The Sparkle of Summertime Jewelry

The glittering water, pale sand and clear skies of a summertime beach vacation will soon be just memories, but there's a way to keep them alive until next year: the aquamarine, coral pink, turquoise and deep blue tones of sea-colored gems.

The latest collection at Chanel Fine Jewelry centers on the geometrical perfection and lines of art deco, drawing on the atmosphere of the seaside that founder Coco Chanel was so fond of visiting. The earring, pendant and ring designs feature either aquamarine and turquoise or coral and tourmaline stones set in 18-karat white gold with cacholong—a variety of opal—and diamonds (price on request ; chanel.com).

Aurum Jewellers, founded on the island of Jersey in 1968, didn't have to look far to find the inspiration for its newest collection. Award-winning designer Alexa Blampied finds the muse for her creations in the natural beauty of the Channel Islands, off the coast of Britain. Her white-gold Water Garden pendant, with sapphire, aquamarine, garnet and diamond ($25,850), is well complemented by her pair of Vitality drop earrings ($17,390; aurumjewellers.co.uk). The British designer Stephen Webster ( stephenwebster.com) uses the latest laser-cutting techniques to perfect his collection, including a Jewelvine ring set with chrysocolla and black sapphire ($19,800), and the Crystal Haze Classic white-gold bracelet with turquoise and diamonds ($17,000). A gem fanatic, he captures the gleam of some of the palest gemstones.

Theo Fennell, the eccentric creator of silver Heinz ketchup and Smirnoff vodka bottles (theofennell.com), shows that he is about more than just gimmickry with his delicate Cradle rings, in white gold. From the 18-karat marquise, with its delicate oval-shaped aquamarine (from $12,000), to the mint-green octagon tourmaline model (from $12,000), his creations are redolent of summer afternoon shades and cloudless vistas. The latest Tiffany rings (tiffany.com) will bring back those romantic summer moments. The channel-set band ring, with dark blue sapphires and diamonds ($3,500), or the platinum shared-setting pink sapphire and diamond model ($3,755) capture memories of summer's deep blue lakes and multicolored sunset skies.
Source: newsweek