Tips on Using the Color of Jewelry in Your Accessories

Have fun with color!

This information can be useful in coordinating jewelry with outfits!

​

Color in design is based on Nature's wonderful chart of colors - the rainbow. Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. The colors created when two primaries blend make secondary colors - orange, green, violet. Blending a primary with a secondary makes tertiary colors – red-orange, orange-yellow, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, etc. A color wheel in the order of the colors in a rainbow gives us a useful chart, showing how colors work with each other.

 

On the color chart, colors next to each other harmonize (analogous color scheme) which gives a calming effect. Colors directly opposite complement each other (complementary color scheme) and are pleasing to the eye. Tertiary colors directly opposite complement each other (triadic color scheme).

 

Lightening a color with white is called a tint; darkening a color with black is called a shade. Using light to dark of one color provides a monochromatic color scheme. Using a light color with a dark color gives contrast and adds drama.

​