Gold or Silver: Does it really matter?

Image Courtesy: Maria Alia

Picture this: You’re getting ready to go out — maybe you have a lavish event or a formal gathering to attend. Your outfit is perfectly curated, hair and makeup immaculately done, yet there’s something missing. You make a beeline to your jewelry, hands carefully parading through its contents. But, here’s the burning question —  do you reach for gold or silver?

This dilemma has long taken the reins of the fashion industry. Words from influencers and fashion gurus populate the media, enthusiastically urging viewers to focus on skin tone when deciding on accessory customization. The notion seems almost counterintuitive to me. Pointless, even. Why should I have to identify my undertones to wear jewelry? So, to satiate society’s (and mostly my own) inquiries about the correlation between skin tone and jewelry, I took to researching. 

I came upon countless “how-tos” from jewelry companies, encouraging customers to choose the best jewelry for themselves based on their skin tone. They all went into great detail, from the analysis of vein color to picking a suitable gemstone. Rather than being capitalist schemes like I first believed them to be (because almost all of them ended with links to their shops), the articles actually provided quite fruitful information.

Image Courtesy: Mejuri

Here’s what I found:

First, this color-matching phenomenon lacks solid historical grounds. Maybe the idea arose from ancient Egyptian fashion, where striking gold jewelry adorned their darker complexions. Or maybe women throughout time noticed a pattern between gold and silver jewelry wearers, eventually extrapolating their observations into fashion statements. Whatever the reason, each article led to a similar conclusion: Since jewelry lies against your skin, it should complement, rather than contrast, your individual tone. Especially in contemporary fashion, jewelry is a pinnacle contributor to individuality; it’s usually the first item people notice in your outward appearance. Hence, wearing accessories that complement your skin tone can truly elevate a look.

This gold-versus-silver debate forms parts in a rising sea of color-analysis trends. The latest additions include videos of influencers and celebrities promoting the concept of the color analysis test, an activity meant to evaluate the compatibility of certain colors with one’s skin tone. The test has led to a ground-breaking revelation for many that their most frequented color is unfortunately not concordant with their skin tone. With the growing popularity of this trend, filters have even been developed on TikTok with color palettes allowing you to test which seasonal colors best suit your face. While the notion of gold versus silver is less recent, these progressions signal a newfound obsession with dressing according to skin tone — a trend that has the potential to elevate the industry if we are all learning to dress according to our phenotypic features.

Image Courtesy: Otticanet

Admittedly, I’m part of the population that wears whatever their mother first bought them as a child; the concept of color-analysis never entered my mind until recently. I mostly wear vintage jewelry with black rope for chains, but a part of me has always wanted to wear a single metal. After learning that the tone of your skin matters in picking jewelry, the question lies in how to identify your undertones and, more importantly, your metal of choice.

The quest begins with understanding the difference between skin color and skin tone. Skin color is the color visible on the surface. Skin tone, on the other hand, is the hue seen beneath the surface of your skin. It is more subtle and more difficult to identify but crucial in determining your best jewelry color. There's cool, warm and neutral skin tones, but the difficulty lies in determining your own. Since most of us cannot promenade to Sephora for their Color IQ test, the easiest solution lies in looking at your veins under a light. Blue or purple veins are equated with cool undertones; green veins with warm and a mix of both is neutral. 

Now that you have identified your skin tone, the last step is assigning a metal to it. Cool tones tend to pair with silver, while warmer tones with gold and neutral elements can be complemented by either metal. Still can’t choose between the two? There’s always rose gold, a versatile alternative to the iconic duo that anyone can rock. 

Most people have their assigned metal of choice. After my research, I can safely say my metal is silver — fortunately, like it has always been. I layer my silver necklaces, bracelets and rings upon me in uniform fashion. Like most people, I stick to one metal for all my jewelry, which feels like an unwritten rule.

Image Courtesy: Omi Woods

Yet, as always, there are people out there who break this rule and take another route: mixing. Whether the choice is made out of spite, as a fashion statement or from pure indifference, the mixing of silver and gold jewelry is becoming more prevalent in fashion today. People are nixing the rules of the jewelry world and combining their metals — an assortment of silver and gold rings across the fingers, dangling silver necklaces and perhaps even golden earrings to top it all off. The possibilities are endless when you don’t care about sticking to one color. 

Mixing metals is even becoming a trend among celebrities and fashion experts. Jewelry brands are embracing experimentation and releasing pieces with both gold and silver intertwined. For example, Spinelli Kilcollin gained acclaim for their ‘Galaxy’ rings that interlocked the two metals. Additionally, celebrities are magnifying this trend with their own indelible outfits. Singer Dua Lipa made a striking statement on her recent birthday, wearing silver pendants and rings mixed with gold chains and earrings. More celebrities are expressing boldness with their jewelry choices, dissolving the social stigma against mixing and encouraging a new facet of individuality in fashion.

Image Courtesy: Dua Lipa

Here’s my consensus: Choosing your jewelry based on your skin tone is not as constricting as it seems. Actually, it may be a great step toward refining your looks. Jewelry lies directly on your skin — you want to ensure it is complimenting you rather than sticking out sorely. But, the most important matter is your personal comfort. If you want to wear silver, wear silver. If you want gold, wear gold. If you want to mix metals and wear whatever you feel, go right ahead; it’s not a faux pas. Fashion is subjective, and the world is your oyster. So, to answer the burning question … reach for whatever color you want to.

Strike out, 

Writer: Sofia Bravo

Editor: Sofia Ramos

Graphics: Anabel Dent

Gainesville

Sofia Bravo is a Writer for Strike Magazine Gainesville. When she’s not reading a book or typing away on the computer, you can find her drinking a chai latte or forcing her friends to pose for the digital camera. You can reach her on Instagram @sofiebravo, or by email sofiebravo26@gmail.com