Have you noticed that some rings make your hand glow while others look dull, even when the stone is the same? The difference is usually the metal colour, and whether it matches your skin's undertone. Here is how to find your undertone and pick the metal that suits you best.

Skin tone vs undertone

Your skin tone is the surface colour, from fair to wheatish to dusky to deep. Your undertone is the subtle colour underneath, and it stays the same even when you tan. There are three undertones:

• Warm: golden, peachy or yellow hints.
• Cool: pink, red or bluish hints.
• Neutral: a mix of both.

Any skin tone can have any undertone. Many Indian skin tones are warm or neutral, but plenty are cool too, so it's worth checking.

Three quick tests at home

Do these in natural daylight without makeup.

• Vein test: look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Greenish veins suggest warm, blue or purple suggest cool, and a mix suggests neutral.
• Jewellery test: hold a yellow gold piece and a silver or white gold piece against your skin. If gold makes you look brighter, you're likely warm. If silver does, you're likely cool. If both look good, you're neutral.
• White paper test: hold a sheet of white paper next to your face. Skin that looks yellowish or golden next to it is warm. Pinkish or rosy is cool. If it's hard to tell, you're probably neutral.

Warm undertone: yellow and rose gold

• Best metals: yellow gold and rose gold. They pick up the golden tones in your skin and make it glow.
• Karat tip: 18K has the richest yellow colour. 14K and 9K are a little paler but harder, so better for daily wear.
• Stones that shine on you: champagne and yellow tones, ruby, emerald, and white lab grown diamonds or moissanites set in yellow gold.

Cool undertone: white metals

• Best metals: white gold and 925 sterling silver with rhodium plating. Their bright, icy colour matches the pink and blue tones in your skin.
• Bonus: white metals make white stones look even whiter and brighter.
• Stones that shine on you: white lab grown diamonds and moissanites, sapphire, pink sapphire and emerald.

Neutral undertone: you can wear everything

• Best metals: all of them, including yellow, white and rose gold and silver.
• Try: two-tone designs, like a white gold head on a yellow gold band, or stacking rings in mixed metals.
• Tip: rose gold is especially flattering on neutral undertones, since it has both warm and pink hints.

Other things to think about

• What you already wear: if most of your jewellery is yellow gold, a yellow gold ring will be easier to match every day.
• Your style: yellow gold feels traditional and rich, white gold feels modern and crisp, and rose gold feels soft and romantic.
• Your budget: 925 silver with rhodium gives the white look at a lower price, and 9K gold is the most affordable gold option.
• Personal choice wins: undertone is a guide, not a rule. If you love a metal, wear it.

Quick cheat sheet

• Warm: yellow gold and rose gold.
• Cool: white gold and 925 silver.
• Neutral: any metal, plus two-tone and mixed stacks.

Still choosing a karat? Read 9K vs 14K vs 18K gold, and see which ring suits your finger shape.

Shop the look

Explore our lab grown diamond solitaire rings, lab grown diamond bands, moissanite solitaire rings and moissanite eternity bands. The easiest way to decide is to try both metals against your skin: visit our store in Gole Market, Mahanagar, Lucknow, or WhatsApp us on +91 9219707014.