"Am I more of a gold person or a silver person?" is one of the most common questions in jewelry shopping, and most people are guessing at the answer. The good news is you don't have to guess. Your skin's undertone gives you a pretty reliable answer in under a minute.
The vein test
Look at the inside of your wrist in natural light.
- If your veins look more green, your undertone likely leans warm, and gold tends to look more flattering against your skin.
- If your veins look more blue or purple, your undertone likely leans cool, and silver tends to sit better.
- If you genuinely can't tell, or your veins look teal, you may have a neutral undertone, which means you can wear both gold and silver comfortably.
The white paper test
Hold a plain white sheet of paper next to your face in daylight.
- If your skin looks yellow or golden against the white, that's a warm undertone.
- If your skin looks pink, red, or bluish against the white, that's a cool undertone.
Daylight matters here more than most people expect. Indoor bulbs, especially warm toned ones, can make almost anyone's skin look golden, which is why this test is far more reliable near a window than under a lamp at night.
A third test, if the first two are close
Think about how your skin reacts to sun. If you tan easily and rarely burn, that leans warm. If you burn before you tan, or burn easily in general, that leans cool. This isn't as precise as the vein or paper test, but it's a useful tiebreaker when the other two tests feel ambiguous.
Why this matters more than trends
Jewelry color trends shift every season, but undertone doesn't change. A piece in your flattering metal tone will make your skin look brighter and more even, while the wrong tone can make skin look a little dull by contrast. This is why the exact same necklace can look completely different on two people, and why a piece that looked amazing on a friend or on social media doesn't always translate the same way once it's on you.
What if you're neutral?
Neutral undertones are the easiest to shop for. Mixed metal pieces, or a wardrobe split between gold and silver, both work well. Rose gold in particular tends to sit comfortably on most neutral and even some cool undertones, since it carries a soft pink warmth without being as bold as yellow gold.
Common myths about undertone and jewelry
A few things worth clearing up. Your favorite color has nothing to do with your best metal tone, plenty of people who love the look of gold actually photograph and read better in silver. Undertone also isn't the same as skin depth or shade, a fair complexion can be warm or cool just as easily as a deep complexion can. And undertone doesn't meaningfully change with tanning, sun exposure changes your skin's shade, not its underlying undertone.
Undertone and gemstone color
The same logic extends past metal tone into stone color. Warm undertones tend to work well with citrine, amber, and warm champagne tones, since these colors echo the same golden quality that makes yellow gold flattering. Cool undertones tend to pair well with sapphire blue, icy white crystal, and cooler pink tones. This isn't a strict rule, plenty of people wear stones outside their matching range and it still looks great, but it's a useful starting point if you're choosing between two similar pieces and can't decide.
A quick shopping cheat sheet
- Warm undertone: yellow gold, rose gold, warm toned gemstones like citrine or amber
- Cool undertone: silver, white gold, cool toned stones like sapphire blue or icy crystal
- Neutral undertone: rose gold, mixed metal pieces, honestly most things
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear gold and silver together?
Yes, mixed metal jewelry is common and works well, especially for neutral undertones. Even warm or cool undertones can mix metals successfully if one tone leads the look and the other is used sparingly as an accent.
Does undertone change with age or tanning?
Your underlying undertone stays fairly stable throughout life. What changes with tanning or seasons is your skin's overall shade, which is a different thing from undertone.
What if I love silver but test as a warm undertone?
Wear what makes you feel best. Undertone testing is a useful starting point for people who feel unsure or want a reason the "wrong" piece never looked quite right, not a rule that overrides your own preference.
Found your tone? Explore our necklaces and earrings in both finishes.