Have you ever thought about how your favorite color makes you feel? Why you've selected particular colors for a given design? Or considered how potential customers may react to colors in your designs?

Color is one of the most fulfilling elements in our lives and can attract attention and/or change our moods. Colors can create physical and emotional reactions, acting on both the body and mind. Scientists have found that actual physiological changes take place in human beings when they are exposed to certain colors. Colors can stimulate, excite, depress, tranquilize, increase appetite and create a feeling of warmth or coolness.

Here's a simple guide to common colors, the personality traits they represent and the types of first-impression, psychological emotion they may invoke. You'll find product suggestions to easily incorporate these colors into designs.

Cool Colors

Cool colors tend to have a calming effect.

Blue - Peace, Calmness and Loyalty

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Aquamarine

Bermuda Blue

Blue Shade

Blue Zircon

Capri Blue

Denim Blue

Iridescent Dark Blue

Dreamy Blue

Iridescent Light Blue

Light Azore

Light Blue

Light Sapphire

Majestic Blue

Montana

Ocean DeLite

Pacific Opal

Royal Blue DeLite

Sapphire

Tahitian

Gemstones

Blue Agate

Amazonite

Apatite

Angelite

Aquamarine

Blue Aventurine

Chalcedony

Turquoise Blue Magnesite

Chrysocolla

Dumortierite

Blue Goldstone

Blue Tigereye

Iolite

Blue Lace Agate

Lapis Howlite

Lapis Lazuli

Larimar

Blue Malaysia Jade

Sapphire

Sodalite

Green - Nature, Health and Healing

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Chrysolite Opal

Eden Green

Emerald

Erinite

Iridescent Green Pearl

Laguna DeLite

Pacific Opal

Peridot

Silky Sage DeLite

Gemstones

Green Agate

Green Chrysoprase

Green Aventurine

Emerald Green Aventurine

Variscite

Green Chrysocolla

Emerald

Green Jade

Green Line Jasper

Malachite

Green Onyx

Peridot

Green Serpentine

Green Quartz

Green Tourmaline

Warm Colors

Warm colors convey emotions.

Red - All Things Intense and Passionate

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Bordeaux

Burgundy

Iridescent Red

Light Siam

Rouge

Royal Red DeLite

Ruby

Scarlet

Siam

Gemstones

Red Agate

Red Aventurine

Red Coral

Red Garnet

Red Howlite

Red Jasper

Red Malachite

Ruby

Red Tigereye

Pink - Love, Sweetness and Romance

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Antique Pink

Blush Rose

Dusty Pink DeLite

Fuchsia

Dreamy Rose

Light Rose

Lotus Pink DeLite

Mulberry Pink

Padparadscha

Powder Rose

Rosaline

Rose

Rose Peach

Rose Water Opal

Silk

Ultra Pink AB

Vintage Rose

Gemstones

Pink Agate

Pink Coral

Fuchsia Crazy Lace Agate

Fuchsia Malaysia Jade

Morganite

Rhodochrosite

Rhodonite

Rose Quartz

Pink Topaz

Pink Tourmaline

Pink Opal

Yellow - Curiosity, Playfulness and Good Cheer

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Jonquil

Light Amber

Light Topaz

Metallic Sunshine

Topaz

Yellow Opal

Gemstones

Yellow Agate

Yellow Calcite

Citrine

Yellow Jade

Yellow Quartz

Yellow Turquoise

Orange - Comfort, Creativity and Joy

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Chili Pepper

Topaz

Golden Topaz

Light Peach

Orange Glow DeLite

Peach

Smoked Amber

Summer Blush

Gemstones

Amber

Aragonite

Carnelian

Peach Moonstone

Sunstone

Gold - Richness, Extravagance and Tradition

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Bright Gold

Crystal Rose Gold

Gold

Golden Shadow

Light Colorado Topaz

Light Gold

Metallic Light Gold

Rose Gold Pearls

Vintage Gold

Gemstones

Amber

Pyrite

Golden Agate

Aragonite

Citrine

Mixed Warm and Cool Colors

Colors with attributes from both the warm and cool colors can calm and excite.

