Ever notice how some jewelry just looks amazing on you, while other pieces fall flat? Your skin tone plays a huge role. Here's how to choose metals and gemstones that complement your natural coloring.

Determine Your Skin Undertone

Skin tone (fair, medium, dark) is different from undertone (warm, cool, neutral). Undertone is what matters for jewelry selection.

Quick Test: Check Your Veins

Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light:

• Blue or purple veins: You have cool undertones
• Green veins: You have warm undertones
• Mix of both: You have neutral undertones (lucky you—everything works!)

The Jewelry Test

Hold a piece of silver jewelry and a piece of gold jewelry against your skin:

• If silver looks better → cool undertone
• If gold looks better → warm undertone
• If both look equally good → neutral undertone

Best Metals for Your Undertone

Cool Undertones

• ✅ White gold
• ✅ Platinum
• ✅ Silver
• ✅ Rose gold (works for most cool tones too)

Warm Undertones

• ✅ Yellow gold
• ✅ Rose gold
• ✅ Copper tones
• ✅ Brass

Neutral Undertones

• ✅ Everything! Mix and match freely
• ✅ Two-tone jewelry looks especially good on you

Best Gemstones by Undertone

Cool Undertones Look Great With:

• Diamonds (white and blue-white)
• Sapphires (blue)
• Emeralds
• Amethyst
• Rubies
• Pink stones

Warm Undertones Look Great With:

• Champagne and yellow diamonds
• Citrine
• Peridot
• Coral
• Turquoise
• Amber

Rules Are Made to Be Broken

These are guidelines, not laws. The most important rule of jewelry is: wear what makes you happy. If you love yellow gold but have cool undertones, rock it with confidence. Personal style always trumps color theory.

Mixing Metals

Mixed metals are totally on-trend. Some tips for pulling it off:

• Choose one dominant metal and one accent
• Use a piece that already combines metals as your anchor
• Stack rings in alternating metals for an intentional look
• Rose gold bridges the gap between yellow and white beautifully

At Katarina, most of our pieces are available in white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold—so you can always find the perfect match for your skin tone.

Shop by Metal Color →