Our Favorite Ways to Style Silver and Gold Jewelry Together
The age-old question: sterling silver or gold? Our answer: both!
For years, jewelry advice suggested choosing one metal and sticking with it. But mixing silver and gold jewelry is a beautiful way to add depth and interest to your everyday look.
The easiest way to style silver and gold jewelry is to start with one metal as your foundation, add the second metal through a complementary design and repeat both tones throughout your look. Layering necklaces at different lengths, mixing ring widths or choosing designs with a shared texture or symbol can help the combination feel balanced and intentional.
Start with the Jewelry You Already Wear Most
The easiest way to mix silver and gold jewelry isn't to start over. It's to start with the pieces you already reach for every day.
Maybe it's a sterling silver charm bracelet you've been adding to for years. Maybe it's a gold ring you never take off. Choose that piece first, then build around it.
Let one metal lead the way.
If most of your jewelry is sterling silver, begin there and add touches of gold. If gold is your go-to, let silver play a supporting role.
You don't need to split everything evenly. In fact, mixed-metal looks often feel more natural when one metal takes the lead and the other adds subtle contrast.
Think of it this way: if you're wearing a favorite gold necklace, add a dainty sterling silver change for contrast and a little extra interest. If you have a sterling silver ring ring stack, add a gold ring to the mix.
Choose a Mixed-Metal Design to Build Around
If you're hesitant to mix metals, a design that already includes both silver and gold can make the process feel effortless.
A mixed-metal pendant, bracelet or ring naturally ties everything together and can help connect jewelry that might otherwise feel unrelated.
Choose One Focal Point
If you're wearing a bold pendant necklace, let it be the centerpiece of your look.
If your ring stack is where you want the attention, keep your bracelets and necklaces a little simpler.
Giving the eye a place to land keeps your jewelry from feeling busy and helps every piece stand out.
Repeat a Detail Across Your Mixed-Metal Look
Silver and gold don't have to match, but they should feel like they're an intentional part of your mixed-metal style.
For example:
- A sterling silver rope-style ring can pair beautifully with a gold bracelet that has a similar twisted detail.
- A floral necklace can feel connected to flower-inspired earrings, even when they're different metals.
- Smooth, polished designs often work well together regardless of whether they're silver or gold.
When you repeat a shape, texture or symbol, the look feels intentional without looking overly coordinated.
How to Mix Silver and Gold by Jewelry Type
Necklaces
Layering necklaces is one of the simplest ways to wear mixed metals.
Start with a necklace you love, then add another in a different metal at a different length. The variation allows each design to stand on its own while creating a layered look that feels collected over time.
If one necklace has a meaningful pendant, let it be the star and keep the surrounding layers simple.
Rings
Mixed-metal ring stacks can be as subtle or expressive as you like.
Try alternating silver and gold bands within a stack, or wear gold rings on one finger and sterling silver rings on another.
If you're combining several rings, varying the widths can create visual interest while keeping the overall look balanced.
Bracelets
Bracelets naturally lend themselves to mixed-metal styling.
Pair a silver chain bracelet with a gold cuff. Combine a meaningful charm bracelet with a simple gold bangle. Mix textures and silhouettes to create dimension.
Because bracelets move and catch the light differently throughout the day, they often make silver and gold feel especially natural together.
Earrings
Earrings are a great way to support a mixed-metal look.
If you're wearing layered necklaces or several bracelets, a simple pair of earrings may be all you need to add a different metal into the equation. If earrings are your statement piece, try mixing metals throughout your ear stack or choosing a mixed-metal earring design.
Of course, you don't need a mixed-metal design to make the look work. It's simply one option that makes the transition feel seamless, especially if you’re just getting started.
Overview: Three Easy Ways to Wear Mixed Metals
1. Keep It Simple
If you're trying mixed metals for the first time, start small.
Pair one sterling silver design with one gold design and look for a common detail, such as a similar shape, finish or scale.
2. Build Through Layers
Ready to add more?
Layer necklaces at different lengths. Stack rings in both metals. Combine several bracelets and repeat each metal throughout the look.
The key is making the combination feel intentional rather than random.
3. Start with What You Have
Some of our favorite mixed-metal looks aren't built around styling at all. They're built around stories.
A sterling silver cross received years ago. A gold ring that marks a milestone. A bracelet that reminds you of someone you love.
If you’ve just been waiting for permission to wear them all together, this is it! Sterling silver and gold naturally go together. If you want it to feel more intentional, you can also build on what you have to tie it all together.
How to Mix Silver and Gold Checklist
- Start with the jewelry you wear most often.
- Add a design in an opposite, contrasting metal color.
- Repeat both metals somewhere in your look to make it feel intentional.
- Layer necklaces at different lengths.
- Mix bracelet shapes and silhouettes.
- Balance statement designs with simpler pieces.
- Look for a shared texture, shape, themes or color.
- Wear the pieces that mean the most to you.
- Make adjustments until the look feels comfortable and natural.
Frequently Asked Questions About Silver & Gold Jewelry Styling
Can you wear silver and gold jewelry together?
Yes! In fact, many jewelry collections naturally become a mix of metals over time. A sterling silver charm bracelet you've worn for years can look beautiful with a mix of sterling silver and gold charms. The key is creating a visual connection between your pieces. Repeating both metals throughout your look or choosing designs that share a similar texture, shape or symbol can help everything feel intentional.
How do you mix gold and silver necklaces?
Start with one necklace you want to be the focal point, then build around it. Try layering necklaces at different lengths so each design has room to stand out. Mixing chain weights and textures can also create contrast and make the layers feel more natural. For more ideas, explore our necklace layering guide.
Do gold and silver jewelry need to be perfectly balanced?
No, one metal can take the lead while the other adds a hint of contrast. For example, you might wear mostly sterling silver rings and add a favorite gold ring to your everyday stack. Rather than counting how much of each metal you're wearing, focus on creating a look that feels natural to you (and you love wearing).
What is the easiest way to start mixing metals?
Two of our favorite ways is to start with what you already have an add a few more intentional pieces or start with a mixed-metal design that naturally brings silver and gold together. It’s also helpful to start with just one product category: start with a mixed metal ring stack or focus on mixing metals in your necklace layers.
Can you mix gold and silver rings?
Yes, we love alternating metals within a ring stack or wearing silver and gold rings across multiple fingers. Mixing widths and textures can add interest while helping the stack feel balanced.
Does mixed-metal jewelry work for everyday wear?
Always! Mixed metals can be as subtle or as layered as you'd like. You might wear a single sterling silver bracelet alongside a gold necklace, or combine rings, necklaces and bracelets in both metals. The best mixed-metal look is the one that fits naturally into your everyday style and lets you wear the pieces that matter most to you.