Purple - Royalty, Luxury and Fantasy

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Amethyst

Burgundy

Violet

Elderberry

Iridescent Purple

Iris

Lavender

Lavender DeLite

Light Amethyst

Mauve

Purple Haze

Tanzanite

Ultra Purple AB

Gemstones

Amethyst

Ametrine

Charoite

Iolite

Lavender Fluorite

Tanzanite

Turquoise - Feminine, Lively and Sophisticated

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Blue Zircon

Light Turquoise

Pacific Opal

Gemstones

Chrysocolla

Turquoise Blue Magnesite

Turquoise Howlite

Neutral Colors

Neutral colors help to put the focus on other colors or serve to tone down colors that might otherwise be overpowering on their own.

White - Purity, Cleanliness and Idealism

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Cream

Moonlight

Pearlescent White

White

White Opal

Gemstones

White Agate

White Coral

White Howlite

White Marble

White Moonstone

White Quartz

White Riverstone

Pearls

Brown - Primitive and Down to Earth

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Bronze

Colorado Topaz

Copper

Light Silk

Mahogany

Powder Almond

Velvet Brown

Gemstones

Bronzite

Brown Goldstone

Brown Marble

Brown Tigereye

Chrysanthemum Stone

Landscape Stone

Petrified Wood

Tiger Iron

Silver - Sleek, Glamorous and Rich

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Comet Argent Light (CAL)

Light Chrome

Light Chrome 2X

Paradise Shine

Silver Night

Silver Night 2X

Silver Shade

Gemstones

Labradorite

Moonstone

Silver Hemalyke™

Grey - Formal, Conservative and Balanced

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Black Diamond

Dark Grey

Graphite

Greige

Iridescent Dove Grey

Light Grey

Platinum

Serene Grey DeLite

Silver Night

Gemstones

Grey Agate

Hemalyke

Grey Moonstone

Grey Quartz

Black - Dominant, Dramatic and Elegant

Design with:

Crystal Passions®

Black

Black Diamond

Graphite

Hematite

Jet

Mystic Black

Gemstones

Blackstone

Black Diamond

Hemalyke

Jet

Lava

Onyx

Additional Resources ...

• ''The Psychology of Color and Jewelry Design'' article
• ''Fire Mountain Gems and Beads® Color Forecast'' information
• ''The Basics of Color'' how-to video and article

Customer Comments

We would like to share some of the customer comments we received in response to the article, "The Power of Color in Jewelry: What Color Messages are You Sending?," featured in a newsletter. Please keep in mind that the comments expressed below are those of our customers and do not reflect the views of Fire Mountain Gems and Beads.

"The article on color is excellent."
- Brenda

"SO ENJOYED READING THIS ON THE COLORS AS IT WAS SO COOL TO KNOW WHAT I KIND OF FELT REGARDING THE COLORS AND WHAT THEY MEAN. I LOVE RED AND HAVE FOR OVER 60 YEARS AND I AM A VERY INTENSE AND PASSIONATE PERSON.....MAYBE EXAGERATED. ANYWAY I NOW CAN REALLY TELL PEOPLE WHAT THE COLORS THEY LIKE MEAN AND SEE IF THEY ARE TRUE TO THEIR COLORS! THANKS FOR THIS"
- Genie

"I really like these with things I can take notes of to help me understand more on color theory and those Crystal Passions® that fit."
- Paula

"Excellent article. Enjoyed it very much."
- Julie

"This article is spot on. I have been doing events for over 20 years and these simple guidelines are tried and true. I received sales training earlier in my life and these principles have not changed. If you use them consistently you will reap the rewards. It was good advice."
- Anita

"Great article about color. I didn't see rose quartz under pink."
- Anonymous

"Wow, so rich and full of ideas and examples thank you."
- Helen

"I love the power of color resource. Knowing the feelings the colors evoke could be helpful in designing and the pictures of different gemstones and crystals that come in the colors is very helpful! Thank you"
- Diane

"Great One--Makes me want to bead again after ten-year hiatus! Thank you"
- Mary Lu

"Excellent! Just what I need to know as a learner. Many thanks"
- Helen

"I loved this feature on using different colors and the various types of beads available in these colors! Your newsletters are great--I look forward to them as inspiration and education! Thanks for such great support for your customers!"
- Carol

"No Question here. Just a great big thank you for putting information on your site to learn more about the color wheel, color qualities and meanings and the basics of color. I can count on Fire Mountain to steer me in the right direction. Thanks again,"
- M J