Small Boxes Make a Big Impact as Jewelry Sales Soar 32% This Holiday Season

Jewelry sales soared 32% during the 2021 holiday season, according to a newly released Mastercard report.

"Smaller boxes had a big impact," the report emphasized. "Whether consumers were shopping for themselves or for loved ones, the jewelry sector experienced some of the strongest YOY (year-over-year) and YO2Y (year-over-two-year) growth."

During the traditional holiday period that spans from November 1 through December 24, jewelry sales jumped a whopping 32% over the same period of 2020. When comparing the jewelry sector's 2021 performance to the pre-pandemic numbers of 2019, the jewelry sector was up 26.2%.

The only category to grow faster was apparel, which scored a 47.3% gain in 2021 compared to 2020, and a 29% boost compared to 2019.

According to the findings from Mastercard SpendingPulse™, which measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment, overall holiday retail sales increased 8.5% in 2021 — the fastest pace in 17 years.

Consumers' pent-up desire to get back into the purchasing mode after a COVID-restricted 2020 holiday season more than compensated for their underlying concerns about higher prices, supply-chain disruptions and a new COVID variant.

Consumers shopped early. In fact, the season got its biggest boost from Black Friday and the Thanksgiving weekend. Retail sales activity during that three-day period was up 14.1%.

“Shoppers were eager to secure their gifts ahead of the retail rush, with conversations surrounding supply chain and labor supply issues sending consumers online and to stores in droves,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and Chairman of Saks Incorporated.

The retail sales success was seen across multiple channels, as in-store sales grew 8.1% in 2021 versus 2020, and online sales surged by 11% over that same period.

According to the report, holiday season e-commerce accounted for 20.9% of total retail sales, up from 20.6% in 2020 and 14.6% in 2019.

Mastercard SpendingPulse™ reports on US retail sales across all payment types. The findings are based on aggregate sales activity in the Mastercard payments network, coupled with survey-based estimates for certain other payment forms, such as cash and check. “US retail sales” are defined as sales at retailers and food service merchants of all sizes. Services sectors, such as airlines and lodging, are not included.

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com. Chart by Mastercard SpendingPulse™.

1,750-Year-Old 'Good Shepherd' Ring Discovered Off the Coast of Caesarea, Israel

Two ships that sank in the exact location more than 1,000 years apart in the ancient port city of Caesarea are yielding a bounty of jewelry, gems, coins and artifacts for the Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

Among the rarest and most fascinating items pulled from the ocean floor is a thick gold ring set with a greenish-blue gemstone carved with the figure of a young shepherd boy dressed in a tunic and carrying a ram or a sheep on his shoulders. The depiction of the "Good Shepherd" is one of the earliest images used in Christianity for symbolizing the compassionate and benevolent characteristics of Jesus.

The ring was recovered from the remains of the older of the two wrecks and dates to the third century AD. The jewelry was likely owned by someone of a very high position who was also an early practitioner of Christianity. According to the IAA, Caesarea housed one of the first Christian communities.

Also recovered from the older wreck was a carved red gemstone that might have been set in a "gemma" ring, said the IAA. An ancient string instrument called a lyre is artfully carved into cabochon-cut stone. In Jewish tradition, the instrument is known as a "kinnor,' or King David's harp.

Both ships apparently were destroyed during violent storms while attempting to seek refuge at Caesarea, a major port that was originally built by the Roman King Herod the Great in the year 25 BC.

A team of divers from the Israeli Antiquities Authority’s Marine Archaeology Unit had been conducting a routine survey of the ocean floor near Caesarea, a town about 35 miles north of Tel Aviv, when they encountered the wrecked hulls of two ships at a depth of about 4 meters (13 feet).

