You can tell a lot about a person from the gemstones they wear. Would you rather have a subtle pink chocolate tourmaline, a soft pale watery blue aquamarine, or a deep blood orange garnet?
Tayma Page Allies, of Tayma Fine Jewellery in the Prince's Building in Central, said your gemstone reflects your individuality: 'Choosing a coloured gemstone is so personal, each colour is different and distinctive. They are so subjective, one person will adore blue, another will hate it.
'A diamond suits everybody. You buy one for its lack of colour, clearness and clarity; it's exactly the opposite with a coloured gemstone; you buy it for its colour and sparkle. Choose colours that delight and inspire you. Your jewels define your personality and become part of you; they allow you to be individual, and express your own style.'
Coloured gemstones are quickly becoming big business, and major jewellery houses such as Chopard, Bulgari, Asprey and Adler's are catching on, filling shop windows with an array of sparkling pieces, in all colours of the rainbow.
Roland Buser, managing director of Chopard Hong Kong agreed that people are driven by a desire to create individual style. 'The combination of sparkling diamonds, vivid shimmering colours and gemstones embody sophistication and creativity,' he said, adding that the latest trends in jewellery were feminine and playful, with a variety of different shapes and colours.
'The trend is for coloured diamonds and gemstones, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds,' said Vickie Sek, director of Christie's jewellery and jadeite department, adding that buyers at auctions were clamouring for top quality, rare stones like Burmese rubies.