighter to darker shades, and some with a hint of grey.
Ancient lore tells us that blue sapphire brought spiritual enlightenment, inner peace, wisdom, insight, and the discernment to choose what’s right. It is September’s birthstone and celebrates the 45th wedding anniversary. For more about Sapphires, check out our Sell with a Story post.
Iolite
Mysterious and beautiful, this violet-blue stone is strongly pleochroic. When the dark blue side faces up, Iolite resembles Sapphire, offering customers a less costly substitute for September’s birthstone and other jewelry. Iolite enhances intuition and mental clarity while stimulating creativity and curiosity. Learn more about Iolite here. Tanzanite
Discovered in Tanzania in 1967, some shade variations of Tanzanite closely resemble Cornflower-Blue Sapphire. The stone is said to raise consciousness, awaken our hearts, elevate moods, and guide its wearer toward their true calling in life. The gem sways in color and is most commonly brilliant blue with a purple tinge, though it ranges from indigo to violet to lilac to periwinkle. Find more about famous tanzanite here.
Contrast Classic Blue with These Colors Mozambique Garnet
A warm red hue plays politely with Classic Blue as a reflection of tastes and colors of nature. Consider Mozambique Garnet, thought to cure depression, encourage good dreams, and promote love.
Amethyst
For a more untraditional and unexpected pairing with Pantone’s Classic Blue, utilize Amethyst’s rich purple shade. Amethyst is equally gorgeous in white, yellow, or rose gold, symbolizing royalty, passion, and dreaminess.
What are your thoughts on the new and intriguing 2020 color of the year? Let us know in the comments below! And if you’d like to share your stunning jewelry featuring Blue Sapphire, Iolite, or Tanzanite, tag us onFacebook • Instagram • Pinterest using #HowIStuller!
5 Gemstone Superstitions and How to Use Them to Sell More Stones
Not too long ago, we explored six jewelry superstitions and explained how to use them to your advantage. This time, we’re back to discuss five spooky gemstone superstitions just in time for Halloween!
Remember, storytelling sells. Perhaps the gemstone superstitions below will help to seal the deal on a few gemstones and jewelry items in the weeks to come.
1. Perilous Pear Shapes
Pear-shaped Diamonds and gemstones have soared in popularity lately, especially since big celebs like Cardi B and Paris Hilton each received enormous pear-shaped engagement rings. But some claim that pear-shaped stones aren’t cut out for engagement ring center stones. It’s been rumored that pear-shaped stones — since they resemble teardrops — will lead to a marriage full of tears.
Here’s the Takeaway:
This gemstone superstition is nothing to cry over. I say it’s bogus! Plus, no one specified which type of tears will be shed. So, here’s a better spin:pear-shaped Diamonds and gemstones will bring a lifetime ofhappy tears to any marriage.
2. Jade the Protector
In China, Jade carries centuries of gemstone superstitions. It’s had a long association with encouraging and understanding dreams. It’s also said to grant unique access to the spiritual world, opening “a bridge between earth and heaven.”
Jade bangles are commonly worn for protection and can shield away negative energies, too. Even further, Jade is said to crack as it absorbs any harm aimed toward its wearer. Therefore, a cracked bangle is rendered helpless and no longer fit for protection. Here’s the Takeaway:
Chinese culture has a spiritual connection to Jade gemstones that stretches back thousands of years. Until recently, the Chinese valued fine Jade more highly than Diamonds. And many still do. Why? Jade gemstones symbolize status, spirituality, purity, and health.
Offer to take in any cracked Jade bangles and gemstones while replacing them with new, unharmed Jade jewelry. Then, see what you can make of the old Jade fragments. Perhaps you can use them in your lapidary practice or incorporate them into other jewelry applications.
3. Sway From Blue Sapphire
According to Hindu astrology,Blue Sapphire or Neelam represents Saturn and is an incredibly powerful stone. But legend holds that the stone is only meant for certain people. For some, Blue Sapphire will bring fortune beyond measure, good health, and a lifetime of prosperity. But for others, the stone will immediately cast darkness and chaos.
So, the only way to know its effect is to test the stone. The wearer should spend a few nights with the Blue Sapphire under their pillow. If they have good dreams and positive vibes, the stone’s a keeper! If they experience nightmares or bad fortune, they should return the stone at once.
Here’s the Takeaway:
Our best advice is to be mindful of other cultures and traditions. If a customer purchases Blue Sapphire jewelry and returns within a few days, try your best to work out a mutually beneficial solution.
With that said — along with all the other gemstone superstitions — most myths are baseless. After all, there are countless Blue Sapphire engagement ring examples, starting with Kate Middleton and Princess Diana.
4. Turquoise = Togetherness
Turquoise reaches across geography, religion, and culture in its famed gemstone superstitions. Some Turquoise has a fine matrix in a web-like pattern and of course, it’s called Spider Web Turquoise. The matrix is prized for many reasons— including the belief that it absorbs evil.
Turquoise is also said to bring happiness and good fortune to those who wear it. It can keep husbands and wives together and also, when given with good intentions, it is said to remove any bad blood between the giver and its recipient.
