Gold or Silver Jewelry Test: Take the Quiz to Find Your Fit

Let’s determine if you should wear gold or silver based on your appearance, style, budget, and comfort. Answer each question below and keep track of your responses by noting the letter for each choice. You’ll use your results to find your recommended metal.

 

Questions and answers

Question 1. What is your skin undertone? A. Cool B. Warm C. Neutral   Question 2. What is your natural hair color? A. Blonde B. Brown or black C. Red or auburn   Question 3. What color are your eyes? A. Blue or grey B. Green or hazel C. Brown or dark   Question 4. Which clothing colors do you wear most? A. Black, white, jewel tones B. Earth tones like camel, olive, rust C. A range of both   Question 5. How would you describe your personal style? A. Minimalist or classic B. Boho or earth tones C. Bold and bright   Question 6. Do you have skin sensitivities or allergies? A. Yes B. No C. Unsure   Question 7. What is your preferred jewelry budget? A. Higher B. Moderate C. Lower range   Question 8. Do you prefer warmer or cooler tones near your face? A. Cooler B. Warmer C. Both look fine   Question 9. How often do you plan to wear this jewelry? A. Daily B. A few times a week C. Special occasions only   Question 10. Which finish do you prefer on your jewelry? A. Bright, polished finishes (high shine) B. Warm, soft finishes (matte) C. Mixed or textured

Results

If mostly answered A:     Your pick: Silver or White Gold   You gravitate toward cooler tones, which makes silver and white gold natural fits. These metals tend to complement cooler complexions and pair well with the colors you wear most often.   If you’re looking for pieces you can wear every day with little upkeep, white gold gives you a polished and premium finish that fits your style.    Silver is an easy choice when you want a flexible and accessible piece that still feels refined.     Shop Platinum Jewelry

If mostly answered B:     Your pick: Yellow Gold   You look your best in warm, rich tones. Yellow gold brings out the warmth in your undertone and blends naturally with the expressive colors in your wardrobe. It adds depth, glow, and a sense of ease to your everyday look. If you want a metal that feels timeless and inviting, yellow gold is your match.   Shop Yellow Gold

If mostly answered C:     Your pick: Rose Gold or Mixed Metals   You sit comfortably between warm and cool, which gives you a wide range of options. Rose gold offers a soft, balanced glow that works across many palettes, while mixed-metal styles let you play with texture and contrast. Your style feels flexible, so you can switch between tones without losing harmony. If you want one metal that works with everything, white gold is still a reliable pick.     Shop Rose Gold

General/bonus result (applies as a bonus answer or standalone answer if your results are tied or the quiz doesn’t work properly):     Your pick: White Gold   Your answers point to a balance of warm and cool tones, which makes white gold an easy choice. It offers brightness, durability, and a clean finish that works with nearly any outfit or gemstone. If you like pieces you can wear every day without thinking twice, white gold fits that need. It gives you a polished look with long-term versatility.     Shop White Gold

 

Once you’ve taken our silver or gold jewelry test, the next step is understanding what your jewelry is made of and whether it’s genuine. This comes down to authenticity and purity.

 

• Authenticity answers whether a piece is made with real precious metal or simply coated. 
• Purity explains how much of that metal is present. 

 

Whether you inherit your grandmother’s earrings or find an antique ring at a thrift store, knowing if it’s real helps you understand its value. Here are several tests you can run.

 

Find the Hallmarks

The simplest way to tell if a piece is gold or silver is to look for hallmarks. These are small stamps, often located on the inside of rings and on necklace clasps. The designer usually stamps jewelry with a maker’s mark as well as a number that denotes the metal’s type and purity.

 

A hallmark confirms whether the piece contains solid precious metal, a specific purity level, or a plated layer over a base metal. Here are some common hallmarks you may find: 

 

 

	Common Stamps	Notes
Gold	9k or 375 10k or 417 14k or 585 18k or 750 22k or 916 24k or 999	“24k” and “999” both mean the piece is 24 karat gold (99.9% gold).
Silver	800 925 958 999	“925” means sterling silver, or 92.5% silver.
Plated	GP (Gold Plated) HGP (Heavy Gold Plate)	GF means “Gold Filled.”

 

If you don’t see a hallmark, that doesn’t necessarily mean the piece is fake. Older jewelry, resized rings, and some vintage designs may lack stamps. In those cases, additional testing can help clarify what you’re working with.

 

Simple At-Home Tests

When hallmarks are missing or unclear, at-home tests can offer clues about authenticity. They do not provide exact purity levels, however.

 

Before performing any tests, it’s important to note that chemical and scratch-based tests can permanently damage finishes, gemstones, or plated layers. If a piece has sentimental or financial value, professional testing is the safer option.

