By Elisa Eiseman
PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, the Pantone Color of the Year 2022, is a stunning periwinkle color with qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone. This is the first time the Color of the Year was not chosen from the Pantone Color Research Institute’s existing wide palette, but was custom created using digital technologies. According to Pantone, “Very Peri blends the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red to introduce an empowering mix of newness to apparel, beauty, home furnishings, product design, and packaging.”Laurie Pressman, vice president of Pantone Color Research Institute, said “This is indeed the happiest and warmest of all blue tones, and the red tones inside bring a sense of freshness that empowers people. This is exactly what we are after. Because the epidemic has affected our normal life and work styles, but it has also forced people to think outside the box. We don't know what will happen tomorrow, but it's this curiosity about the unknown future that helps us save. After these difficult times, we call it brave creativity. "
The world of gemstones offers many beautiful stones in colors similar to the latest Pantone shade, including tanzanite, amethyst, violet sapphires, and lavender chalcedony. Let’s explore some of these gorgeous gemstones and ways you can use them to accessorize your wardrobe in the Color of the Year with fine jewelry from Kerns.
Tanzanite
Ranging in color from vibrant blue to rich purple to lush violet, tanzanite is a must-have gemstone that is a perfect way to accent your style with Very Peri. Tanzanite, the vanadium-rich, purplish-blue variety of zoisite, is pleochroic, which means when you tilt the gem in three different directions it will display three distinct colors – blue, purple and red depending on the viewing angle.
Tanzanite is extremely rare – a thousand times rarer than diamonds. Discovered in 1967 by the Masai tribesman Ali Juuyawatu, it is only found in one place on earth, the hills of Merelani in northern Tanzania about 40 miles south-southwest of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tanzanite is a popular choice for a variety of jewelry, like rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings.
PHOTO: 18K White Gold 3 Row Diamond and Tanzanite Ring
Amethyst
Absolutely gorgeous to look at, amethyst is found in multiple shades of purple, ranging from pale lilac to a deep, intense purple. The purple variety of the mineral quartz, its hue depends on the amount of iron and aluminum present within its chemical structure.
Amethyst is formed in geodes called "hollow rocks." Found across the globe, South America is the most prominent source for large sized amethyst stones. They are also found in Brazil, United States, Canada, Mexico, Africa, Australia and India. While the mines in Africa produce some of the most deep-purple colored and smaller sized amethysts, Australia is renowned for the darkest varieties.
Amethyst, with its different shades of purple, is a great option for anyone looking for gemstones the color Very Peri. Beautiful enough for crown jewels yet affordable enough for everyday jewelry, amethyst is adored by jewelry lovers worldwide.
PHOTO: 18K White Gold Bezel Set Amethyst Necklace
Violet sapphire
Sapphire is a variety of a class of minerals called corundum. Although blue is the most famous color, sapphires come in every color of the rainbow – except red when it is known as ruby – including purple, pink, green, yellow and colorless. Non-blue sapphires are popularly referred to as fancy sapphires. Purple sapphires, also called violet or plum sapphires, have traces of vanadium, iron or titanium, and are closest in hue to Very Peri. Some purple sapphires can be dichroic, meaning they show “color change,” under different lighting conditions.
PHOTO: 18K Yellow Gold Rainbow Sapphire Tennis Bracelet
Myanmar, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Cambodia, China, Columbia and the US are some of the well-known sources of sapphires. Madagascar has a huge amount of colorless corundum utilized in creating purple sapphires. This demand is so high that the mining process has been strictly regulated by the government. Tanzania’s Umba Valley is also a source of sapphires in a wide range of colors, and the Yogo Gulch in Montana is the source of unheated sapphires in rich purple and blue colors.
Violet sapphires are unique and provide something a little diverse and uncommon.
PHOTO: 18K Rose Gold, Purple Sapphire, Amethyst and Mother of Pearl Earrings
Purple Chalcedony
Another gemstone that reflects Very Peri’s color is purple chalcedony. Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite that comes in a wide range of colors. It is colorless in its pure form, but trace elements in its crystals bring its colors to light.
Chalcedony has different names based on its color and properties. Usually, only the translucent, single-color stones are called “chalcedony.” Chalcedony with distinct banding is called “agate,” and “jasper” is the opaque variety of any color it shows. “Bloodstones” are dark green stones with red spots, and “chrysoprase” is a translucent apple-green that contains nickel.
Purple chalcedony is cryptocrystalline quartz, which is primarily sourced from mines in Indonesia. Purple chalcedony has also been found in California and Nevada. “Holly Blue” from Oregon is the most unusual, with blues modified by slight to moderate amounts of pink, making a noticeably lavender gem.
Chalcedony has been used throughout history as a gemstone in jewelry, carvings, seals, tools, and talismans. Pieces are usually carved or polished into domes called cabochons, although an exceptional, near transparent piece may be faceted.
PHOTO: 18K White Gold, Diamond, Brown Diamond, Blue Sapphire and Chalcedony Ring
Very Peri at Kerns
At Kerns, we have both new and estate pieces that feature gemstones that capture the color and feel of Very Peri. Stop by Kerns to see our beautiful collection of tanzanite, amethyst, sapphire, and chalcedony jewelry.
