How to combine stones and colors in jewelry

Combining stones is like combining colors in clothes: a few simple rules make it easy.

Combinations that almost always work #

• A single color in different shades: from light blue to dark blue, for example aquamarine and sapphire.
• Neighboring colors on the color wheel (blue and green, red and orange): soft harmony.
• Complementary colors (blue and orange, green and red, violet and yellow): lively contrast. Better with one leading stone and one supporting.
• Neutrals: pearls, rock crystal, onyx and moonstone go with everything. See pearls and onyx.
• A colored stone with diamonds or colorless crystal: a classic.

The metal matters #

• Yellow gold: enhances red, green, orange and yellow.
• Silver and white gold: enhance blue, violet and colorless.
• Rose gold: goes well with pink, gray and soft green stones.

See jewelry for your skin and hair.

Size and shape #

Mix sizes: one large stone with small ones. Repeat a shape (round, oval) to give unity. See gem cuts.

A practical care: hardness #

If you put stones of very different hardness in one piece, the harder ones can scratch the softer ones. See stones for everyday wear. Also, some stones need different care when cleaned. See cleaning jewelry with stones.

With meaning #

Birthstones are a good personal guide. See birthstones by month.

See also: combining gold and silver.