There is great cause for us to rejoice that the world is not painted in shades of black and white. Myriads of other colors elevate the visual meter, creating perfect harmony on the rules of what is known today as the color theory.
The art of mixing and matching (complementing or contrasting) colors is used by graphic designers, product packaging companies, and the fashion industry. For instance – color-blocking is fashion’s optical illusion to impart such a magical effect that an ensemble has a visually balanced look.
The same goes for the world of jewelry – a plethora of colored gemstones exist to complement an individual’s skin color theory (determined by the levels of melanin). If you’re planning on purchasing precious gems to curate jewelry pieces like earrings, necklaces, or rings, it’s important to first understand which colors flatter your skin tone the most.
Fret not! This guide has you covered – keep reading to know the connection between skin tone and gemstones, and why it does matter.
Gemstones for Warm Skin Tone
People often mistakenly believe that gemstone color compatibility works based on darker or lighter skin tones, but there is a better determiner – warmth or coolness of the skin color. For instance – people with warm skin tones usually have yellowish undertones, no matter how light or dark their shade is.
Another way to recognize warm skin tone is through the color of veins on the inside of the wrist, which are usually greenish in hue. People with warm skin tones look best in earthy and sunny colors like orange, brown, scarlet, turquoise, etc. The top gemstone choices would include –
Citrine and Yellow Topaz
Belonging to different mineral species, both citrine and yellow topaz are stones with varying hues of yellow color. According to the International Gemstone Society (IGS), the two stones are misidentified because they look more or less the same. However, the former belongs to the quartz family and is less expensive than the latter (from the topaz family).
Even in terms of shade, citrine usually has a yellowish-orangish color when compared to topaz which is more uniformly yellow. Also, topaz stones tend to be larger than their citrine counterparts.
Garnet
This gemstone is unique in the sense that it may be available in a variety of colors, such as orange, pink, red, green, or purple. However, it is primarily known for its scarlet-like reddish color.
Often associated with the heart and life force of the body, garnets’ warm color deeply enhances the wearer’s warm skin tone. To ensure your skin’s golden hues perfectly shine through the garnet, choose a richer vermillion-like shade.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a special gemstone, also known as “emerald by day, and ruby by night.” This name is attributed because the stone tends to undergo a dramatic color change, alternating between green and red.
Its chameleon-like qualities are due to the underlying mineral, chrysoberyl, and how it absorbs light. However, the color change does not happen to the same degree for every stone.
Gemstones That Flatter Cool Skin Tones
People with cool skin tones usually have pinkish or bluish undertones. Most people with ivory skin tones fall under the cool category. Other than that, the veins on the inside of their wrist will either be blue or purplish in color.
Some of the top gemstones that will flatter people with cool skin tones include –
Emerald
Emeralds are distinguished by their rich green color. According to Leibish, the more saturated the green shade of the stone, the higher its quality and price. The good news is that emeralds are available in a wide range of naturally occurring green shades like grayish-green, yellowish-green, blue-green, rich green, etc.
The rule of thumb is that the lighter the skin tone, the darker the emerald’s color should be. Usually found with beveled corners, round and pear-shape emeralds are the most popular. You can also let the stone’s cut complement your face’s shape in the case of earrings or necklaces.
For instance – Kate Middleton has been seen wearing emerald earrings in round and pear shapes, two good choices for women with an oval face.
Amethyst
This gemstone belongs to the violet variety of the quartz family. Amethyst is quite affordable and can be found in a plethora of rich and velvety purple shades, from lavender to dark grapes.
When it comes to selecting an amethyst for one’s skin tone, the color intensity should again be inversely related to the lightness of the skin tone. Since people with cool skin tones can easily sport red and blue shades, they can look equally good in the color formed by their union.
Peridot
This gemstone also belongs to the green family but is often distinct from emeralds. They are much more eye-popping in terms of their shade but lack emeralds’ royal touch.
You can find peridot colors ranging from greenish yellow to yellowish green. This stone looks best on extremely pale-toned people with pink undertones.
Hair Color Also Matters!
The color theory also applies to one’s hair. For instance – individuals with silver, gray, or white hair usually look best in rich blue and burgundy gemstones, whether their skin tone is warm or cool. This means sapphire and red garnets (in darker shades) would flatter them the most.
Though the aged Rose from The Titanic owned a blue diamond, the color being similar to a sapphire gives a clear picture of how beautifully the stone can complement the hoary head. Similarly, people with black hair look great in dark, rich, and bold-color gemstones regardless of their skin tone. This would include stones like ruby, emerald, and amethyst.
As for brunettes, those with warm skin tones must stick to warmer gem colors like citrine, alexandrite, or red garnet. Conversely, those with cool skin tones can choose pink or black stones like rose quartz, black onyx, pink sapphire, etc.
Coming to the blonde family, golden-haired individuals can easily flaunt earthy blues and greens like peridot, turquoise, blue topaz, aquamarine, etc. Ash blondes look their best in pink, red, or purple stones given their usual blue undertones – alexandrite, pink or red sapphire, ruby, etc.
Finally, red or ginger-haired individuals have a little bit of an upper hand in this area because they tend to look great with both warm earth-toned stones as well as rich blues and greens (Looks like it was a win-win for Rose whether she was young or old). Other suitable stones include red garnet, ruby, emerald, pink sapphire, etc.
Parting Thoughts
Future Market Insights predicts that the global gemstone market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% for the next decade. The most important trends driving growth in this market include an increase in custom jewelry designs, innovative cuts, and technological advancements.
It is expected that diverse gemstone shapes will become widely available (for instance – heart shape) as well as unique jewelry styles. The market will be steered by customers who choose gemstones based on cultural symbolism, their skin and hair colors, and aesthetic preferences.
