Jewel Tones – 7 Most Popular Colors

If you are like me then your bedroom is probably full of black fabrics, white bedding, and neutral items. Perhaps it is time to add some jewel tones as a fresh pop. The reason this is a great decision is that these gemstone-derived colors are universally flattering regardless of the shades your bedroom items look like.

At some point you might have heard about earth tones, neutrals, and warm or cool coloring. These are not going to be the focus today. Instead, we will dig deep into those that lean toward jewelry – the jewel tone colors.

I identify the 7 most popular jewel tones in this article.

What are jewel tones?

Jewel tones are colors that derive their appearance from precious stones. They are saturated, rich, and intense hues named after gems, which makes them very bold and distinctive. Jewel tone examples include emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue, turquoise blue, cyan, dark to medium shades of purple, among others.

Technically, if the color is comparable to one of the valuable jewels, it will be a tone on its own.

What do jewel stones look like?

Here are some of the first four interesting jewel colors.

precious metals from which jewel tones are derived

Typically, they have a high level of hue saturation and so, one can easily spot them. They are bright and stand out in the middle of other colors. It is not just about their dynamism and being distinctive but also about uniqueness when it comes to matching items in a home.

What are some examples of jewel tone colors?

The following are the most common jewel tone colors.

  1. Emerald green
  2. Ruby red
  3. Sapphire blue
  4. Turquoise blue
  5. Amethyst purple
  6. Citrine yellow
  7. Topaz yellow
A simple jewel tones color palette used in design

Almost every gemstone with color can be replicated in this category, although some of them tend to be more famous than others.

But where are these colors used other than bedding? We’re about to find out.

Let us look into each of these individual jewel tones in detail and find out what they are really about or used for.

Sapphire Blue

This one is usually known for creating serenity and symbolizes loyalty. It is a fantastic choice for individuals who are already tired of looking into something to complement other colors such as citrine or emerald.

Sapphires are available in different ranges and saturations. However, the most distinctive, rich, and heavy shade is the sapphire blue. 

One can also rock a blue dress and its always elegant.

sapphire blue dress

We can consider it a master of the art of cool because blue is ever calm and collected. It is playful and its texture adds some really nice soft finishes when done alongside faux fur, velvet, etc.

Emerald Green

Emerald green, previously known as “Paris green”, “Imperial green” or “Veronese green” refers to a medium shade of green that is brighter than hues like olive green but slightly darker than neon green and lime.

Emerald green possesses a mysterious quality and has a quiet and alluringly earthy feel. As one of nature’s most predominant colors, people associate it with creativity and an abundance of productive energy.

An image of bedroom in emerald green colors

 

Whenever you’re in a store, emerald green should not be difficult to spot because it has a pick-me-up glow all over it. Canva identifies several shades of emerald green. To see more, check the link in the previous sentence.

When going out, an emerald green dress will often set you apart. Here is how to wear emerald green dress for a girls night out.

an emerald green dress

What Colors Go with Emerald Green?

What colors go with emerald green? In the clothing industry and home décor, emerald green perfectly goes with colors like rose, ruby red (another jewel tone), pink, aubergine, and peach. It is also fine to combine it with other shades of green such as lime green. Pairing emerald green with rose quartz, off-white, beige, and yellow green is usually a good idea.

Ruby Red

Many people love how captivating ruby red is in almost any setting. As a brilliant bright color, it is often linked with power, status, and an unending desire to conquer. This is the go-to option when you need a confidence boost, especially in the design of your interiors.

Women who put on ruby red clothes are out to conquer the day. They are seen as superwomen and nothing stands in their way.

It is outstanding that ruby red can go with other colors in this jewel category. Have a look at its combination with blue.

a combination of ruby red and sapphire blue in bedroom

An important tip however is to choose darker items when pairing with ruby red. A mid to dark blanket or headboard and grey duvets would do fine.

Now, this should be what we call an accent bedroom. Always pick a ruby red paint color to provide you with additional serious drama in the sleeping area.

On clothing, pick dark wash jeans and darker boots to ensure that your looks are anchored on brightness and elegance.

ruby red dress

Even your ruby red shoes are awesome, especially when attending important events such as weddings.

ruby red shoes

Here are some of the color palette to check out about ruby red and other jewel tones.

Turquoise blue

Raising the bar in first impressions can go a long way in helping you get what you want in life. What other secret can provide a more comfortable experience in the bedroom than this turquoise bedroom?

