Two-Tone Jewelry
The two-tone look is easily considered a classic. Impervious to changing fads, this sophisticated combination is easy to match with your wardrobe now and forever. The most traditional choices are 14kt and 18kt two-tone gold jewelry, and while many people like the look of yellow and white gold together, white and rose gold have also become a modern favorite.
By selecting jewelry made with alternative metals, it's possible to achieve the two-tone look for a lower price; gold and sterling silver jewelry is a great example of this. The same can be said for stainless steel and gold plate, but to truly maximize your savings, you could explore stainless steel jewelry with PVD coating. PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition, which is a layer of colored film that forms over stainless steel in a vacuum chamber. It can be produced in any metallic color, and it is more durable and most importantly, more affordable, than more traditional metals.
On the other hand, if you want to impress your audience and have a bigger budget to do so, rhodium-plated jewelry may be the way to go. This gorgeous metal is also the most expensive metal on the market due to its rarity—as it is only produced as a mining byproduct of certain metals. You can also go with ruthenium plating, which adds an attractive gray-black accent and helps protect your jewelry from scratches and oxidation. Mixed metal jewelry can also be adorned with precious gemstones like diamonds, sapphires and amethyst to dazzle even further.
Tri-Tone Jewelry
If you're looking for a happy medium between trendsetting and traditional, 14kt and 18kt tri-tone gold jewelry is a fabulous option. The combination of white, yellow and rose gold takes three classic metallic tones and arranges them together in a modern way. The tri-tone look is a great fit for a more eclectic style profile, as the visual effect is very unique and extremely versatile.
If tri-colored gold isn't in your budget, there are numerous other ways to achieve the look for less. Like with two-tone jewelry, a combination of different metals such as gold, silver, steel or even bronze, will help make the style more affordable while maintaining the overall aesthetic.
Multi-Tonal Jewelry
Contemporary designers love to experiment with the three classic yellow, white and rose gold tones and mix in unique new metal shades like gunmetal, bronze and even oxidized sterling silver. This is a fashion trend for the more daring and creative style seekers, as matching multi-tonal pieces with your other jewelry can be tricky. But if you're up to the challenge, you'll have so much fun playing with mixed metal combinations to create your perfect look. Express your own unique sense of style by trying your hand at creating a mixed metal masterpiece with cuffs, bangle bracelets, ring stacks, hoop earrings, pendant necklaces for layering and more.
How to Wear Mixed Metal Jewelry
Since the look of mixed metal jewelry is considered a more modern movement, it can be somewhat challenging to find tried and true combinations. The good news is that more metals mean more options for pairing, so styling will be easier than you think. Feel free to balance and layer with different combinations of tri-tone or multi-tone jewelry to match your unique style. If you're feeling overwhelmed by one too many tones, you can also go for simple two-tone jewelry. Gold and silver jewelry, in particular, have already become a staple addition to sophisticated and formal attire alike.
Cleaning Mixed Metal Jewelry
Keeping your mixed metal jewelry pieces clean can seem like a daunting task since different metals can have different cleaning needs. For example, silver is more vulnerable to oxidation, while gold is more sensitive to soaps. In general, it's best to err on the side of caution when dealing with mixed metal jewelry. Make sure to wipe down your metal jewelry regularly with a polishing cloth. Never use tissue or paper towels, as this can leave behind tiny fibers and scratch your jewelry. When not in use, it's best to keep your jewelry in a fabric-lined box to prevent tarnish or dust buildup. As an additional preventative measure, line your box with anti-tarnish strips, which absorb pollutants to slow down oxidation. When in doubt, take your jewelry to a professional who can give your piece the deep cleaning it needs.
Mixed Metal Jewelry FAQs
What is mixed metal jewelry?
Mixed metal jewelry refers to pieces that blend more than one shade of metal. This can include individual strands of metal woven in a knot pattern or metal pieces with accents of a different colored metal. In the past, mixed metal pieces were limited to using different shades of the same metal, but more recently, contemporary trends are embracing new and exciting combinations of different metals.
Is it fashionable to wear mixed metal jewelry?
Absolutely! In recent years, trends have started to shed "fashion rules" and unspoken style limitations in favor of promoting individual taste and personal expression.
Which combinations of metal look the best?
This comes down to personal taste, and the only limits to potential combinations are your own imagination and creative vision. Two-tone gold and silver jewelry tend to work best with classic, understated fashions. For something more daring, try a design with a unique look, like dark ruthenium plating, which creates a sharp, dramatic contrast against gold or silver and makes an eye-catching statement.
