Stuller’s Color of the Year Is a Stark Contrast to Pantone’s White

This week, Stuller unveiled its color of the year, “Signature Red,” which it described as a “bold yet timeless hue.”

Lafayette, La.—According to Stuller, the color of the year for 2026 is not “Pantone 11-4201 Cloud Dancer” but a fiery shade its calls “Signature Red.” 

Stuller said it selected this “bold yet timeless hue” to help guide design and storytelling, noting that red has “symbolized power, artistry, and transformation, maintaining a strong presence across art, fashion, and culture both historically and today.”

The jewelry supplier and manufacturer’s choice stands in stark contrast to Pantone’s pick, which is a crisp shade of white the color institute described as a symbol of “calming influence in a frenetic society.”

Signature Red is Stuller’s second color of year pick. The company chose its first, a shade of green called “Rooted,” in 2025.  

A company spokesperson said the selection of Signature Red was not a reaction to Pantone picking a shade of white, a choice many on social media described as tone-deaf, boring, and not a color.

Stuller’s color of the year was in development before Pantone’s announcement in December as the company’s “color experts” studied global trends, cultural influence, market insights, and gemological significance to pick a hue they believe will reflect the year ahead. 

Red is, most obviously, the color of one of the “big three”—the ruby—but there also are red spinels, garnets (January’s birthstone), zircons, tourmalines, and for those who can afford them, red diamonds.

“In the world of precious stones, red represents one of the rarest colors found in nature,” said Alissa Talbot, Stuller’s executive director of diamonds and gemstones.

“Signature Red embodies the uniqueness of both the color and the wearer, reflecting a current trend of consumers desiring jewelry filled with meaning, symbolism, and individuality.”

Stuller is not the only company to depart from Pantone and pick its own color of the year.

Paint companies traditionally select a focal hue each year as a way of marketing their brand.

For 2026, Benjamin Moore selected “Silhouette,” Behr picked “Hidden Gem,” Valspar chose “Warm Eucalyptus,” and Glidden went with “Warm Mahogany.”

In the social media world, Pinterest said it expects an icy shade of blue to be trending in 2026, a prediction based on searches on its site. 

For more information on Stuller’s 2026 color of the year and to view its Signature Red offerings, visit its website.