Choose the colour you wear most, then decide how much of the carving you want to show. Blue and green are the easiest to wear. Red, purple and yellow make the strongest statement. Clear glass shows the carving most sharply.
Colour is the first thing you see in an intaglio and the carving is the second. Light passes through the glass and picks out the carved lines, so the colour changes what the carving does. This guide goes through the colours in the intaglio earrings collection and the intaglio necklaces, and how each one wears.
One note first. The meaning of a colour depends on the culture and the occasion. We describe how each colour looks and works with clothes, and we leave the meanings to you.
How colour changes the carving
- Clear glass has no colour to compete with the design, so the carving shows most sharply.
- Pale colours such as pink show the carving as a soft shadow.
- Deep colours such as dark blue, green, red and purple read as one rich colour from a distance. The detail appears as the light moves through the glass.
Colour by colour
| Colour | How it wears | An example |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Sits easily against white, grey, denim and black. The most flexible choice. | Blue intaglio earrings, Ancient Roman style |
| Turquoise blue | Brighter and cooler than blue. It livens up neutrals. | Turquoise blue intaglio earrings with Victorian dangles |
| Green | Works with neutrals and with other greens, and is quiet at a distance. | Green round intaglio earrings, Greek Roman style |
| Pink | The softest of the colours, suited to lighter clothes. | Pink glass intaglio earrings, Roman Revival style |
| Purple | A strong colour that works with black, grey and cream. | Purple round intaglio earrings, 1920s Art Deco style |
| Red | The boldest choice. It stands out most against plain dark clothes. | Red intaglio earrings, Victorian style |
| Yellow | Warm and distinct. It lifts navy, black and denim. | Yellow intaglio earrings with Victorian dangles |
| Clear | The quietest choice, with the sharpest carving. | Clear square intaglio earrings, Vintage Bridal style |
Beyond these, the collections also include brown, olive green, indigo and black pieces. The colour names on our pages follow the product titles.
How to decide
- Start with your wardrobe. Look at the colours you reach for on an ordinary week. If most of them are neutral, a blue, green or clear stone will fit everything. If you wear a lot of colour, a clear or pale stone keeps the look calm.
- Decide how much carving you want to see. If the picture matters most, go clear or pale. If the colour matters most, go deep.
- Think about the occasion. Red, purple and yellow suit evenings and events. Blue, green and clear suit every day. For a wedding, a blue pair is the classic choice, as explained in Something Blue: Choosing Intaglio Jewellery for Your Wedding.
- Pick one colour for the whole look. Matching an earring to a ring or a pendant in the same colour ties the look together without a full set.
Colour and the light
Coloured glass looks different in different light. In daylight it often looks lighter and clearer. Indoors, under warm bulbs, the same stone looks deeper. Photographs and screens also shift a colour slightly. Because every piece is made by hand, small differences in the colour and the carving from one piece to the next are normal.
Choosing a colour as a gift
If you do not know the taste of the person you are buying for, blue or clear is the safest choice. Both sit with the widest range of clothes. If you know the colours she wears most, match one of those. Earrings need no size, which makes them the easiest gift, and a pendant works in the same way. Each piece arrives in a gift box.
One colour across three pieces
You do not need a full set to match. A blue pair of earrings, a blue pendant and a blue ring, worn on different days or together, give you a small collection in one colour. If you want pieces that were made to go together, look at Necklace and Earring Sets: How to Wear and Gift a Matching Set.
Which piece first
If you are choosing your first intaglio, earrings are the easiest place to start. They need no size and they sit near the face, where colour does the most. If you prefer a single point of colour, a pendant works the same way. For a guide to shape and drop, read Intaglio Earrings: Shapes, Sizes and How to Choose a Pair. To understand what you are looking at, start with What Is an Intaglio?.
Every piece is made by hand to order and sent in a gift box. It is dispatched within 2 to 5 business days and arrives 15 to 20 days after you place it, dispatch included.
Frequently asked questions
Which colour of intaglio jewellery is the most versatile?
Blue and green. They sit easily against the colours most people wear every day, and a clear stone is just as easy if you want the carving to show.
Which colour shows the carving best?
Clear glass. With no colour to compete with the design, the carved lines stand out most sharply. Pale colours come second.
Do the colours look different in daylight and indoors?
Yes, as all coloured glass does. Light passes through the stone, so the colour looks lighter in daylight and deeper under warm indoor light.
Can I match earrings to a ring or a pendant?
Yes. Choose the same colour in each piece. The earrings, rings and necklaces are all in the jewellery collection, in the same range of colours.
What does each colour mean?
That depends on the culture and the occasion, so we describe how a colour looks and wears and leave the meaning to the wearer.