Swarovski reboots new look Gem Visions for Spring Summer 2019

Gem Visions will now be presented twice yearly, each issue with a seasonal slant, so that the first new-look Gem Visions is targeted specifically on Spring/Summer 2019.

The dynamically different design, and notebook layout, with a fresh, playful freedom, are intended to ignite innovation, stimulate imagination and capture the essence of the season’s theme: YES TO ALL.

In the edition of Gem Visions Swarovski embrace and invite freedom of creative expression, celebrate free spirits and thinkers, a sense of liberation in all facets of design, concept, color, form, craftsmanship, a new freedom in gem-cutting and setting.

Looking ahead to spring 2019, we nurture today’s youth-fueled collective imagination, and the energy and ingenuity that drive change and progress, shaping social and cultural megatrends and diversity of design direction. Swarovski explore colours, mixing them with fantasy and originality, to harness their energy and the energy of light, which together make up the heart and soul of every gemstone.

Inside the new lively magazine-style Gem Visions, as always you will find both in-depth, authoritative research and analysis of global megatrends, and our projected design directions, backed up with influences, icons and inspirations. This year, however, Swarovski have integrated the design directions into the text, throughout the book, reinforcing their relevance through short, sharp trend-related editorial features and news items, showing how these social, cultural, fashion and design shifts are making their presence felt in the world.

New too for Gem Visions, Spring/Summer 2019, is a special focus feature: as the new freedom of thought and spirit is led by the millennials who are shaping our future and our consciousness, Swarovski take an informative look back at times of similar social and cultural revolution, specifically the 1960s and 70s, showing just how the “swinging” and “disco” decades impacted jewellery design, fashion and lifestyles.

Spring / Summer 2019

This season, Swarovski started by delving deep into three social and cultural megatrends, showing the design directions that Swarovski believe each will generate, along with relevant market insights and key items of jewellery:

1. Millennials: 
   It’s what everyone is talking about:  examine the profound changes brought about by Millennials, especially in the realms of luxury and communication, and ask how the jewellery world is responding. Swarovski highlight Chopard’s collaboration with Rihanna, journey to exotic places with the Digital Nomads, analyze the Millennial preference for experience and emotion over material possessions, and the fixation with an “Insta-Life”.
2. Retail Revolution: 
   As radical change sweeps the retail landscape, transforming the way we shop, the long-established ritual of the jewellery purchase seems out of date. Here Swarovski looks at new jewellery-buying environments, catering to the demand for experiential, immersive storytelling in retail. Swarovski follow the latest trends in renting, sharing and the versatility offered by monthly boxes of exchangeable jewels.
3. Powerful Women: 
   The rise of the strong, fiercely individual yet resolutely feminine woman has gone hand in hand with a growing awareness of women’s issues around the world, resulting in a call to action. Over the past few years Gem Visions has tracked evolving ideals of femininity, and here Swarovski analyze the growing power of the female, the freedom of women to be themselves, whoever they want to be.

Colours – A Charismatic Chromatic Sequence - An Ode To Springtime

The trends for Spring/summer 2019, identified as ever by Swarovski consultant experts, historian, trendforecasters and influencers along with dedicated Swarovski Gemstones team, are now also incorporated into Swarovski analysis of colours and cuts suggested for the season. This season, Swarovski celebrate the gemstone itself, as the starting point of design, the spark that sets our imagination alight, their perennial inspiration. The springtime palette, Rainforest Sunrise, takes inspiration from the lush abundance and unstoppable force of rainforests and jungles, influenced by the Millennial preoccupation with gardening and houseplants, with exotic travel and adventure. The rush of colour nurtured by the huge array of new varieties, colours and tones of unusual gemstones, remains one of the strongest trends in the jewellery world. This all-embracing theme is reflected in the Rainforest palette, while the Sunrise shades evoke the rise of a new generation bursting with new creative and technological ideas, heralding a new world order.

The emphasis this season is very much on chromatic sequences of shades and tones, and as part of their meticulous colour selection, the Swarovski Gemstones team has put together a special range of Millennial pinks, from the pale rose of our Zirconia Fancy Morganite to intense, neon candy pinks, from chic contemporary beige to the warm, blush tone of the new Topaz Peach. The subtle pinks contrast with a focused range of greens, called Green Light, in which we showcase the new Zirconia Spring Green colour.

In keeping with the springtime theme, Pastel Prism comprises a group of soft, melting pastel-toned stones, including shades of blue, pink, green and yellow, encompassing stones that shine with the classic, fully-faceted brilliance for which Swarovski Gemstones is renowned, and also stones with a more muted, slightly matt, semi-opaque finish.

Cuts

Just as the colour palette is a mix of contrasts, so the selection of cuts for Spring/Summer 2019 presents two distinctly different styles: Sunray Mix cuts, strong and linear, and Liquid Cabochons, soft and organic. The Sunray Mix cuts include both classics and innovative novelties, such as Side View Cut, Triangle Step Cut, Arc Cut, Trilight Cut and Tapered Baguette cut, perfect for creating complex, modernist, geometric designs. Alternatively, Liquid Cabochons, into which Swarovski now introduce the new Zirconia Cabochon, create dreamlike, floating, fluid and organic designs to tap into the Millennial preoccupation with expanding consciousness, mindfulness and meditation.

This Gem Visions vista of colours and cuts, of light and shade, sun and rain, luminosity and luster is followed first by an overview of Brands to Watch, the brands Swarovski believe will grab consumer attention by spring 2019. This section in turn is followed by the new in-depth feature, entitled From Jet Set to Dress Down, looking at the new jewellery generations of the past, particularly the 60s and 70s, to see how social and cultural upheavals led to creative, innovative and barrier-breaking fine jewellery design.

As our gem palette of cuts and colours embodies the springtime spirit of rebirth and regeneration, Swarovski salute the dawn of a new era of dramatic change and surging creativity in our industry, and welcome you to the new, dynamic Gem Visions, Spring/Summer 2019.

www.swarovski-gemstones.com