The marine treasures included the following:

• Hundreds of silver and bronze Roman coins from the mid-third century AD.
• A large hoard of 560 silver coins from the Mamluk period (14th century AD).
• A bronze figurine in the form of an eagle (symbolizing Roman rule).
• A figurine of a Roman pantomimus in a comic mask.
• Numerous bronze bells (used to ward off evil spirits).
• Pottery vessels.
• An inkwell.
• Multiple metal items from the hull of a wooden ship, including dozens of large bronze nails, lead pipes from a bilge pump and a large iron anchor broken in pieces — attesting to the force it withstood until it finally snapped, probably in a storm.

Check out the IAA's informative video about the treasures recovered from the Caesarea wrecks…

Credits: Photos by Yaniv Berman and Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority.

'Thank You, By the Way' Ad Campaign Gets a Boost From Indian Export Association

Back in August of this year, the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) unveiled its global ad campaign titled, “Thank You, By the Way,” with the mission of communicating the massive socioeconomic benefits generated by the natural diamond industry.

The campaign addressed the concerns of jewelry consumers who, now more than ever, want to know where their products come from, and the impact their purchases have on the producing countries and local communities.

Created with the support of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the campaign illustrated how choosing a natural diamond positively influences the lives of millions of people in the most remote corners of the earth.

In a pre-Christmas press release, the NDC announced that it will be magnifying the “Thank You, By the Way” messaging by partnering with a leading India-based trade group called the Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

"In order to achieve long-term sustainability in our industry, we need to adapt a 360-degree approach," said Colin Shah, chairman of the GJEPC. "The association with the Natural Diamond Council does just that, by highlighting the contributions made and recognizing the vital role of the trade in bringing the community together, touching lives and making a real difference. The sector has always taken a 'do good' approach and we will continue to do so in the future."

The GJEPC has spearheaded a number of philanthropic initiatives, including aid to orphanages, schools, old age homes, hospitals and other similar causes in India and around the world. What's more, the natural diamond sector helps 2 million Indians secure their livelihoods.

NDC's omnichannel ad campaign is built around a core of critical facts related to the socioeconomic and community benefits of the natural diamond industry. The series of creative executions can be seen across NDC's social media channels, with a dedicated page on Only Natural Diamonds.

Here are some headlines from that page…

• "Your natural diamond has contributed to $16 billion of annual benefits for our world. That includes healthcare, jobs, education, biodiversity and infrastructure."
• "Your natural diamond provides high quality and safe jobs, as well as supports the livelihood of 10 million people worldwide."
• "Your daughter’s natural diamond jewelry is not just a gift to her, but also the reason why 4 million people get access to healthcare."
• "Your natural diamond helps educate children and empower thousands of women."
• "While your natural diamond is a sparkling symbol of your legacy, it is also a treasure trove of education for half a million children in rural communities."
• "From solar-powered clinics to groundbreaking disease management programs, your natural diamond purchase helps build a healthier future for some of the world’s most remote, vulnerable communities."
• "When you reward yourself for that much-deserved promotion with natural diamond jewelry, you help fund more than 400 women-owned businesses across Africa."

"Consumers are looking for purpose and want to know if the company they buy from has strong values and robust management systems that integrate sustainability at the core of their operations," said RJC executive director Iris Van der Veken. "The RJC certification gives that third-party assurance."

Credit: Image courtesy of The Natural Diamond Council.

Miami Dolphins Fan Misses His Own Jumbotron Marriage Proposal at Hard Rock Stadium

Did you hear about the guy who missed his own jumbotron marriage proposal during halftime of the Dolphins-Jets game at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday?

Dolphins fan Luis Llorens had arranged with the Hard Rock's special events team to propose in dramatic fashion to his girlfriend — and Jets fan — Christine Dobrin. But when the big moment arrived, Llorens was nowhere to be found.

The giant screen showed a still photo of the couple with the caption: “Christine. Will you marry me?” But when the Hard Rock's video team switched to the live shot of what was supposed to be the marriage proposal, only Dobrin was seated. Frozen in the moment, she stared at the screen with her hand over her mouth.