Here’s the Takeaway:
Turquoise seems to embody all that is good when it comes to healthy relationships. So for wedding traditions, suggest Turquoise as the something blue piece of the bride’s wedding- day wear. 5. Leery About Life Diamonds
We’ve saved the best gemstone superstition for last! Years ago, Stuller’s CAD/CAM department received a Life Diamond to incorporate into a custom-designed piece. What’s a Life Diamond, you ask? This is a Lab-Created Diamond grown from the ashes of someone who has passed on.
Over the duration of the CAD/CAM project, the Life Diamond spent nearly two weeks in the department. During those fourteen frightful days, chaos ensued. There were countless software crashes and mysteriously lost CAD files. 3D printers malfunctioned as they built models of nothingness. Wax models went missing, only to reappear, then vanish again. Lights flickered in the hallways.
Here’s the Takeaway:
While the story above sounds like a stretch, it’s based on true events. In fact, we’ve even modified our policies to discourage any Life Diamonds in the future.
Why? Because Life Diamonds are irreplaceable. If the stone is chipped, lost, or altered, there’s no way to reconcile any damages to such a one-of-a-kind stone. So for that reason, take great care if you’re ever tasked with working with a Life Diamond. Do you have goosebumps? Are you afraid of any of these gemstone superstitions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And feel free to share your own superstitions, too!
Sell With a Story: Blue Sapphire Gemstones
Blue Sapphire gemstones set the standard by which other blue stones are measured. Their breathtaking blue and radiance have captured our imagination for millennia. As one of the “big three” precious stones, Sapphire’s many, many fans reach far beyond September birthdays and 45th anniversaries. How does it hold so many in thrall? The color and brilliance cast a spell not easily broken.
Shop Blue Sapphire Notable Gems™ on Stuller.com
Friends In High Places
History links Blue Sapphire gemstones to royalty as far back as Solomon who wore a Sapphire ring. That’s probably why Sapphire is associated with wisdom. Kings and Queens treasured its dazzling shade, believing Sapphires protected them from harm and envy. And in the Middle Ages, the high clergy wore Blue Sapphire gemstones to symbolize heaven. It’s possible they also wore them because Sapphires are beautiful, and they were wealthy enough to afford them.
A Once and Future Ring
Lady Diana Spencer was a pre-school teacher when she received the most famous engagement ring in history: a 12-carat oval Ceylon Sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. Most people don’t know she selected the ring herself, choosing it from the Garrard Collection because it reminded her of her mother’s engagement ring. It was neither custom made nor unique, but it began a trend that has continued.
And why not have a Sapphire center stone? Sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity, and faithfulness— making it the ideal engagement ring center stone. Today, Princess Di’s famous ring adorns the finger of her son’s wife, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.
71606 • White Gold Oval Blue Sapphire Halo-Style Ring
The Power of Blue Sapphire Gemstones
Are you ready for this? Sapphire is said to bring spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. Those are priceless gifts, but Sapphire does more. It imparts wisdom, insight, and discernment to choose rightly when faced with obstacles and difficult situations. (Doesn’t that sound like Solomon’s famous dilemma of two mothers claiming one child?) But that’s not all. Sapphire has the power to make peace between warring parties. Are you impressed yet? Read on. 100% Natural
Today’s natural healers promote Sapphire for its positive effect on a variety of health issues— everything from hearing problems and inflammation to burns and cancer. And its calming effect soothes a mind fighting depression and brings joy to the wearer to those lucky customers who wear it.
A Storied Blue Sapphire
The Star of India — at 563.35 carats: one of the largest and certainly the most famous Blue Star Sapphires — was actually discovered in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) two to three centuries ago. The rough stone was sold to Moorish traders who took it to India, which was under British rule. The English considered Ceylon a part of the India colony and by rights, so the Moors should have sold the Sapphire to them. Instead, they sold it to a European dealer. Eventually, it was mistakenly named the Star of India instead of the Star of Ceylon. Shop Star Sapphire Gemstones on Stuller.com
How Big is 563.5 Carats?
Of course, we could just say “very big,” but truly this remarkable Sapphire is the size of a golf ball. It is famous not just for its size and flawlessness, but for the fact that its sharp six-rayed star appears on both sides.
A Star of India Adventure
Wealthy Gilded Age financier J.P. Morgan commissioned a Tiffany gem expert to buy an impressive gem collection for display at the Paris Exposition of 1900. The Star of India was among the gems acquired for Morgan. It traveled safely to and from the Exposition, and then Morgan donated it to the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West in Manhattan. In 1964, it was stolen along with other gems of note. To everyone’s relief, it was retrieved along with one other gem just two days later. The thieves? Jack Murphy, a one-time surfing champion turned notorious cat burglar and two cohorts. Needless to say, they spent time in prison. Shop Sapphire in all colors on Stuller.com
What’s Your Favorite Color?
Sapphire comes in many colors except, of course, red, also known as “ruby.” But without a color indication, “Sapphire” refers to Blue Sapphire. Within blue, there are many variations from lighter to darker shades some with a hint of grey. My personal choice would be a medium vibrant violet- blue. We no doubt have it in our inventory, and if not, our gemstone buyers could get it for me. Fortunately, we have Sapphires in a range of vibrant blues.
How are you celebrating Blue Sapphire gemstones during the month of September? Let us know in the comments below.