Making Jewelry – Mixing and Matching Colors

Use the Color Wheel to Help Find Color Combinations When Making your Own Jewelry

When making your own jewelry, you’ll find that many color combinations will just come to you naturally. Over the course of a lifetime, people generally instinctively know what they like and what works well together.

But if you come upon a creative roadblock, or you want to try something different, how do you know where to start? The simple color wheel is a great resource for ideas that many people overlook.

Color Wheel Basics

The color wheel has the three primary colors – red, blue and yellow – at spaced evenly on the wheel. In between the primary colors are the secondary and tertiary colors. Secondary colors are orange, violet and green. Tertiary colors are basically combinations of the primary and secondary that are next to each other on the wheel: ie. red-orange, red-violet, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green and blue- violet.

When thinking about jewelry color possibilities, for example, when trying to decide on colors of beads to use, use the color wheel for inspiration.

How to Use the Color Wheel

Once you understand the basics of how the wheel is set up, now you need to know the relationships between the colors. Using the colors close to each other in your jewelry projects will create a harmonious feeling. The colors go well together and are very similar to each other. These are often referred to as analogous colors.

However, if you want to shake things up a bit, using the colors across the wheel from each other will create bolder and more contrasting look. They compliment each other even though they are very different. These are referred to as complimentary colors.

Play around with these color combinations to see what new pairings you can come up with that work well.

Jewelry Color Trends

Although the combinations on the color wheel are very vast, each season’s trends seem to have a definite color scheme. It’s funny how the fashion world will dictate to us what colors will be used in any particular season. People want new fashion on a regular basis. We don’t want the same old thing every year. The fashion industry knows this, and they deliver new looks each year.

The choices aren’t done willy-nilly. Colors and styles will evolve from previous years and seasons. The same is true with jewelry. As a jewelry designer, you don’t have to follow the trends. However, if you wish to make and wear jewelry that fits in with the current trends, it is wise to study the current colors and see what you like. Work with the trends to design great pieces that also incorporate your personality and tastes.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 March 2009 )

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