Color Stories: Summer
Seven Gemstone Color Palettes Inspired By The Season, Memory, and Travel
My childhood summers were spent in Lebanon.
Warm days exploring the rocky beaches on the northern coast, the wind blowing and the smell of salt in the air from the Mediterranean Sea.
Returning home for family lunches in the village, tables overflowing with homemade dishes as we gathered around, eating, laughing, and sharing stories.
The sweet taste of freshly picked apricots and plums. The distinct smell of fig trees as we walked from one auntie’s home to the next.
Every sense luxuriated in the beauty of summer.
More recently, summer has meant driving the winding roads from SF up to west Sonoma, through the vineyards and past the fruit stands, knowing we’ve arrived as we pass under the canopy of towering redwoods, the air cool in their shade.
A place where time slows down, where the rocky coast meets the ancient forest, and where inspiration and reflection are at home.
Lazy days along the Russian River, the crisp water surrounded by waving golden grasses. Our home filled with friends and family as we gather around the massive redwood dining table.
Again, every sense luxuriates in the beauty of summer.
Summer has a way of lingering in our memories through color, scent, taste, and place. I translated some of those memories into gemstone color palettes, hoping they’ll spark new ideas for your own designs and introduce you to gemstones that bring your inspiration to life.
Palette 1: Golden Riverbend
Cool, reflective tones of sky blue Sapphire and deep forest green Sapphire are paired with the vibrant flash of Sphene and grounded in the earthy richness of brown Tourmaline, capturing the warmth and serenity of a slow summer river.
Palette 2: Rainbow Sprinkles
Spessartite Garnet · Grape Garnet · Green Tourmaline · Yellow Sapphire · Pink Tourmaline · Blue Spinel
Palette 3: Soft Ripples
Cool, muted tones of gray Spinel are paired with pastel green Tourmaline and soft blue Sapphire, evoking a single stone resting in rippling water and the quiet, contemplative stillness of a slow-moving surface.
Palette 4: Spiced Spread
Chrysoberyl · Brown Zircon · Champagne Zircon · Red Garnet
Indulgent aromas and lingering spices are evoked through warm cinnamon and peach-hued Zircon, paired with deep pomegranate red Garnet and bright acidic Chrysoberyl, capturing the essence of the Lebanese table.
Palette 5: Mediterranean Horizon
Palette 6: Mist & Tide
Yellow Zircon · Orange Zircon · Peridot · Pink Tourmaline
Refreshing pops of color from juicy, produce-hued Peridot, pink Tourmaline, and orange Zircon are paired with sandy yellow Zircon, reflecting the abundant color and quiet beauty of a Batroun fruit stand worthy of a still-life painting.
Palette 7: Ripe & Regal
The deep purple skin, bright green stem, and juicy pink interior of a ripe fig inspire the refined pairing of phenomenal Cat’s Eye Chrysoberyl, eggplant purple Spinel, and peach Topaz, evoking the regal elegance of ripe fruit and a connoisseur’s palette of rare gemstone materials.
Summer lingers in color, memory, and sensation, warm light on water, overflowing tables, quiet coastal horizons, and the unexpected beauty of everyday moments. Through these gemstone palettes, we’ve translated that feeling into combinations of stone, tone, and texture designed to spark new creative directions.
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From vibrant abundance to refined stillness, each palette offers a different way to explore color in design and storytelling. We hope they serve as a starting point for your own collections and inspire fresh ways to work with colored gemstones.
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Explore our full collection of gemstones and discover more colors for your next design.