What Your Skin Undertone Says About Gold and Silver

Your undertone is the subtle warmth, coolness, or balance beneath your skin’s surface, and it can help you choose jewelry that looks harmonious against your complexion. It is different from skin tone: your skin may become lighter or darker with the seasons, while your undertone generally stays more consistent.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating start with your skin, not your favorite metal.

Look at the veins near your wrist in natural daylight: veins that appear more blue or purple may suggest a cool undertone, while greener-looking veins may suggest a warm one. If you see a mix or cannot tell, you may have a neutral undertone, so use this as one clue rather than a final answer.

Hold a yellow-gold piece and a silver-tone piece near your face, one at a time, in the same natural light; warm undertones often look especially at home with yellow gold, while cool undertones often suit silver or white metals. If both look good, you may be neutral—or you may simply like more than one look, which is reason enough to wear both.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating compare gold and silver on yourself.

Undertone is a guide, not a rule: compare the jewelry with the clothing colors you wear most, and notice whether a metal brightens your face or creates a contrast you enjoy. Our Find the Jewelry That Makes You Glow – Jewelry Guide eBook & Checklist, Skin Undertone Gold vs Silver Digital Download is another option if you want a jewelry-focused guide; you can also explore our gold-or-silver jewelry guide for skin undertones.