The rich, luxuriant colors we call "jewel tones" come from actual jewels such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and amethysts. In times gone by, such jewels were owned only by royalty and the extremely wealthy, which gives them some of their appeal even today.

You can incorporate the robust blues and greens from sapphires and emeralds in your wardrobe to give an outfit a cool, regal feel. Warm jewel tones, such as ruby red, garnet, malachite and amethyst purple bring the ultimate look of timeless affluence and power.   

These powerful colors add drama to an outfit, bestowing an undeniable sense of presence and power to the wearer.  Jewel tones are commanding. Dressier fabrics, such as silk and cashmere, are well-served by the majesty of jewel tones.  

Because these colors are so powerful, they generally need to stand alone in an outfit. Rather than mixing ruby, sapphire, and emerald colors in a single outfit, choose one jewel tone for each ensemble or make the entire look more monochromatic. 

If the rich color of a jewel tone still seems likely to overwhelm the other pieces in your ensemble, consider using the color in accessories, such as cuff links or a pocket square and, of course, your tie. This helps you add tasteful panache to your look without allowing a strong color to dominate.