 

• Magnet test: Gold and silver are not magnetic. If a strong magnet sticks to the jewelry, the piece likely contains base metals beneath the surface, like iron, nickel, or cobalt.
• Tarnish behavior: Silver naturally tarnishes over time, while gold does not. A gray or black patina identifies that the piece is silver, but it does not indicate purity.
• Ice test: Silver conducts heat efficiently, so ice placed on silver will melt faster than on many other metals. This test can suggest the presence of silver, but does not confirm whether it is solid or plated.
• Ceramic streak test: When gently rubbed on unglazed ceramic, real gold tends to leave a gold-colored streak. Dark streaks suggest there are other metals beneath the surface.
• Vinegar test: A few drops of distilled white vinegar can reveal reactions on gold-colored surfaces. If the gold color reacts by changing color or fizzing, it is not real gold.

 

Professional Testing Options

Professionals test jewelry metals’ purity with more advanced methods and devices. You can also purchase some of these kits and testers to use on your own. 

 

• Acid kits: An acid testing kit helps you test the purity of gold by dropping acid onto the jewelry to see if it reacts. Pure gold won’t react, but low-purity and fake gold might change color.

• Electronic testers: Electronic testers use electromagnetic waves to analyze the resistivity of metal. They will tell you if the metal falls within the right range for gold. 

• XRF analysis: X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing is the most precise way to analyse gold. XRF devices detect radiation in the metal and can give accurate readings on the piece’s authenticity as well as carat weight and purity. 

These professional testing options are more accurate and less invasive, posing less damage to your jewelry. 

 

If you’re still deciding about what color jewelry you should wear after taking the silver or gold jewelry quiz, let’s dig deeper. Choosing the right metal often comes down to undertones, how your wardrobe comes together, and what jewelry suits your hair color when it sits closest to your face. 

 

Start with Your Undertone

Some jewelry colors flatter your skin tone while others might create contrast that washes you out. To find the right one for you, take this quick gold or silver skin tone test:

 

You have warm undertones if the veins on your wrist are green, your skin tans easily, and you have brown or hazel eyes. 

 

• Best metal: Yellow or rose gold best brings out your skin’s peach and golden hues. 

 

You have cool skin undertones if your veins are blue or purple, you burn easily in the sun, and your eyes are blue, gray, or green. 

 

• Best metal: Silver colors (silver, white gold, and platinum) are your best matches, bringing out your blue and pink hues.

 

Some people fall somewhere in between with neutral undertones. You have neutral undertones if your veins appear both blue and green. You also sometimes tan and sometimes burn when out in the sun. 

 

• Best metal: Silver and gold look equally good on you, and you may be able to get away with mixing metals more naturally. 

 

Match Your Jewelry to Your Wardrobe

To know if you should wear silver or gold, your wardrobe often offers clear clues. The colors you wear most can guide you toward metals that feel cohesive rather than distracting.

 

Take a look at the dominant tones in your closet. A palette built around earthy shades like rust, mustard, olive, and brown tends to pair naturally with gold jewelry, which adds warmth without overpowering the look.

 

Cooler wardrobes built around blues, grays, greens, and purples often feel more balanced with silver jewelry. Silver finishes echo those cooler tones and keep outfits looking streamlined.

 

Closets anchored in neutrals such as white, cream, navy and black offer the most flexibility. In those cases, both gold and silver integrate easily, giving you freedom to switch metals based on mood or occasion to know if you should wear silver or gold without overthinking it.

 

Factor in Budget, Durability, and Sensitivity

Finally, factor in budget and quality. Investing in high-quality gold and silver is usually a good choice. Lower-quality gold, gold vermeil, or silver-plated pieces often contain copper, which can turn your skin green, or nickel, a common irritant for those with sensitive skin. 

 

Instead of opting for low-quality pieces, compare your options for comfortable and long-lasting wear. Here’s a helpful place to start:

 

• Silver: Sterling silver is the most budget-friendly, accessible choice for those just starting their jewelry collection. 
• White gold: Made of gold plus alloys to make the piece appear silver-white, white gold sits in a mid-range price point. In contrast with silver, white gold is harder and more durable. 
• Platinum: If you’re willing to invest even more, platinum offers unmatched long-term durability for cool-tone pieces you’ll wear for years. 
• Yellow and rose gold: While gold can be expensive, its price varies heavily depending on karat. Higher-purity gold costs more than lower-purity options, but choosing 14k vs. 18k gold comes down to balancing durability with color richness. Fourteen-karat gold offers added strength with a softer yellow tone that works well for everyday jewelry.

After taking this gold or silver jewelry test, no doubt you’re eager to grow your collection with your newly discovered metal match. At James Allen, we’ve lovingly curated a selection of gold and silver jewelry with elevated styles and fair, honest prices. 

 

Explore our collection of fine jewelry that lets your natural beauty shine. From engagement rings to everyday favorites, each piece is made to celebrate effortless, confident self-expression.