“I didn’t know what was going on because he wasn’t at the seats, and looking all around, between the crying and the happiness, I didn’t know where he was, so it was a whole big mix of emotions,” Dobrin told Miami FOX affiliate WSVN.

It turns out that Llorens wasn't suffering from cold feet. He was a victim of poor communications. Llorens mistakenly believed that he was supposed to meet the Hard Rock's video crew in the tunnel just below their seats.

“I was actually there," Llorens told WSVN. "People just don’t realize I was about 25 feet underneath her. I was in the tunnel.”

As soon as he realized the mistake, Llorens rushed to make the best of a bad situation.

"I had to hurry up back to my seat and do what I could do to save this,” said Llorens.

Once he was reunited with his girlfriend, Llorens delivered a proper proposal to the cheers of the well wishers in their section, and then from the whole stadium of fans. You see, the Hard Rock's video crew had followed the action and managed to catch the exact moment of the proposal on the big screen.

Connor Hughes, a writer who covers the Jets for The Atlantic was tweeting about the halftime oddities in real time.

"Amazing," Hughes tweeted. "So they just did a scoreboard proposal here at Hard Rock. However, when they cut away from this graphic to where the two are supposed to be sitting, the guy wasn’t there! Just the girl, sitting there, hand over mouth! Dude must have been in the concession line lol."

Hughes' followers on Twitter enjoyed taking light-hearted jabs at the hapless Llorens, who had yet to tell his side of the story. They presumed that he was preoccupied with halftime snacks or stuck in the bathroom.

For a $500 donation, the Hard Rock Stadium special events team will post a message on the giant screen and then cut to a live shot of guests in their seats. The messages run during the last four minutes of halftime, following the on-field entertainment.

The fee is considered a donation because the funds go to the Miami Dolphins Foundation, which leverages the power of sports and entertainment to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community.

Credits: Proposal message photo via twitter.com / Connor_J_Hughes; Proposal screen captures via twitter.com / derekdferny.

Engagement Season's New Look: Most Popular Proposal Date Slides to Number 3

Welcome to what is normally the pinnacle of "Engagement Season," the time of the year between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day when 40 percent of all marriage proposals take place.

For years, Christmas Day was the most popular day to get engaged, followed by a wintry mix of favorites that included Christmas Eve, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Day and New Year's Eve.

But, COVID threw a monkey wrench into the long-standing proposal patterns, and Christmas Day was surprisingly unseated in 2020, according to WeddingWire's 2021 Newlywed Report, which covered engagement-related activities throughout the full year of 2020.

Christmas had always been a time when families and friends came together from far and wide to celebrate the spirit of the season. It was also the perfect time to pop the question because loved ones were present to participate in the festivities.

But Christmas 2020 was very different from previous Christmases. Some states implemented COVID-related travel restrictions and many holiday travelers decided to stay home. The end result was that couples that otherwise would have gotten engaged on Christmas Day pushed their proposals into other parts of the calendar.

According to the most recent stats from WeddingWire, Valentine's Day is now the most popular day of the year to get engaged. Cupid's Day was followed by New Year's Day, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and the Fourth of July (Independence Day). Interestingly, a bunch of warmer weather weekend dates, such as June 20th, September 12th, October 10th and May 16th cracked the list, presumably because of the prevalence of COVID-inspired fresh air proposals.

Outdoor proposals were huge in 2020, according the WeddingWire. Exactly 31% of its respondents said that they proposed in a scenic, outdoor location. Popping the question also tended to be more low-key, intimate and spontaneous.

These were the Top 5 Days to Get Engaged in 2020, according to WeddingWire...

Valentine's Day #1. The team at WeddingWire believes that the most romantic day of the year nabbed the top spot on the list because the February 14th holiday actually took place just before COVID swept through the US.

New Year’s Day #2. This date moved up from third place in the previous survey. Clearly, a lot of couples chose to kick off the new year on a high note.

