Yellow gold lends sparkle to dull winter days

	JEWELRY GALLERY

From Elsa Klensch
CNN Style Correspondent

(CNN) -- Say goodbye to the cool look of precious metals. Designers are turning to the warm glow of yellow gold -- in both shiny and matte finishes.

The move is apparent in Manhattan's Fifth Avenue jewelry boutiques.

John Loring, design director for Tiffany & Co., calls yellow gold the ultimate fashion accessory for winter.

"It just lends that kind of glitter and an excitement to an evening that people once again are looking for. It's not dressing down any more; it's dressing up," he says.

Designer Paloma Picasso is celebrating her 20th year at Tiffany with a collection in polished gold.

"She's used it in a wonderful figure-eight chain set of jewelry called Monaco," Loring explains. "I think it implies the glamour of getting dressed and going out and celebrating."

While Loring also praises the look of platinum -- "it keeps the diamond pure and white" -- he feels there is something warm about the combination of gold and diamonds.

Elsa Peretti uses yellow gold for several new pieces in her new collection, which is inspired by the sea. Among them are a large starfish and a bracelet that coils around the wrist.

Roberto Stern, creative director for H. Stern, says today's gold jewelry has to be light and comfortable, unlike the rigid, heavy pieces of the past.

"It's like clothing. People have to feel that gold is like part of their skin," Stern says.

At Van Cleef & Arpels, Chief Executive Nathalie Guedj likes yellow gold, because it emphasizes the spectacular quality of diamonds.

"When you want to have something more brilliant, yes, probably, you use yellow gold. When you want to have something much more understated, you will use white gold."

With the movement toward a more flamboyant fashion look, yellow gold jewelry is the likely choice.

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Tiffany & Co.
Van Cleef & Arpels

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