There’s something electric in the air when it comes to gemstones in recent years. More people than ever are choosing stones not just for their sparkle, but for their story, personality, and colour. If you’re considering a gemstone for your engagement ring (or just love looking), here’s what might be on the rise in 2026, and how to pick a hue that feels like you.

 

What Colours Are Coming Into the Spotlight

Teals, Greens & Serene Blues

Cool-toned gemstones are having a moment. Teal sapphires, emerald ombrés, Australian boulder opals, and Hunter’s Green tourmalines are showing up in collections forecasting for 2026. These stones bring a quiet strength and calming feel. 

Alternative & Subtle Hues

Beyond the classics: softer shades like peach, lavender, blush pinks, and the breeze-soothing tones of aquamarine are growing in popularity. These are perfect if you want colour, but something gentle, romantic. 

Rich, Warm Reds & Deep Colours

Bold reds and passionate tones, rubies, garnets, warm citrines, and rich browns or chocolate diamonds, are carving out space alongside softer palettes. These often pair beautifully with warm metals and vintage or statement settings. 

Sustainability & Ethically-Sourced Colour

It’s not just what colour the stone is, it’s also where it came from, how it was made. Lab-grown gems, recycled stones, traceable sources, these are not “nice extras” anymore; they’re part of what people expect. Colour trends are being shaped by ethics, not just aesthetics. 

Choosing Colours That Suit You

When selecting a colour, think of it like choosing part of your visual identity. Here are some tips to help:

Check your skin’s undertone.

Cool undertones tend to suit jewel-tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, cool pinks; warm undertones glow in yellows, warm reds, peach, gold-leaning stones. Neutral tones mean you can experiment freely. The “vein test” (green vs blue veins), how your skin reacts to sun, or whether you think gold or silver flatter you more can help. 

 

Consider your daily life.

Will you be wearing the ring every day, outdoors, working with your hands? Darker tones or stones with inclusions can hide wear and tear. Also think about how it will look under everyday light vs evening light.

 

Metal matters.

The colour of the metal (yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, platinum) can enhance or clash with a stone’s hue. Warm metals intensify warm-toned stones; cooler metals bring out the clarity and cooler tones of stones like sapphires or emeralds. If you have a favourite metal finish, pick a stone that harmonises with it.

 

Setting & cut shape can enhance colour.

Bezel settings or halo styles can help mute or intensify a stone. Faceting (step, brilliant, mixed cuts) affects how colour plays in light. For example, oval or radiant shapes tend to show off colour depth, while a bezel or lower profile setting can help protect coloured stones and keep them looking vibrant daily.

 

Which Settings & Styles Enhance Colour

Here are some settings and styles that bring out gemstone colour beautifully:

• Halo or pave accents in white diamonds: contrast that makes the central colour pop.
• East-west or orientation settings that allow more surface area to catch light.
• Bezel settings or partial bezels for coloured stones, providing both protection and a frame of colour.
• Mixed metal settings (e.g. warm band + cooler accent stones, or two tones) give dynamic contrast.
• Textured metal (matte, hand-forged finishes) around the stone to let the colour sing without glare.

 

Looking Ahead: What SPJ Thinks Will Be Big

From where we’re sitting in the studio, here are some predictions:

• Deeper teals and muted greens will continue climbing, they feel both dramatic and wearable.
• Stones that shift colour depending on light or depth (e.g. teal sapphire, Montana sapphire) will draw people looking for uniqueness.
• Clients will increasingly want lab-grown colour stones or responsibly sourced coloured stones.
• Warm metals (yellow, rose gold) are going to make strong comebacks, especially with coloured stones, supporting that vintage-meets-modern contrast that feels alive.

 

Colour in gemstones isn’t just about what you see, it’s about how you feel when the light hits the stone, when it rests on your hand, when it’s part of your life. In 2026, the most exciting gemstone trends are those that feel personal, meaningful, and beautifully coloured in ways that tell your story.