Yellow and white gold top choice for diamond jewelry

Gold, whether yellow or white, remains the top choice for exquisite diamond jewelry, according to a study published today.

The US June Omnibus Study by the Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council (JCOC) found that both forms of gold were the ideal accompaniment to diamonds for the majority of the 3,161 respondents.

Some 83 per cent of the respondents own gold and diamond pieces, sales of which reached US $31.5 billion last year, according to the JCOC.

The study also reveals that women are increasingly treating themselves to gold and diamond jewelry, with almost 70 per cent of those who own such items having purchased at least one of them for themselves in the past.

Diamond and gold stud earrings are the preferred item, with 58 per cent of respondents owning a pair, whilst more than a third (36 per cent) own diamond earrings in a different style, and more than a quarter has a diamond/gold tennis bracelet.

When shopping for new pieces, price, style, design and quality are the most important attributes, the JCOC found.