Christmas Day #3. The perennial favorite moved down to third place for reasons already mentioned.

Christmas Eve #4. A joyful time to share a festive meal, sit in front of a fireplace and open a present or two ahead of Christmas Day was also a great time to pop the question for many of WeddingWire's respondents.

Fourth of July (Independence Day) #5. This warm-weather holiday moved all the way up from the 10th spot in WeddingWire's previous survey. As the popular bridal site explained, most people have off from work on Independence Day and summertime in 2020 meant more opportunity for outdoor (and COVID-safer) activities and proposals.

We expect to see the top engagement dates rejiggered once again in WeddingWire's 2022 report.

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com

NBA Star Trae Young Pops the Question With Oval-Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

Atlanta Hawks' star point guard Trae Young popped the question to his college girlfriend Shelby Miller on Thursday with a stunning oval-cut diamond in a halo setting. Young shared with his four million Instagram followers a bunch of candid pics of the actual proposal.

He captioned his post, "What a night," and added two ring emojis and the hashtag "FutureMrsYoung."

On her own Instagram page, the former Oklahoma Sooners cheerleader posted similar pics and captioned them, "Forever Young" punctuated by a grey heart.

With a ring box gripped in his left hand, the NBA's second-leading scorer kneeled on a bed of white rose petals against a backdrop of white and blue balloons and a sign that read, "Marry Me."

One of the Instagram photos shows Miller overcome with emotion, holding her right hand over her mouth as Young is just about to propose. In another photo, the newly engaged Miller joyfully shows her new ring to the camera.

The oval shape has been trending lately, as a cavalcade of stars have chosen this shape — a cut that flatters the wearer by making the finger appear longer and slimmer. Among the most recent celebs to join the "Oval Club" are Kourtney Kardashian, Ariana Grande and Tay Dome, the new fianceé of actor Taylor Lautner.

Young, 23, and Miller, 25, have been dating since 2017. They met at the University of Oklahoma, where he became a top NBA prospect after his freshman year.

The 6 ft 1 in, 164 lb playmaker they call "Ice Trae" is currently second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.3 points per game in the first half of an All Star-caliber season. In August of this year, he signed a new deal with the Hawks that's worth at least $172 million.

Credits: Images via Instagram.com / traeyoung.

Music Friday: Here's How the Scrapped Song ‘Tinkle Bell’ Became a Holiday Classic

Welcome to another Christmas Edition of Music Friday when bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, we present Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell singing the original 1951 version of “Silver Bells,” a holiday favorite that was nearly scrapped, according to songwriter Ray Evans.

A 91-year-old Evans revealed to NPR’s radio audience in 2006 the “stupid, stupid” backstory of “Silver Bells” and its first, off-putting incarnation — “Tinkle Bell.”

Evans and his writing partner, Jay Livingston, were under contract for Paramount Studios when they were assigned to write a Christmas song for The Lemon Drop Kid, a comedy starring Bob Hope. Evans and Livingston believed the world already had too many Christmas songs and were underwhelmed with the task at hand.

Sitting at facing desks in a shared office, the pair was inspired by a little bell that sat on one of the desks.

“We said, ‘Ahh, there’s our theme for Christmas. The bell makes a tinkly sound when it rings,’” Evans remembered. “We’ll call the song ‘Tinkle Bell.’”

When Livingston told his wife about the new song, she was astonished by the writing team's stupidity.

“Tinkle bell? Are you out of you mind?” Livingston’s wife said. “You can’t write a Christmas song with the word ‘tinkle’ in it. Don’t you know what tinkle means?”

Jay Livingston said, “I never thought of that.”

The next day, Livingston and Evans agreed that the song had to be tossed and the writing partners started working on a brand new song.

“We were ready to get rid of ‘Tinkle Bell’ completely,” said Evans, “but we liked the music and a lot of the lyrics. We ended up with the same song we started with, except ‘tinkle’ became ‘silver.’”

