This worked (the numbers were darkgray and there was a red dot 
separator) until the last beta or two. With the new betas, those colors 
disappear in the bodymatter mode and in appendices mode

    % When start/stop bodymatter is enabled, the number color and
    %   separator colors are lost. When they are disabled, all is
    %   as expected
    %
    \defineseparatorset[reddot][][{\color[red]{·}}]
    \setuphead[chapter][sectionseparatorset=reddot,numbercolor=darkgray]
    \setuphead[section][sectionseparatorset=reddot,numbercolor=darkgray]
    \starttext
    % \startbodymatter % enable and lose colors
         \startchapter[title={Chapter}]
           \startsection[title={Section}]
           \stopsection
         \stopchapter
    % \stopbodymatter  % enable and lose colors
    \stoptext


-- 
Rik