Gold or silver?
It’s one of the first decisions we make when buying jewellery. And with so many options, it can be overwhelming when you’re starting to build your jewellery collection, especially when you’ve been told there’s a “right” metal for you.
Maybe you've been told you're cool-toned, so silver is your colour. Or that you have warm undertones, so gold is the obvious choice.
But what if you love both and can’t decide?
Here’s what the team have to say:
Hannah:
“For years, I was firmly a silver jewellery person. I'm cool-toned, so I was always told silver was the metal that suited me best but the more I've experimented with jewellery, the more I've realised that I don't want to choose just one and sometimes I feel gold suits me better!
I love switching between silver and gold depending on what I'm wearing or the season. Styling gold jewellery on summer holidays, or when I'm wearing an outfit with gold buttons, detailing etc. Other days, I reach for the pieces I always come back to, like my freshwater pearl T-bar necklace”
Ellie:
“I used to only wear gold before I started at Essential, but now I love mixing my gold pieces with silver.
I think the idea that you have to keep your metals separate feels a little outdated. Jewellery should be fun, and it’s much more about wearing the pieces I love! My current go to necklace is the Gemstone sun pendant paired with a Trace and Bead Station Chain”
There isn't one jewellery metal you're supposed to wear. It's about what you like, what you wear and what feels like you when you put it on.
So, if you're wondering whether you're a gold or silver jewellery girl and wanting to buy your next piece of jewellery, here's where to start.
Start with your wardrobe
Your wardrobe can tell you a lot about the jewellery you're naturally drawn to.
If you tend to wear lots of black, white, grey and denim, silver jewellery can add a cool, contemporary finish. Think statement silver rings, textured chunky hoops and paperlink or herringbone chains.
If your wardrobe is more creams, browns, beige and warmer shades, gold can complement those tones beautifully.
But don't take that as a rule.
One of the easiest ways to make gold jewellery work is simply to look for gold details in what you're already wearing. Gold buttons, buckles, or gold hardware on your bag or sunglasses can be a perfect reason to switch up your jewellery.
Sometimes it's the smallest detail that makes an outfit feel pulled together.
What jewellery do you actually reach for?
Open your jewellery box.
Which pieces do you wear on repeat? Is it more silver or gold that you’ve reached for in the past?
It might seem obvious, but the jewellery you naturally reach for every morning is probably a better indication of your personal style than any colour theory chart.
If you're always reaching for your silver hoops, you might be a silver girl.
If your favourite everyday necklace is gold, maybe you're a gold girl.
And if your jewellery box is a mixture of both? You're allowed to be both (even more of an excuse to build two jewellery collections!)
What about your skin tone?
This is where things can get confusing.
You've probably heard that silver suits cool skin tones and gold suits warm skin tones.
It's a useful starting point if you're completely unsure what you like, but it shouldn't be the deciding factor.
Try holding a gold and silver piece against your skin in natural light and see which one you prefer.
Because you can be cool-toned and love gold. You can be warm-toned and live in silver.
Think about the occasion and the season
Your jewellery doesn't have to stay the same all year round.
Maybe you're a silver jewellery girl in autumn and winter, then naturally gravitate towards gold when summer arrives.
Gold can look particularly good with sun-kissed skin, linen, neutral tones and summer dresses, while silver works effortlessly with denim, tailoring, black and cooler winter layers.
Your jewellery can change with your outfit just as much as your shoes or handbag does.
Match your jewellery to the details
One of our favourite ways to decide between gold and silver is to look at the details of the outfit.
Wearing a bag with gold hardware? Try gold jewellery.
Wearing silver buckles or cool-toned accessories? Silver could be the perfect finishing touch.
Wearing a watch or bracelet you never take off? Start there and build around it.
It doesn't have to match perfectly. Sometimes, a little contrast is exactly what makes a jewellery stack interesting.
And yes, you can wear gold and silver together
If you genuinely can't choose, you don’t need to!
Mixed metals are one of the easiest ways to make your jewellery feel more personal, and they've been trending for some time now too.
Try layering gold and silver necklaces, layer different metals across your rings or stack gold and silver bracelets together, or choose a piece that already mixes metals, such as our two-tone spinner ring.
The trick is simply to make the combination feel intentional. Repeating both metals throughout your jewellery can make the whole look feel cohesive and sometimes a little gold mixed in with silver creates a really lovely contrast.
So, are you a gold or silver girl?
The best jewellery for you isn't necessarily the one you're told suits you. It's the jewellery you genuinely want to wear.
Start with your wardrobe. Look at the jewellery you already love. Notice the details you naturally gravitate towards.
Then experiment.
Because sometimes the jewellery you thought wasn't "for you" ends up becoming the jewellery you can't stop wearing.
