By Serene Jewellery, 925 sterling silver and 18k gold-plated jewellery specialists focused on pieces built to last.

Quick answer: Cool undertones (blue or purple veins on your wrist) typically suit silver, white gold, or platinum-toned jewellery best. Warm undertones (green veins) usually suit gold and rose gold. If you can't tell, or your veins look blue-green, you have a neutral undertone and can wear both — which is exactly the 2026 trend anyway, since mixed-metal styling is now considered intentional, not mismatched.

The Vein Test: The Fastest Way to Check

Look at the inside of your wrist in natural light. Blue or purple veins usually mean a cool undertone (silver tends to suit you). Green veins usually mean a warm undertone (gold tends to suit you). If you genuinely can't tell whether they're blue or green, you likely have a neutral undertone, which means both metals work.

Other Quick Ways to Check Your Undertone

• Jewellery you already reach for: Notice which metal you gravitate toward without thinking about it — that's often already correct.
• How your skin reacts to sun: Skin that tans easily often leans warm (gold); skin that burns more easily often leans cool (silver).
• White vs. cream test: Hold something bright white and something cream-coloured near your face. If white looks better, you likely lean cool; if cream looks better, you likely lean warm.

Silver and White Metals: Best For Cool Undertones

925 sterling silver, rhodium plating, and white gold all sit in the same cool-toned family. If you lean cool, pieces like the Sterling Silver Calista Ring or Halo Ring will generally look brighter and more flattering against your skin than warm-toned gold.

Gold and Rose Gold: Best For Warm Undertones

18k gold plate and rose gold plate tend to complement warm undertones, adding richness rather than competing with your skin's natural warmth. The Aveena Ring in Gold and Rose Gold Round Cut Stud Earrings are good starting points if you lean warm.

Neutral Undertone? You Don't Have to Choose

If your undertone is neutral, you're not restricted to one metal — and 2026's biggest jewellery trend is mixing silver and gold in the same stack anyway. A silver statement ring next to a gold band, or gold studs with a silver necklace, is now considered a deliberate style choice rather than a mismatch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a warm or cool skin undertone?

Check the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light: blue or purple usually means cool (silver suits you), green usually means warm (gold suits you), and blue-green means neutral (both work).

Can I wear gold and silver jewellery together?

Yes — mixed-metal styling is one of 2026's defining jewellery trends and works particularly well for people with a neutral undertone.

Does rose gold suit warm or cool undertones?

Rose gold generally leans warm, similar to yellow gold, though its pink tone can also flatter some cooler undertones more than yellow gold does — it's worth trying both if you're unsure.

What if silver makes my skin look washed out?

That's usually a sign of a warmer undertone. Try gold or rose gold pieces instead, or look for warmer-toned silver alternatives like 18k gold plate over silver.