Ever find yourself wondering, does gold or silver jewellery suit me better? You’re definitely not the only one.
Your skin undertone can be a useful starting point when choosing between gold and silver, but it isn’t a rule you need to follow. The jewellery you feel best in will always be the right choice.
If you’re curious about why you naturally gravitate towards one metal more than the other, this guide will help you understand your undertone, which jewellery colours tend to complement it and, ultimately, whether gold, silver or a mix of both feels most like you.
What Is Your Skin Undertone?
Your undertone is the subtle colour beneath the surface of your skin. It’s different from your skin tone, so whether your skin is light, medium or deep doesn’t necessarily tell you whether your undertone is warm, cool or neutral.
Generally, undertones fall into three groups:
- Warm: golden, yellow or peachy tones
- Cool: pink, red or bluish tones
- Neutral: a balance of warm and cool tones
It isn’t always obvious which one you have, so rather than relying on a single test, it can help to look for a few different clues.
How Can You Tell If You Have a Warm or Cool Undertone?
One common way to get an idea is to look at the veins on your wrist in natural light. If they appear more blue or purple, this can suggest a cool undertone, while greener-looking veins can suggest a warmer one. If you see a mixture of both, you may be more neutral.
You can also think about the colours you naturally feel good wearing. Cooler shades such as blue, grey and crisp white may complement cooler colouring, while cream, rust and earthy shades can work particularly well with warmer colouring.
None of these are exact tests, though. Lighting and the colours around you can change how your skin appears, so think of them as clues rather than rules.
Does Gold or Silver Jewellery Suit Me Better?
Once you have an idea of your undertone, you can use it as a starting point when choosing your jewellery.
Gold Jewellery and Warm Undertones
Gold jewellery often complements warmer undertones. Its golden colour can work beautifully alongside peachy, yellow and warm tones in the skin.
If you love the look of gold, 14ct gold vermeil jewellery gives you a layer of real gold over a sterling silver base.
Not sure what gold vermeil actually means? Our guide to gold vermeil explains how it’s made, how it differs from gold-plated jewellery and what to look for when choosing a piece.
Silver Jewellery and Cool Undertones
Silver jewellery often complements cooler undertones, with its bright, cool-toned finish working particularly well alongside pink, red and bluish tones in the skin.
Sterling silver jewellery is also incredibly easy to wear, particularly if you tend to choose cooler colours or simply prefer the look of silver.
What If You Have a Neutral Undertone?
If your undertone is somewhere between warm and cool, you may find that both gold and silver suit you equally well.
That gives you plenty of freedom to switch between the two depending on your outfit, your other accessories or simply what you feel like wearing that day.
And even if your undertone isn’t neutral, there’s nothing stopping you from doing exactly the same.
Does Skin Tone Matter When Choosing Gold or Silver?
Skin tone and skin undertone aren’t the same thing.
Light, medium and deep skin tones can all have warm, cool or neutral undertones, which is why there isn’t one metal that automatically suits a particular skin tone.
Gold can add warmth, while silver gives a cooler, brighter finish. Rather than choosing jewellery based purely on your skin tone, think about the overall look you prefer and, most importantly, which metal you enjoy wearing.
Can Your Outfit Affect Whether Gold or Silver Looks Better?
Definitely. Sometimes the metal you prefer has less to do with your skin and more to do with what you’re wearing.
Gold jewellery can look particularly good with warm neutrals and earthy colours, while silver works beautifully with cooler shades and monochrome outfits.
But there are no fixed combinations. A simple silver necklace can look just as good with a warm-toned outfit, while gold earrings can add warmth to cooler colours.
It’s also why you might find yourself reaching for gold one day and silver the next.
Can You Wear Gold and Silver Jewellery Together?
Absolutely. Mixing gold and silver jewellery is an easy way to make your jewellery feel a little more personal.
Try pairing silver studs with gold huggies in an ear stack, wearing bracelets in different metals together or layering gold and silver necklaces.
When layering necklaces, varying the chain lengths can help each piece sit separately. Our necklace length guide can help you choose different lengths and work out how they’ll sit together.
For an ear stack, try combining different sizes and shapes rather than making every earring match. Our guide to huggie and hoop earrings explains the difference between the two styles and how to choose the right pair for you.
So, Should You Choose Gold or Silver Jewellery?
If you want a simple starting point:
- Warm undertones: try gold
- Cool undertones: try silver
- Neutral undertones: try both
But that’s all it is: a starting point.
If you naturally reach for silver even though you have a warm undertone, wear silver. If you love gold against cooler-toned skin, wear gold. And if you can never choose between the two, mix them.
There really isn’t a right or wrong answer. The best metal for you is the one you actually want to wear.
Explore our 14ct Gold Vermeil Jewellery and Sterling Silver Jewellery collections to find your favourite.