Jewel tones
Jewel tones are rich, saturated colors named after gemstones: emerald green, sapphire blue, ruby red, amethyst purple and citrine yellow. They are deep but vivid, which makes them feel luxurious in clothes, rooms and brands. Here are 16 jewel tone colors with their codes, palettes to copy and tips for using them.
What are jewel tones?
A jewel tone is a color with high saturation and medium to low lightness, like light passing through a cut gemstone. That combination is what separates them from other families: pastels are light and soft, earth tones are muted, and neons are light and loud. The jewel tones below average 52% lightness in the OKLCH color space, well below a pastel, while keeping strong color.
Jewel tones exist in every hue, so a jewel palette can be warm (ruby, garnet, topaz, citrine), cool (sapphire, emerald, amethyst) or both. They look richest next to deep neutrals such as black, charcoal and navy, and they glow against cream and ivory.
Jewel tone colors with hex codes
| Color | Hex | RGB | Named after | Best text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald | #046A38 | rgb(4, 106, 56) | Emerald (green beryl) | White (6.7:1) |
| Sapphire | #0F52BA | rgb(15, 82, 186) | Blue sapphire | White (7.2:1) |
| Ruby | #9B111E | rgb(155, 17, 30) | Ruby (red corundum) | White (8.4:1) |
| Amethyst | #6C3A9C | rgb(108, 58, 156) | Amethyst (purple quartz) | White (7.7:1) |
| Citrine | #D99A07 | rgb(217, 154, 7) | Citrine (yellow quartz) | Black (8.6:1) |
| Garnet | #733635 | rgb(115, 54, 53) | Almandine garnet | White (9.1:1) |
| Jade | #00A86B | rgb(0, 168, 107) | Jadeite | Black (6.8:1) |
| Peacock teal | #00676B | rgb(0, 103, 107) | Teal tourmaline | White (6.7:1) |
| Pink tourmaline | #B5306B | rgb(181, 48, 107) | Rubellite tourmaline | White (5.8:1) |
| Lapis lazuli | #26619C | rgb(38, 97, 156) | Lapis lazuli | White (6.4:1) |
| Imperial topaz | #D9762B | rgb(217, 118, 43) | Imperial topaz | Black (6.6:1) |
| Aubergine | #5B2C5E | rgb(91, 44, 94) | Deep amethyst | White (10.7:1) |
| Malachite | #0B6E4F | rgb(11, 110, 79) | Malachite | White (6.3:1) |
| Peridot | #7A9A01 | rgb(122, 154, 1) | Peridot | Black (6.5:1) |
| Onyx | #353839 | rgb(53, 56, 57) | Black onyx | White (11.8:1) |
| Antique gold | #C9A227 | rgb(201, 162, 39) | Gold setting | Black (8.7:1) |
Jewel tone color palettes
- Crown jewelsSapphire, emerald and ruby with citrine and ivory.
- Velvet nightAubergine and pink tourmaline on a near-black plum.
- PeacockTeal, lapis and emerald with an antique gold accent.
- Garnet and goldWarm reds and gold over a dark cocoa.
- Emerald roomThree greens with brass and a soft parchment.
- Amethyst duskPurples from deep to light with a warm white.
Each palette opens in the generator, where you can lock the colors you like, swap the rest and export them. For more, browse the luxury and dark palettes.
Wearing jewel tones
Jewel tones flatter people with strong contrast between hair, skin and eyes. In seasonal color analysis they are the signature colors of the winters, especially deep winter and true winter, and the warmer ones (garnet, topaz, emerald) suit deep autumn. Not sure of your season? Take the color analysis quiz.
- Pair one jewel tone with a neutral: an emerald dress with black, a sapphire sweater with charcoal, a ruby coat with camel.
- Combine two jewel tones of similar depth, such as sapphire and amethyst or emerald and ruby, for a confident look.
- Velvet, silk and satin show jewel tones at their richest, because their sheen deepens the color.
- Gold jewelry warms jewel tones; silver keeps cool ones crisp.
Jewel tones in interiors and design
In a room, let one jewel tone lead: an emerald sofa, sapphire kitchen cabinets or an amethyst velvet chair. A common guide is the 60-30-10 rule: about 60% neutral walls and floors, 30% a supporting color and 10% accent. Brass, walnut and marble suit jewel colors, and warm lighting keeps them from feeling cold.
On screens, jewel tones make strong accent and button colors. Most of them are dark enough for white text, as the "Best text" column shows, so they work as filled buttons and headers. Check exact pairs in the contrast checker, or build a full set of roles from one jewel tone in the Color System Studio.
Frequently asked questions
What colors are jewel tones?
Jewel tones are saturated, fairly deep colors named after gemstones: emerald green, sapphire blue, ruby red, amethyst purple, citrine yellow, topaz orange, garnet, jade, teal and deep plum.
Are jewel tones warm or cool?
Both. Ruby, garnet, topaz and citrine are warm; sapphire, emerald and amethyst are cool. A jewel palette can mix them as long as the colors have similar depth.
Which color season suits jewel tones?
Winters suit jewel tones best, especially deep winter and true winter, because they have high contrast. Deep autumns suit the warmer jewel tones, such as garnet, topaz and emerald.
What colors go with jewel tones?
Deep neutrals (black, charcoal, navy), warm whites (cream, ivory) and metallics (gold, brass). Two jewel tones of similar depth also pair well, such as sapphire with amethyst.
What is the difference between jewel tones and earth tones?
Jewel tones are saturated and vivid, like gemstones. Earth tones are muted and grayed, like clay, sand and moss. Both can be deep, but jewel tones carry much more color.