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Merrick, NY--The Centurion asked style expert Michael O’Connor for some key spring jewelry trends jewelers should consider adding to their merchandise mix. He highlighted four key trends:

Color. This is a huge category for jewelers to consider, says O’Connor. Color ruled the fashion runways for spring/summer 2011 ready-to-wear, and by thinking of colored stone jewelry as fashion, jewelers can sell many more pieces. A ring by Alex Sepkus, pictured above, illustrates this trend.

Color in apparel and accessories spans the rainbow this season rather than focusing on one hue or family. Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color, have named these as its Top 10 colors for spring/summer 2011: Honeysuckle (a rich pink also named as Pantone’s 2011 Color of the Year), Regatta, Coral Rose, Beeswax, Peapod, Blue Curacao, Russet, Silver Peony, Lavender, and Silver Cloud.

Pantone's Top 10 Colors for Spring/Summer 2011

Texture. “I’ve seen a variety of interesting textures, from matte finishes to blackened silver, gold, or platinum, which enhances the stones and really creates contrast,” he said.

Size. O’Connor says fashion has become more pared-down in terms of embellishments, but the size and proportion of ornamentation has been amped up. This is good news for jewelers, because heavily-embellished clothes require less jewelry, while pared-down styles need more. “A woman has to have bling somewhere!” he laughs. This season, instead of buckles, buttons, zippers, and bows, look for elements like fringe and ruffles. These new, ornamentations require jewelry whose proportions will balance them.

Finally, rose gold is becoming quite popular. O’Connor observed a huge amount of rose in non-precious watches [during the holiday season], and often mixed with white for contrast, such as this stainless steel Philip Stein watch with rose accents.

Michael O’Connor is a celebrity stylist, a frequent jewelry host on QVC, and style editor of QVC.com.