Jewel Tone Color Palette: Hex Code Ideas
A jewel tone color palette takes its colors from precious stones — emerald green, sapphire blue, ruby red, amethyst purple — all deep, highly saturated, and rich rather than pale or pastel. The effect is luxurious and dramatic, which is why jewel tones dominate evening wear, premium packaging, and high-end interiors. The named palettes and hex table below are ready to use, followed by guidance on combining them.
For why deep, saturated colors read as rich and luxurious, see our color psychology guide. Jewel tones are essentially the most saturated end of the dark color palette family — they glow against dark backgrounds. To extend the purple range, see our shades of purple reference.
What colors are in a jewel tone palette?
Jewel tones are deep, saturated colors named directly for gemstones. Emerald (#046307) is a rich, deep green; sapphire (#0F52BA) a vivid royal blue; ruby (#9B111E) a deep, warm red; amethyst (#6F2DA8) a saturated purple; topaz (#FFC87C) a warm golden-amber that acts as the bright, metallic-leaning accent; and garnet (#733635) a dark, brooding red-brown. What unites them is high saturation combined with medium-to-low lightness — they are vivid but never light or washed out, which is exactly what gives them their gem-like glow.
| Color name | Hex | RGB | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald | #046307 | 4, 99, 7 | Primary |
| Sapphire | #0F52BA | 15, 82, 186 | Secondary |
| Ruby | #9B111E | 155, 17, 30 | Accent |
| Amethyst | #6F2DA8 | 111, 45, 168 | Secondary |
| Topaz | #FFC87C | 255, 200, 124 | Bright / metallic accent |
| Garnet | #733635 | 115, 54, 53 | Deep anchor |
5 jewel tone palettes with hex codes
Each scheme combines deep, saturated gemstone colors. Copy the hex codes directly.
1. Classic Jewel Tones
The full gemstone mix — luxurious, dramatic, and opulent.
Emerald #046307 Sapphire #0F52BA Ruby #9B111E Amethyst #6F2DA8 Topaz #FFC87C
2. Emerald & Gold
Deep green with warm topaz gold — the signature luxury pairing.
Deep Emerald #04361F Emerald #046307 Jewel Green #1E8449 Topaz #FFC87C Antique Gold #C9A227
3. Sapphire & Amethyst
Cool blue and purple gems for a regal, mysterious scheme.
Deep Sapphire #0A2463 Sapphire #0F52BA Amethyst #6F2DA8 Orchid #9B5DE5 Pearl #F2E9E4
4. Ruby & Garnet
Warm, deep reds for a rich, dramatic, romantic palette.
Oxblood #5A0E12 Ruby #9B111E Garnet #733635 Antique Gold #C9A227 Pearl #F2E9E4
5. Jewel on Charcoal
All four gems glowing against a near-black ground — maximum drama.
Charcoal #1A1A1A Emerald #046307 Sapphire #0F52BA Ruby #9B111E Topaz #FFC87C
Which jewel tones go together?
Jewel tones pair unusually well because they share the same deep, saturated character — they read as a matched set, the way real gemstones do in a single piece of jewelry. Emerald (#046307) and Sapphire (#0F52BA) are a foundational cool pairing, while Ruby (#9B111E) and Amethyst (#6F2DA8) bring warm and regal counterpoints; all four together feel rich rather than chaotic because none of them is washed out.
The key supporting move is the metallic note: warm Topaz (#FFC87C) or an antique gold acts like the setting that holds the stones, and it is what tips a jewel palette from merely “saturated” to “luxurious.” A reliable formula: choose one or two gems as primaries, add a third as accent, ground everything on a dark neutral or pearl, and let a touch of gold do the metallic work. Because the colors are all deep, you usually need a light neutral (pearl, cream) or a dark one (charcoal) to give the eye somewhere to rest.
How to use a jewel tone palette in design
The defining move with jewel tones is letting them glow against a contrasting ground — either a dark near-black (#1A1A1A) for maximum drama, or a soft pearl (#F2E9E4) for an elegant, lighter take. Choose one or two gems to lead (say emerald and sapphire), use a third as accent, and reserve Topaz (#FFC87C) or gold for metallic highlights, dividers, and small luxe details.
The crucial discipline is restraint with saturation: because every jewel tone is already vivid, using all of them at full strength everywhere becomes overwhelming. Anchor with a neutral and let the gems appear as deliberate, rich moments. A 60-30-10 split works well — 60% neutral or dominant gem, 30% secondary gem, 10% gold accent. These colors also photograph beautifully against velvet, satin, and dark wood textures. For more options in the purple range, see our shades of purple reference, and use warm vs cool colors to balance the warm gems (ruby, garnet, topaz) against the cool ones (emerald, sapphire, amethyst).
Jewel tone palette for branding, web, and interiors
In branding, jewel tones signal luxury, quality, drama, and confidence, which suits beauty, fashion, spirits, premium events, and high-end services. A deep emerald or sapphire identity feels expensive and self-assured. See how to choose brand colors for choosing which gem leads — each carries a distinct personality, from ruby’s passion to sapphire’s authority. For neutrals that won’t fight the saturation, our neutral color palette guide pairs cleanly here.
On the web, jewel tones make striking, premium interfaces, especially in dark mode where they glow against near-black. Use one gem as the primary brand color, a neutral for backgrounds and text, and gold sparingly for accents; always check contrast, since deep saturated colors can be hard to read as small text. For interiors, jewel tones are a defining maximalist direction — emerald velvet, sapphire walls, ruby textiles, and brass or gold hardware create rooms that feel opulent and dramatic. Used against charcoal or deep neutrals, they connect naturally to the dark color palette.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors are in a jewel tone palette?
A jewel tone palette is named for gemstones: emerald (#046307), sapphire (#0F52BA), ruby (#9B111E), amethyst (#6F2DA8), topaz (#FFC87C), and garnet (#733635). They are deep, highly saturated, richly luminous colors that feel luxurious, dramatic, and opulent.
What makes a color a jewel tone?
High saturation combined with medium-to-low lightness. Jewel tones are vivid but never pale or washed out — they stay deep and rich, like light passing through a gemstone. That mix of vividness and depth is what separates them from pastels or muted tones.
Do jewel tones go together?
Yes — unusually well. Because emerald, sapphire, ruby, and amethyst all share the same deep, saturated character, they read as a matched set rather than clashing. Adding a warm metallic like topaz or gold and grounding everything on a dark or pearl neutral keeps the combination rich rather than chaotic.
What neutral goes with jewel tones?
Either a dark near-black or charcoal (#1A1A1A) for maximum drama, or a soft pearl or cream (#F2E9E4) for a lighter, elegant look. A warm gold (#C9A227) also acts as a metallic neutral, working like the setting that holds the gemstones together.
