While it’s definitely an enjoyable experience, jewelry-shopping comes with a dilemma: choosing the perfect piece. Now that stores are offering a myriad of jewelry in different styles and materials, settling on what item you should get is a challenge. When buying jewelry, people naturally focus on their personal preferences (i.e., what they think looks good). They may check out trends and go with the piece that’s currently en vogue. Some also get inspiration from their favorite celebrities and choose items similar to what they’re sporting. Although there’s nothing wrong with basing your decision on these factors, it’s essential to first determine which jewelry tones suit your skin best.
Admit it–skin tone isn’t one of the first things that come to mind when you’re buying jewelry. It’s understandable, considering that purchasing decisions are almost always influenced by what the majority says looks good. Some women might look fabulous wearing rose gold jewelry, but that doesn’t mean it will have the same vibe when you wear it. No piece of jewelry metal looks the same on every person; it all boils down to your skin tone and color.
Which Jewelry Tones Suit Your Skin Best?
Much like makeup, the right piece of jewelry can either make or break your style. Your accessories help accentuate your natural beauty, so it’s only necessary for you to know which one would suit you best. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll tell you what jewelry metals would look great on you based on your skin tone. We’ll also discuss how you can determine if you fall under the warm, cool, or neutral categories. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “do I look better in silver or gold?” you’ll have your answer by the end of this reading. Once you get to the bottom of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of the correlation between jewelry and your skin tone, which, in turn, will help you pick out that perfect piece of jewelry.
What Is My Skin Tone?
Jewelry rests against your epidermis, which means that its contrast against your skin is highly visible. Certain metals and gemstones look great with certain skin tones, so you should identify which category you fall under. Having this knowledge will help you choose the piece that will complement your skin perfectly.
The difference between skin tone and skin color
Before we proceed to the meat of the matter, let’s first define the difference between skin tone and skin color. People often use these terms interchangeably, but they don’t refer to the same thing. In simplest terms, skin color is the surface skin color, while skin tone (aka undertone) is the subtle hue underneath the surface. The amount of melanin or skin pigment in the uppermost layer of the skin determines what a person’s skin tone would be.
Skin color is affected by environmental factors, while skin tone stays the same regardless of what the skin surface is exposed to. For example, if you get sunburnt, your skin color will change to a darker shade, but your skin tone will remain the same.
There are three main types of skin colors: light, medium, and deep. There are also three main types of skin tones: warm, cool, and neutral.
How to determine your skin tone
Determining your skin tone might sound like a tricky process, but it’s not. There are a lot of ways you can do it.
1. Vein test
Observe the color of your veins underneath your wrists. If they appear blue or purple in color, you most probably have a cool skin tone. If they look greenish, you have a warm undertone. If you can’t tell the prominent color of your veins or if it looks blue-green, you probably have a neutral skin tone.
2. White paper test
Find natural light and hold a piece of white paper next to your face. If your skin appears more yellow, you’re probably warm. If it looks pinkish, you’re most likely cool.
3. Color test
If wearing cool colors like blue suits you, you have a cool undertone. But if warm colors like yellow look better on you, you have a warm undertone. If any shade of clothing looks great on you, you most probably have a neutral undertone.
4. Sun test
When you’re out in the sun, does your skin tan easily without the burning sensation? If yes, you likely have more melanin in your skin; therefore, you have a warm or neutral undertone. But if your skin turns red and burns but doesn’t tan, you fall under the cool category due to a lower melanin count.
Knowing your undertone matters because it will help you pick out the right jewelry, makeup, clothing, and hair color. Try the methods above and see under which category you belong to.
Which Jewelry Tones Suit Your Skin Best?
Now that you’ve figured out your undertone, it’s time to explore the most common jewelry metals and determine which ones will complement your skin tone. Whether you’re warm, cool, or neutral, the jewelry metals you choose will make a difference in whether you’re rocking that piece to its full potential.
Yellow gold
This metal is an alloy of pure gold, silver, and copper or zinc, which results in the vibrant yellow color we commonly associate with gold jewelry. The higher the karat, the higher the amount of gold in the piece, which equates to a stronger yellow hue and a steeper price tag.
It’s great for people who have warmer undertones, as the warm yellow tones of this metal bring out the glow of people with this skin color without washing it out. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “does gold look better on darker skin?“, the answer will still depend on what your skin undertone is. People with dark skin don’t necessarily possess warm skin tones. Similarly, people with light skin don’t necessarily have cool undertones. Yellow gold on pale skin can look washed out, so steer clear of this metal if you belong to this category.
Does gold or silver look better on dark skin? The best jewelry for dark skin tone is also of yellow gold material as this rich color would look elegant and striking on people with darker skin.
Silver
As pure silver is too malleable to be made into jewelry, what you’ll find in the market instead is sterling silver or 925 silver. It’s named as such because it contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. People with cool skin tones love wearing jewelry of this material because its silvery-white hue makes them look more luminous.
