From moonstones to rough-cut diamond slices, jewelry designed with stormy gray stones is having a moment, displaying a wintry spectrum that begins with a murky white and progresses to silver and ends with a dusky gunmetal.
Last year we reported on the use of salt-and-pepper diamonds, or “galaxy” diamonds as they are also known, emerging as a newly popular center stone of choice for cool-girl engagement rings. And the appeal of these jolie laide stones is only getting greater among brides seeking the aggressively unusual.
Engagement rings with luminous gray diamond center stones have a silkier, dreamier quality. They are clouds with silver linings. And like their speckled sisters, they seem to be what indie designers and their clients are shopping for.
Today in NYC it happens to be sunny and spring-like (a welcome February oddity), but when I curated the pieces below, I had bone-chilling temps, barren tree branches and days of misty, darkening skies to inspire my picks.
If I may allude to the Simon & Garfunkel song (later covered by the Bangles—and my college a cappella group): The line “seasons change with their scenery, weaving time in a tapestry” has a certain resonance—and relevance—here, especially if time can be measured in a constantly shifting rotation of earrings, rings and bracelets.
Look around…
Heart Studs with salt-and-pepper diamonds in 18k yellow gold, $2,100; Lola Brooks for Love Adorned
Gray Moonstone Earrings with pavé diamonds in sterling silver, $475; Caryn Michelle Designs
Magna Arma ring with rose-cut galaxy diamond center stone and blue sapphires in platinum, $4,650; Vena Amoris
Trinity Cuff with a specular hematite in sterling silver, $490; Beth Black
Ring with 0.44 ct. pear-shape gray diamond and 0.04 cts. t.w. melee diamonds in 14k yellow gold, $2,985; CFD Fine Jewelry
Ombré Mixed Diamond Eternity Band with white, gray, and black diamonds, $1,950; Elliot Gaskin
Bracelet with 7.31 ct. rough diamond slice and 0.46 cts. t.w. round brilliant cut diamonds in 18k yellow gold, $16,125; Sylva & Cie
Coronet Ring with 2.34 ct. gray diamond and 0.35 cts. t.w. accent diamonds set in 14k yellow gold, $6,500; Everett
Amani split band diamond engagement ring with gray diamond center stone in 14k white gold, $1,850 (setting only); Ken & Dana Design
The Undercover Ring with portrait-cut diamond center stone and pavé diamond accents in 18k blackened gold, price upon request; Eva Fehren
Earrings with 4.40 cts. t.w. diamond slices and 0.07 ct. t.w. full-cut diamonds in 18k yellow gold, $5,895; Lauren K
(Top image: Cosette Halo Engagement Ring with a salt-and-pepper center stone and 0.45 ct. t.w. surrounding round and marquise diamonds set in 14k rose gold, $3,743; Point No Point Studio)
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