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Pearl Colours: Which is Best for My Skin Tone?

  • 4 min read

Pearl Colours: Which is Best for My Skin Tone?

Pearls - it’s time to bring back the elegance that even the simplest single-pearl earrings can achieve. It doesn't get more classic than pearls. For many, the image of an elegant, wealthy, older woman wearing a row of pearls while she sips on earl grey tea, is the first thing that comes to mind - and that is a shame.

Pearls need to be seen in a new light. Wrap a long lariat of pearls around your neck and elongate your frame with a multi strand choker or loop them around your wrist with a ‘warrior’ jewelled cuff. Pearls also play well with other jewels. A pearl necklace stacked with necklaces in contrasting materials will look modern.

Most importantly pearls come in unexpected colours. Black pearls are still a surprising choice, evoking sultry and powerful images, while a single grey pearl is subtle, versatile and oh so chic.

So, when it comes to choosing pearl colours, you should always aim to pick a shade that makes you feel confident. It is therefore useful to consider the kinds of colours that will suit your skin tone best. In this blog, we’ve put together some guidelines in which we reveal how to identify your skin tone and our top tips for choosing the best pearl and gemstone colours to suit your unique colouring.

Identifying your skin tone: cool, warm or neutral

There are several methods you can use to identify the tone of your skin. Firstly, you can check the veins in your wrist – yes, I know, weird right! If they look blue or purple, you have a cool skin tone. However, if they are green or greenish blue, you have a warm skin tone. If it’s hard to tell or your veins look more olive green, you likely have a neutral skin tone.

Another way you can check the undertone of your skin is to hold a piece of white paper up to your face – yup, another weird scientific trick of ours! This should be done in natural daylight and your face must be clean and free of makeup. If your skin has a pink or blue tone when set against bright white, you have a cool undertone. If, on the other hand, your skin looks slightly yellow or green, you have a warm undertone. Neutral skin tones typically have a grey tinge.

Choosing complementary colours

Colours for cool skin tones

Whether you have fair or dark hair, if you have a cool skin tone, you’ll want to opt for colours with pink or blue undertones such as icy pinks, purple and lilacs. Deep greens, cool greys and pastel shades are also great options, but vivid oranges and yellows will be too overpowering.

Gemstones like blue sapphire, aquamarine, amethyst, ruby, emerald and a cool colour tourmaline selection are good choices if you have cool skin undertones.

In terms of the metal for your jewellery, cool skin generally suits white gold and silver best, though subtle rose golds will work too.

Colours for warm skin tones

If your skin tone is warm and tans well, earthy browns and beiges, as well as strong yellows, reds and oranges, are your best bet. You’ll also suit warmer variants of cooler colour groups, such as olive green and fuchsia pink.

When it comes to gemstones, opt for jewellery with citrine, agate, alexandrite, peridot, a warm selection of tourmaline colours or garnet set in yellow or rose gold to complement the natural warmth of your skin.

In contrast, cold colours can wash you out, especially when worn close to the face, so generally best to avoid.

Colours for neutral skin tones

People with neutral skin tones and dark blonde or brown hair have the best of both worlds, as they can pull off a range of different colours – lucky things!

However, neutral skin colours suit neutral pearl shades - those that are neither too bold nor too subtle - best. Balanced shades like taupe, dusty pink, jade, soft blue and olive are therefore ideal and they can be set in whichever metal you prefer.

White pearls with a neutral overtone and white diamonds go with every skin tone as they encompass all colours.

Which pearl colour is best for me?

Black and olive complexions

If you have dark hair, dark eyes, and a dark skin tone, you will suit rich pearl colours like black, gold, bronze and aubergine. Warm whites, deep pinks, creams and golds will also look stunning, but cold colours should be avoided.

Light skin tones that tan well

If you have a lighter skin tone that tans relatively well in the summer, you will suit a variety of pearl colours, though warmer shades are best. Choose creamy white, pink, peach, warm grey, bronze or peacock Tahitian pearls with green or purple overtones.

Fair complexions

For cool, pale complexions, look for pearls with complementary overtones. For example, frosty pinks and greys with blue or green overtones, depending on your eye colour. Peacock-toned black and blue grey Tahitian pearls also offer a striking contrast for the evening, while copper pearls offset natural red hair beautifully.

Pearl colours that suit everyone

If you’re still not sure which shade to go for, or you are buying a gift for someone else, black and white pearls are perfect choices due to their neutrality. While there are a myriad of different overtones to choose from, warm whites and peacock-toned blacks offer great versatility and work well with almost any colour.

Blush pink pearls are another good option, as they flatter all skin tones and give a subtle glow that will highlight the wearer’s best features.

Find the perfect pearl colour for you at Coleman Douglas Pearls

Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for or you need some more advice, our talented team of jewellery artisans is on hand to help.

From rosy pink pearl necklaces and grey pearl pendants with blue overtones for cool skin tones to creamy white pearl earrings and golden pearl necklaces for warm skin tones, our extensive collection of pearl jewellery offers something for everyone.

We can even help you create a bespoke piece with luxury South Sea or Tahitian pearls that have been specially selected via a personal consultation to complement your skin and hair colour. Alternatively, we can give your old pearl strand a revamp with a new silk thread and additional gemstones in an array of different colours. Contact us today to learn more.

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