And since we’re already on the topic of silver, let’s talk about what skin tone does silver hair looks good on. A lot of people have been jumping on the silver hair bandwagon in recent years, and we can’t blame them. This hue looks super chic and elegant. Maybe you’ve already got photos of silver foxes saved on your Pinterest for inspiration, and now you’re wondering if you could pull off this color.
Gray hair comes in many undertones, so you have to make sure that you choose the right silver tone that would work well with your skin. If you don’t, the wrong color can have an unflattering effect on your skin. If you have a warm undertone, go for more neutral gray colors and avoid anything that’s too blue-based. Opt for gunmetal grays and platinum silver–they will surely look beautiful against your skin.
If you have a cool or neutral skin tone, you’re very lucky because you can pull off that coveted pure silver color. You won’t even have to worry if it’s leaning towards blue; it would suit you still.
White gold
This metal is an alloy of pure gold and white metal, which could be nickel, silver, or palladium. The resulting material has a light gray color with undertones of yellow. White gold has the same karat rating as yellow gold, and this metal’s cool and silvery tones will complement individuals with cooler skin tones. On the other hand, it could look washed out on a person with a warm skin tone.
Platinum
Jewelry made from this material are famous for durability and resistance to tarnishing–a jewelry lover’s biggest enemy. Platinum makes for a great wedding band as this metal is meant to last a lifetime. Pure platinum is slightly soft, so jewelry of this metal is usually composed of 95% platinum, and the remaining 5% are other metals such as palladium, cobalt, and tungsten. Like silver, platinum is another example of a cool skin tone jewelry. Cool-toned people would find this metal more flattering for them as compared to individuals who have warm undertones.
Rose gold
This metal has been growing increasingly popular in recent years because of its feminine pink hue. Rose gold is composed of pure gold, a dash of silver, and copper, the reddish-brown metal responsible for its pink tinge. The higher its copper content, the deeper the rose color of the jewelry.
What skin tone looks good in rose gold? It’s better for people who have warmer skin tones because of its rosy-orange shade. However, it’s rich and warm hue makes it flattering for every skin tone as it brings out the natural blush in a person’s skin. Because of this, it has become a favorite among cooler toned people as well. The versatility of this metal means that the best skin tone for rose gold is any skin tone!
The Right Gemstones for Your Skin Tone
Now that we’re done with jewelry metals, it’s time to discuss gemstones. Gemstone color should also be a consideration when buying jewelry as it can impact your overall look. Precious stones such as rubies, sapphires, and emeralds come in a myriad of colors and shades, and their particular hues can make or break how the piece would look on you.
Determining which gemstone color would look best on your skin tone is as important as finding the jewelry metal that would complement it. Below, we’ve listed the gemstone colors you should be looking out for when buying jewelry.
Gems for warm skin tones
Warm tones include shades of orange, yellow, gold, yellow-greens, and orange-reds. Warmer version of cool shades like olive and violet-red would also look great on them.
Yellow Topaz
This November birthstone boasts of a bright yellow color that exudes warmth. It will surely blend in with your warm-hued skin.
Garnet
This pomegranate red January birthstone looks amazing against warm-toned skin.
Morganite
If millennial pink is a gemstone, then this one is it. This blushing stone gives warmth reminiscent of the metal rose gold.
Gems for cool skin tones
Cool tone colors include deep purple, bright blue, bluish-pinks/purples/reds, and emerald. Silver and gray would also complement people with cool skin tones.
Amethyst
The February gemstone, with its deep purple hue, is perfect for cool-toned skin.
Emerald
This gem comes in different shades of green, but the one that would favor a cool skin tone best is a gem with a lighter hue of this color.
Tanzanite
This is one of the rarest gems in the world as it can only be found near Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s violet in color and has a hint of red in its depth and color scheme.
Gems for neutral skin tones
People who belong under the neutral category are fortunate as any metal and gemstone color would suit them. However, some say that a muted version of a gemstone color would look best on a neutral skin tone. A few examples are dusty pink, jade green, or lagoon blue.
Diamonds
Diamonds are indeed a woman’s best friend as they don’t discriminate! Because of this crystal’s nearly colorless feature and clean appearance, it’s no surprise that it would look great on anyone.
Pearl
Pearls come in many colors, such as blush pink, cream, and even black. But the hue that would complement anyone is its traditional creamy variant.
Opal
These gems boast of dimensions of color, and this unique quality is what makes them the best gemstones for dark skin and an ideal gemstone for all skin tones.
Find the Right Jewelry For Your Skin Tone
As jewelry rests against your skin, its contrast is highly visible, whether you have warm, cool, or neutral undertones. That’s why it’s crucial that you first determine your skin tone before purchasing any type of jewelry. You can try the three tests mentioned above–vein, white paper, and color–to figure out what skin tone you have. As gemstones and jewelry usually go together, it’s also essential that you identify what gemstone color looks best on you based on your skin tone.
While this only serves as a guideline, having this knowledge will take a lot of the guesswork out of picking the right jewelry and will help you avoid impulsive buying. Remember to pin this article on your phone’s browser, so you have a reference the next time you go shopping for your next piece!
If you’re on the lookout for a unique piece to add to your jewelry collection, you might want to check this guide we created on black metal rings.