Turquoise blue themed room

This is a trending design that has been going on for a few years in most parts of South America. You can borrow a few tips here on how to blend your white bedding and the turquoise blue. 

turquoise blue and green combination

It is possible to combine blues and greens too.

Citrine Yellow

We can all agree that citrine makes it in the list of most versatile colors in the category we’re talking about here. Whoever puts on anything citrine will definitely attract attention – non-stop attention. Wondering about the complementary colors? Brown or grey are perfect for matching.

beautiful citrine yellow bedroom

What is citrine yellow? Citrine refers to a transparent variety of quartz that derives its name from citron fruit. Many people even simplify citrine by calling it yellow, orange, brownish yellow, or greenish-yellow.

citrine yellow themed master bedroom

Adding a little bit of splash of citrusy joy to the bedroom wall and decoration can create an attractive space of jewel tone paradise.

Amethyst Purple

This one derives its style from a purple variety of quartz. Many times, purple is associated with bravery and royalty. So, the secret to making a bedroom royal and excellent is selecting amethyst purple.

And yes, it is quite possible to have a purple-themed rooms.

amethyst purple bedroom colors

Have you noticed it was selected as the official color for Women’s International Day? That is because purple combines both red (representing stimulation) and blue (representing serenity).

Aquamarine 

This is the color known for watery blues and blue greens. It never climbs to the level of dark tones or comes closer to the saturation levels we see in sapphires. Most importantly, darker tones have a huge sense of value even though aquamarines tend to be somewhat grey.

The attractive sea blue is ideal for people who prefer to decorate calmer rooms or come up with incredibly soft designs.

Are jewel tones warm or cool?

Jewel tones are cool colors. They are not warm colors. If you have a cool skin tone, for instance, you notice that veins inside your wrist are either green or blue, jewel tones will surely look fantastic on you almost all the time. 

Anyone whose appearance receives a major boost after putting on blues, purples, or emerald greens is cool-toned. The next time you don the new blue dress and everybody goes wow, you know it’s a straightforward sign of being a cool-toned person. 

What about the other category of people? Are earth tones warm or cool? Earth tones are warm colors. Looks that favor them are considered warm-toned. For any individual who can rock shades such as yellow ochre, warm greys, browns, and tarns, then your skin is warm-toned.

Earth tones are colors that contain brownish hue resembling the color of the earth or soil. The colors resemble those of natural things like leaves, clouds, red sun, and brown soil.

In other words, they originate from clay earth pigments, for instance, sienna, ochre, and umber.

Rust, burn sienna brown, sage, turmeric are some of the direct comparisons that can give a clue about earth tones.

Is gold a jewel tone?

Gold is a jewel tone. It is one of the precious stones. Rich jewel tones derive their coloring from gemstones that they resemble. So, yes, gold possesses a deeply saturated hue that is named after the precious stone. In interior design, the color is known for providing richness and class to spaces such as bedrooms. 

Is Turquoise a jewel tone?

Yes, turquoise is a jewel tone because it derives its name from a semi-precious stone that is known for its greenish-blue appearance. This is one of the rich color tones that resemble the popular gemstone turquoise shown in the picture below. Other colors in this category of strong hues are amethyst, sapphire blue, and ruby red. 

Is silver a jewel tone?

Silver is considered a jewel tone because it derives its appearance from a semi-precious stoneIf silver jewels flatter your skin more than the shiny gold, and you have a preference for blues, emerald greens, and purples, then you have a cool undertone. Silver looks best in cool tones and jewel tones are cool colors. 

What are the uses of jewel tones?

After discussing so much about them, what are these colors used for anyway? One thing many people assume about them is that they are just for fashion. 

We know that jewel tones can be used for many purposes by designers in the clothing industries, interior design paint, website developers, graphics designers, and many other areas.

The colors are preferred because they are supposed to pop in the viewers’ eyes. Traditionally, other people use them for religious purposes and this significance is hard to dispute. It is also common to see them use in works of art, especially modern ones.

Some people use the tones for wedding themes while others use the color schemes for everyday dressing.

Concluding remarks

There is a lot to learn from gemstone-derived tones. They are known to be of high value and that is why they are commonly used in jewelry.  

For interior décor, one can create an amazing bedroom or living space using a perfect combination of these bright hues.

There is no making mistake when it comes to these saturated hues anywhere at home. Try extending the decorations into the kitchen and see what your family thinks about the new looks.