The Gatwards guide to choosing the right jewellery for your skin tone

While we should all feel free to wear the jewellery we want, we should be aware of which pieces of jewellery complement our shape and colouring the best. After all, why look good when you look great? With this in mind, here is our guide to picking the right jewellery for your skin tone.

Finding your skin tone

Skin tone falls into two categories - warm and cool. Many people get their skin tone wrong, thinking their pale skin must be cool, or that darker skin is obviously warm. 

Warm and cool does not refer to light and dark but rather the colour of the undertones of your skin. Here’s how to find yours.

Locate a part of your body where your veins are visible. The wrist usually makes a good reference point.  If the veins look blue, you are probably have a cool skin tone. If your veins have more of a greenish colour you probably have a warm skin tone.

People with warm skin tones will notice yellow or apricot undertones to their skin. They tend to look peachy rather than pink and are likely to go a more golden colour rather than brown or bronze. Famous people with warm skin tones include Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan and Beyonce.

Those with cool skin tones will have pink or reddish undertones to their skin. They will look pink rather than peachy and are more likely to be described as brown’ or bronze’ rather than ‘golden’ when they have a tan. Famous people with cool skin tones include Megan Fox, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Campbell and Kiera Knightley.

Choosing a metal

For warm skin

Traditional yellow gold will complement the golden undertones of your skin, as will bronze and copper coloured jewellery.

For cool skin

Silver coloured jewellery will sparkle against the pink undertones. Choose silver, platinum or white gold.

Choosing a gemstone

For warm skin

Blues, purples and pinks will look dull and harsh against warm skin tones. Go for earth coloured gemstones, such as amber and golden topaz. Rich rubies and earthy emeralds will beautifully complement your skin tones as with the olive tones of peridot and jade. Stick to creamy colours rather than brilliant white when choosing pearls and avoid black, which can look draining on warmer skin
tones.

For cool skin

Reds, oranges, yellows and earth tones should be avoided. Go for bright vibrant shades of pink purple and blue. Think pink sapphires, beautiful amethysts and dazzling sapphires. Cool skin tones also carry off monochrome shades very well so experiment with striking onyx and brilliant white pearls.