OUR COMPLIMENTS TO COMPLEMENTS

We’d venture to guess the average person doesn’t spend a great deal of time contemplating color theory. But in our business – it’s essential. Anyone can look at this outfit, or just this serape even, and declare, “Those colors look beautiful together!” Well, it doesn’t happen by accident and it isn’t magic; it’s science. Way back in 1666, Isaac Newton invented the color wheel, and for centuries, artists and designers have used it to coordinate complementary colors, which you can determine by choosing a color on the wheel and locating its direct opposite. In this case, it’s the turquoise and orange that grab your eye and make the pattern pop.

And you’ve definitely seen it somewhere other than serape. The pleasing color combination is heavily present on the southwestern jewelry scene. From jaclas to cuffs to Oscar Betz earrings, artisans have been combining cabochons of turquoise alongside orange spiny oyster shell to create colorful works of art for centuries. Because it works.

The more you know.