“It’s a stupid, stupid story,” Evans continued, “but ignorance is bliss. Our royalties are very, very good.”

The Evans and Livingston collaboration produced a string of hits that included the Oscar-winning “Buttons and Bows,” “Mona Lisa” and “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)." They wrote 26 songs that were million-sellers and, in total, recordings of their songs have sold nearly 500 million copies.

“Silver Bells” has been covered by dozens of artists spanning 70 years. The neatest of them all is the original performed by Hope and Maxwell. At the very beginning of the clip, you will see a street corner Santa played by William Frawley, who was famously Fred Mertz on the classic TV sitcom I Love Lucy. The song starts at the :40 mark.

The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...

"Silver Bells"
Written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston. Performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
and on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas Day

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
You'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas Day

Credit: Screen capture via Youtube.com.

Holiday Sales Surge: 148 Million Americans Plan to Shop on 'Super Saturday'

More than 148 million consumers plan to shop in-store and online on "Super Saturday," the last Saturday before Christmas this year, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Bolstered by what's expected to be a successful Super Saturday, December 18, the 2021 holiday season appears to be on track to exceed 2020's performance by 11.5% — a number recently revised from NRF's earlier forecast of 8.5% to 10.5%.

Overall retail sales should top $860 billion. The 11.5% is an impressive number because the average increase over the past five years has been just 4.4%.

Just over a quarter of consumers (27%) plan to shop exclusively in-store and another third (32%) plan to shop online only. But most consumers (41%) expect to use a combination of the two channels.

A record 42% planned to purchase their last gift before December 18. This figure is up from 40% a year ago and 30% in 2012 when NRF first asked this question. Some analysts believe that supply chain concerns contributed to consumers getting a jump on their shopping lists this year.

Despite the growing number of practical shoppers, a great number of procrastinators remain. More than half (52%) expect they will still be picking up last-minute gifts in the week leading up to Christmas.

Retailers also planned earlier than usual to make sure their shelves were stocked.

“Retailers began preparations for the holiday season months in advance, offering seasonal inventory early and taking preventative measures to circumvent supply chain challenges exacerbated by the pandemic," noted NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.

The majority (71%) of holiday shoppers say they have been able to find the items they are looking for most or all of the time. And optimism is high, with two-thirds (67%) indicating they are confident or very confident they will be able to find the gifts and other items needed for the holiday season this year.

In an earlier survey, the NRF revealed that about 20% of consumers picked "Jewelry" when they were asked "What type of gift would you like to receive" this holiday season. The age break-outs show that respondents ages 18-24 were the most enthusiastic about getting a jewelry gift (32%), compared to those ages 25-34 (23%), 35-44 (25%), 45-54 (18%), 55-64 (14%) and 65+ (12%).

As noted in NRF’s Thanksgiving survey, more than half (54%) of holiday shoppers took advantage of early holiday sales and promotions even before the Thanksgiving holiday. In fact, nearly 180 million Americans shopped during the five-day period from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday.

The Super Saturday survey of 7,453 adult consumers was conducted November 24 through December 3 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.2%.

Credit: Image by Bigstockphoto.com.

'The Chipembele Crash' Avatars to Generate Funds for Rhino Conservation

Six emerald-themed avatars called "The Chipembele Crash” are being auctioned in a very unique way to raise financial support for the black rhinoceros conservation efforts in Zambia, home of Gemfields’ famous Kagem mine.

The six rhino avatars are being sold as NFTs — non-fungible tokens — on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace.

NFTs are pieces of digital content linked to the blockchain, the same digital database underpinning cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin. NFTs are typically used to buy and sell digital artwork.

Even though images of the rhino avatars may be widely distributed, the winning bidder of the NFT can claim ownership of the original. The winner will also have the ability to unlock exclusive content. In this case, it is an exclusive photo of the avatar’s real-life counterpart in Zambia. Bids will close at 4:42pm EST on December 19.

