I've been kind of obsessed with the colour pink since I can remember. If I get to choose, I choose pink every time. My studio is pink, my logo is pink, my hair is pink, my iPhone is pink. You get the picture (& the picture frame is pink😂).
So when I learned that the Pantone color of the year is magenta, I knew I had to create a collection around this magnificent colour.
What is magenta?
Magenta, located exactly between red and blue on the colour wheel is a combination of violet-blue and red. There are a range of colours that can be called magenta and it is best described as a bright pinkish-purplish-red.
Magenta dye was first developed in the 1800's and originally called fuchsine. It was later renamed magenta to commemorate the victory of the French & Sardinians in the Italian-French war which was won during a battle in Magenta, Lombardy.
Strangely enough, magenta is considered a "neutral" colour. Green is the complementary colour to magenta and if you ask me there's really not a colour that doesn't go well with magenta (despite the fact that my mother tried, unsuccessfully, to convince me that you can't wear red & pink together 😂). And magenta jewellery can certainly liven up any look.
The meaning of magenta
According to colour psychology, magenta is the colour of equanimity, kindness, energy (especially feminine energy), harmony and cheerfulness. Magenta combines the intensity, power and vitality of red with the thoughtfulness and quiet calm of violet leading to feelings of emotional balance.
Magenta is often associated with creativity and innovative thinking and you can find magenta in the logos of many companies that value creative thinking.
Having magenta in your workspace can encourage creativity and activity.
Magenta is also said to strengthen your intuition. As it also enhances feelings of calm, balance and action it's a perfect colour to have around you when you want to follow your own instincts when making decisions.
What's not to love about magenta?
What is Pantone?
Pantone has created a standardized, universal color system. Pantone means "all colors", combining the words "pan" & "tone". In 1963 the company introduced the Pantone Color Matching System® with 500 standardized colors enabling the printing industry to have a common language with which to choose & accurately reproduce colors.
Since then, it has grown to be a leader in color language and trend-forecasting with thousands of reproducible colors for every industry imaginable including graphics (print & digital), textiles and coatings & pigments (such as cosmetics & paints).
Starting in 1999 the Pantone Color Institute has announced a Color of the Year. These yearly color picks can be found everywhere in fashion, home decor and design.
This year, Pantone chose Viva Magenta, a color that "...vibrates with vim and vigor. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative. This year’s Color of the Year is powerful and empowering. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all."
Magenta gemstones
Our Viva Magenta Jewellery Collection features some of our very favourite magenta coloured gemstones. Some of these you will be very familiar with and some probably less so, unless you are a gemstone junkie like I am😉
Ruby & Sapphire Gemstones
Rubies and sapphires are two of the four gemstones considered "precious" (along with diamond and emerald) and have been prized for thousands of years. Today, rubies, which are more rare, command the highest price per carat of any coloured gemstone. Rubies were discovered as early as 2500BC and stone age tools have been found at a ruby mining site in the Mogok region of Myanmar. Ancient Etruscan (600-275BC) jewellery features Sri Lankan sapphires.
The word ruby comes from the latin "ruber", meaning red. Sapphire is derived from the Greek "sappheiros" which referred to lapis lazuli.
Rubies and sapphires are both a type of mineral called corundum, a very hard and stable mineral. Only red corundum is called ruby. All other colours of corundum are called sapphires. Pink sapphires exist in a range of shades due to the presence of chromium within the mineral. At a certain colour saturation, the gemstone gains the designation of ruby.
Rubies and sapphires are the hardest mineral after diamond, rating a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them an ideal choice for jewellery and in particular, rings, as they are unlikely to get scratched and damaged with wear.
Rubies are the birthstone for July as well as a traditional gift for both a 15th and 40th wedding anniversary. A stone of passion, rubies symbolize love and commitment. Rubies are also associated with the zodiac sign of Cancer.
Sapphires are the birthstone for September as well as the customary gift for both the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries. A soothing stone, pink sapphire represents love, feminine energy and wisdom. Pink sapphires are associated with the astrological signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Taurus.
Some of the most magical of these gemstones are star rubies and star sapphires. A star ruby or sapphire exhibits the phenomenon of asterism, where a star shape appears within the stone due to light reflecting off of impurities within the stone. As you move these stones around, the star seems to move within the gem.
Rhodolite Garnet Gemstones
Garnet, a semi-precious gemstone, is most often associated with the colour red, but actually exists in a huge range of colours from red to blue. One of my most favourites is the rhodolite garnet, the rarest and finest of the garnet family. Rhodolite garnets are a vivid, transparent pinkish-purplish-reddish colour that look magnificent in a sparkling faceted stone.
Rhodolite gets its name from the Greek "rhodon", meaning rose-like. You can find this prefix in other pink gemstones such as rhodochrosite and rhodonite, not to mention the rhododendron bush.
In addition to being stable to light and chemicals, garnets rate a 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale making them very suitable for everyday jewellery. A gemstone with a rating of 7 will easily scratch glass.
Garnets are the traditional birthstone for January as well as the 2nd wedding anniversary. A stone of perseverance and strength, garnet is said to promote trust and help maintain optimism. It is also known as a "commitment stone," making it an excellent gift for a 2nd wedding anniversary.
Now, I'm sure you're familiar with rubies, sapphires and garnets but you may not be familiar with sugilite or mookaite.
Sugilite gemstones
Sugilite is a relatively rare mineral, first discovered in Japan in the 1940s and named after the geologist who identified it, Ken-ichi Sugi.
It's a lovely mineral that ranges in colour from vibrant pink to purple, a perfect fit for a celebration of all things magenta.
Known as a healing stone, sugilite is said to have a harmonizing effect on the nerves and brain. It is also said to provide strength to resolve conflict without compromise.
With a hardness of 6-6.5, sugilite is suitable for jewellery but it's best if set in a protective setting, like a bezel setting which protects the sides of the stone.
Sugilite is an alternative birthstone for January and is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces.
Mookaite gemstones
Mookaite is a gorgeous, colourful form of jasper found only in Western Australia and named after it's geographical location: the Mooka Creek. The word Mooka is an indigenous word meaning "running waters". Displaying lovely, earthly tones of yellows, pinks, reds and purples, often swirled together, each gemstone cut from this material is unique and different and it's easy to perceive pictures within the patterns.
A grounding stone, mookaite is said to increase awareness, bring us back to the now and enhance our internal connection to nature. A perfect stone of mindfulness.
A 6-7 on the hardness scale, mookaite is well suited to jewellery, especially in earrings and necklaces.
Mookaite is associated with the astrological signs of Aries, Taurus and Leo.
We hope you've fallen madly in love with the passion, energy and harmony of magenta gemstones and are ready to celebrate your radiance with these special pieces.
Because you deserve to shine✨