If you’re still deciding about what color jewelry you should wear after taking the silver or gold jewelry quiz, let’s dig deeper. Choosing the right metal often comes down to undertones, how your wardrobe comes together, and what jewelry suits your hair color when it sits closest to your face.
Start with Your Undertone
Some jewelry colors flatter your skin tone while others might create contrast that washes you out. To find the right one for you, take this quick gold or silver skin tone test:
You have warm undertones if the veins on your wrist are green, your skin tans easily, and you have brown or hazel eyes.
- Best metal: Yellow or rose gold best brings out your skin’s peach and golden hues.
You have cool skin undertones if your veins are blue or purple, you burn easily in the sun, and your eyes are blue, gray, or green.
- Best metal: Silver colors (silver, white gold, and platinum) are your best matches, bringing out your blue and pink hues.
Some people fall somewhere in between with neutral undertones. You have neutral undertones if your veins appear both blue and green. You also sometimes tan and sometimes burn when out in the sun.
- Best metal: Silver and gold look equally good on you, and you may be able to get away with mixing metals more naturally.
Match Your Jewelry to Your Wardrobe
To know if you should wear silver or gold, your wardrobe often offers clear clues. The colors you wear most can guide you toward metals that feel cohesive rather than distracting.
Take a look at the dominant tones in your closet. A palette built around earthy shades like rust, mustard, olive, and brown tends to pair naturally with gold jewelry, which adds warmth without overpowering the look.
Cooler wardrobes built around blues, grays, greens, and purples often feel more balanced with silver jewelry. Silver finishes echo those cooler tones and keep outfits looking streamlined.
Closets anchored in neutrals such as white, cream, navy and black offer the most flexibility. In those cases, both gold and silver integrate easily, giving you freedom to switch metals based on mood or occasion to know if you should wear silver or gold without overthinking it.
Factor in Budget, Durability, and Sensitivity
Finally, factor in budget and quality. Investing in high-quality gold and silver is usually a good choice. Lower-quality gold, gold vermeil, or silver-plated pieces often contain copper, which can turn your skin green, or nickel, a common irritant for those with sensitive skin.
Instead of opting for low-quality pieces, compare your options for comfortable and long-lasting wear. Here’s a helpful place to start:
- Silver: Sterling silver is the most budget-friendly, accessible choice for those just starting their jewelry collection.
- White gold: Made of gold plus alloys to make the piece appear silver-white, white gold sits in a mid-range price point. In contrast with silver, white gold is harder and more durable.
- Platinum: If you’re willing to invest even more, platinum offers unmatched long-term durability for cool-tone pieces you’ll wear for years.
- Yellow and rose gold: While gold can be expensive, its price varies heavily depending on karat. Higher-purity gold costs more than lower-purity options, but choosing 14k vs. 18k gold comes down to balancing durability with color richness. Fourteen-karat gold offers added strength with a softer yellow tone that works well for everyday jewelry.