If you're wondering how The Chipembele Crash got its name, “Chipembele” means rhinoceros in the local indigenous dialect of Bemba and “crash” is a term used to describe a group of rhinos.

The announcement of The Chipembele Crash NFT coincides with Gemfields’ sale of the largest emerald ever discovered at its Kagem mine. The 7,525-carat "Chipembele" emerald was recently sold for an undisclosed sum to Isreali-based Eshed-Gemstar, a worldwide diamond and emerald supplier.

Gemfields noted that Eshed-Gemstar will benefit from the unique DNA nanoparticle tagging carried by Chipembele. Developed by Provenance Proof, the DNA tagging technology ensures that the cut-and-polished gems that Chipembele yields can be identified and certified as having originated from this extraordinary gemstone.

Each of the six avatars is inspired by a real-life rhino from the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) in Zambia. Their names are Intanda, Kango, Mapalo, Mwamba, Subilo and Tamala.

The unique green body color of each avatar is actually a photographic representation of the emerald inclusions seen inside Chipembele. Each avatar carries the individual ear-notch of the animal, and is outfitted with human accessories that hint at the rhino’s distinctive personality.

Funds raised from the sale of each avatar will go to the North Luangwa Conservation Programme to aid critical black rhinoceros conservation efforts. Those funds will be added to the donation Gemfields has already pledged from the sale of the Chipembele emerald.

"Gemfields is excited to embrace innovative technology in supporting conservation efforts in Africa,” said Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields. “We are delighted to celebrate the Chipembele emerald in this manner and to promote our belief in ‘conservation gemstones.’ The Chipembele Crash NFTs are fun, unique and rooted in supporting the vital efforts of Zambia’s North Luangwa Conservation Programme. We hope that the NFTs appeal to likeminded thinkers and secure meaningful donations to help even more black rhinos in Zambia.”

NFT bidding runs through the afternoon of December 19 at this website.

Credits: Images courtesy of Gemfields.

Pantone's Dynamic Periwinkle Blue 'Very Peri' Is the Color of the Year for 2022

"Very Peri," a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with an intense violet-red undertone, is Pantone's Color of the Year for 2022.

Blending the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red, this happiest and warmest of all the blue hues introduces an empowering mix of newness, according to The Pantone Color Institute. Consumers who embrace Very Peri fashion items will be accessorizing with fine jewelry featuring amethyst, tanzanite, iolite, spinel or violet sapphire.

The spinels shown, above, were sourced in Vietnam and are now part of the Smithsonian's National Gem Collection.

The selection of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri marks the first time the international color authority has cooked up a brand new color and then instantly designated it as the Color of the Year.

According to Pantone, Very Peri displays a carefree confidence and a daring curiosity that animates our creative spirit. The inquisitive and intriguing color helps us to embrace this altered landscape of possibilities, opening us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives.

“As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family,” noted Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute. “Encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone, Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.”

The confident and joyful "Veri Peri" of 2022 is a far cry from Pantone's Colors of the Year for 2021 — “Ultimate Grey” and “Illuminating” yellow. In the midst of a global pandemic, the experts at Pantone were torn between a grey color that symbolized rock solid fortitude and a yellow color that represented sunny optimism. In the end, they chose both.

Now, as the world is emerging from an intense period of isolation, our notions and standards are changing, Pantone explained.

“The Pantone Color of the Year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that color can hope to answer,” added Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.

Each year since 2000, the color experts at Pantone have picked a color that reflects the current cultural climate. Typically, Pantone’s selection influences product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.

Here are the Pantone Colors of the Year dating back to 2014…

PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue (2020)
PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral (2019)
PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet (2018)
PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity (2016)
PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala (2015)
PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)

Credits: Screen capture, color swatches via Pantone.com. Spinel photo by Ken Larsen / Smithsonian.