Colour, Jewellery StyleCoral Gorgeous
The colour ‘Coral’ is just charming. Vibrant, warm and somewhat enigmatic, it’s a colour I consider one of my favourites. It may not be an everyday, everywhere colour but for most people, it is special.
Stare at this colour long enough, and you’ll see many others. It could be deep orange, hints of hot pink and an assortment of reds. Indeed, part of its charm is precisely that it evokes other lovely colours.
Coral is actually a blend of 2 colours: Red and Orange, with Red being the principal colour. For many (myself included), many colours that fall within the Red-Orange range can be considered shades of Coral.
In this post, I have even gone so far as to group some Orange-Reds (Orange being the principal colour) with Corals. That’s because the nature of this colour has much to do with the thing for which it is named: Sea Coral.
Famed for their vibrant colours and ornate, branching formations, sea coral have captured the imagination of oceanographers, marine biologists and nature lovers everywhere.
Sea Coral come in an assortment of colours including Orange-reds, yellows, pinks, etc. This is why there’s a lot of flexibility about the colours that can be considered shades of Coral. That said, traditionally, Coral falls within the range of Red-Orange and Orange-reds.
Jewellery makers and carvers also have a soft spot for sea coral. It has been used to make jewellery in many parts of the world for centuries. Here in Nigeria, Coral jewellery is considered an essential accessory for traditional weddings.
In this post, I explore the many faces of coral and some striking ways of combining it with other colours.
All The Corals
————————————————————————
~~~ 1 ~~~
Corals from Conch Pearls
Conch Pearls are a unique type of pearls produced by the specie of shellfish known as the Queen Conch (Strombus giga). It is considered a type of pearl (though not the usual kind) because it is produced by a mechanism similar to that which produces the iridescent Pearls we all love.
Conch pearls come in many shades of Pink and Pink Reds. They sometimes come in lovely shades of Red-Orange with strong hints of Coral. The conch pearls on the top left side of this picture show this beautifully.
~~~ 2 ~~~
Corals from a Padparadscha Sapphire
The Padparadscha Sapphire is absolutely stunning. Sapphires come in many colours but this rare type comes in alluring shades of red-orange with hints of pink. It is exceedingly beautiful. This particular specimen found on Pinterest shows a Padparadscha sapphire whose sparkling blend of Red and Orange hints strongly of Coral.
~~~ 3 ~~~
Corals from a Van Cleef & Arpels Brooch
This beautiful brooch features 6 coral cabonchons in pretty shades of Orange. In some places, the corals are more peach than orange. All in all, this piece of jewellery shows a different range of corals than we see above.
~~~ 4 ~~~
Corals from Nigerian Wedding Jewellery
This gorgeous coral jewellery, set as seen on Pinterest, is a perfect example of jewellery worn for traditional weddings here in Nigeria. They are usually multilayered and fulsome, framing the lady’s neck elegantly.
Traditionally, coral beads that are deeply coloured are preferred. Strong orange reds, as with this piece, as well as deep shades of red orange are the norm. The jewellery is designed to complement a woman’s traditional wedding attire and add a festive warmth and opulence to her look.
Combining Corals
————————————————————————
‘ 1 ‘
With Yellow
Combining Corals with yellow produces an instant hit. Both colours are quite warm. The yellows however, serve to brighten and accentuate the corals. Together, they strike a beautiful balance. This palette translates well in jewellery (See the Nigerian Coral Wedding jewellery above), clothing and home decor.
‘ 2 ‘
With Oxblood
Mixing Coral with Oxblood creates a very sophisticated palette. Working with peachy corals and orange-reds brings both contrast and harmony to this mix as they are much softer in tone than Oxblood and deeper Corals (more towards Red-Orange).
‘ 3 ‘
With Teal & Turquoise
This is a very attractive, high-contrast palette. It instantly makes a strong, pleasant impression. Like the first combination, this one translates well in jewellery. It will also make for gorgeous print fabrics.
‘ 4 ‘
With Brown & Beige
If you have a soft spot for neutrals and beigey browns, then this combo is for you. With this palette, you get the best of two worlds. On one hand, you have coral; a fine, vibrant colour, and on the other hand, you have the sophisticated vibe of beigey neutrals. This combo is as versatile as it is appealing.
I have learned that the best way to explore colour is by exploring nature. Nature, they say, is the best designer. Exploring nature reveals layers and layers of nuance to the colour we know as Coral.
Regardless of which way of combining coral you prefer, I am certain you now see this beautiful colour in a whole new light.
-
10Mar2015 – 2016 Crossover Fashion Trends
Ah Fashion! If you're a fashion lover you'll recognize all the trends below because we totally enjoyed them in 2015. They graced runways and were donned by our favourite celebs. They rocked our clos...
-
15JulAthleisure
We see it everywhere. It's the new cool. It looks comfy, it feels comfy and it's proudly sporty. This trend is aptly called Athleisure, a concatenation of the words 'Athletic' and 'Leisure'. It's a tr...
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.