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Colour is never an afterthought in fine jewellery. The thread peeking out between beads is part of the palette, whether you planned it that way or not. GRIFFIN has understood this since 1866, which is why their 100% Natural Silk Bead Cord comes in a thoughtfully curated range of 21 ecologically dyed colours. This guide walks through each one and shows you how to use colour to make your favourite jewelry, not just an afterthought.
The Full GRIFFIN Natural Silk Colour Palette
GRIFFIN’s 21-colour palette wasn’t thrown together, it’s been developed over generations of working directly with professional jewellers, pearl stringers and gemstone designers. Every colour earns its place by serving a clear function: matching specific stone families, complementing metal finishes or creating intentional visual harmony.
The range spans the full tonal spectrum, from pure whites and warm yellow through pinks, reds, blues, greens, earth tones, greys and blacks. Each colour is available in every size from No. 0 through No. 16, so you never have to choose between the colours you want and the size you need. Each one is ecologically dyed using processes that maintain fibre integrity while delivering lasting, vivid results.
GRIFFIN has also expanded into Rainbow and Neon variations - multicolour cords that introduce ombre, gradient and UV-reactive effects.
How to Match Silk Thread Colour to Gemstone Colour
The core question when choosing thread colour is simple: does the cord support the stone, or does it compete with it? There are three ways a jeweller might approach this:
Tonal match: Choose a thread that closely mirrors the stone. Turquoise cord under turquoise beads, lilac under amethyst. The knots become nearly invisible and the strand reads as a seamless whole.
Tonal complement: Go a shade lighter or darker within the same colour family. A dusty rose cord under deep garnet beads adds warmth without competing with the stone.
Intentional contrast: Use an opposing colour to create visual interest. Navy thread against white pearls, or cornelian cord beneath moonstone, turns the thread into a deliberate design element.
For professional work, tonal matching is the safe, conservative choice. For designer and handmade pieces, playing with contrast and complementary colours lets the thread itself become part of the design language - a signature move for makers with a distinctive voice.
White, Beige and Neutral Colour Tones: The Foundation
GRIFFIN’s neutral range - white,, beige, grey, and black - is the foundation of any professional collection. These are the colours professional jewellers reach for most, precisely because they serve the widest variety of projects.
- White: The definitive pearl stringing colour. Clear, luminous and professional, it disappears beneath white Akoya and South Sea pearls without introducing any colour bias. Also ideal for crystal and diamond beads.
- Beige: Versatile and warm. Flatters natural materials including bone, wood, freshwater pearl and light-coloured stone. A reliable all-rounder for natural jewellery designs.
- Grey: Contemporary and cool. Excellent beneath grey freshwater pearls, labradorite, moonstone and light metallic beads. Works particularly well with rhodium-plated and white-gold findings.
- Black: The boldest of the neutrals. The traditional choice for Tahitian black pearls, onyx and dark labradorite. A striking contrast option for white or pale gemstones.
Pink, Coral and Red Colour Tones: Romantic and Bold
The warm end of the GRIFFIN Colour palette - pink, coral, and red speaks to romantic, expressive and bold jewellery design. These colours are especially popular in fashion jewellery, bridal work and contemporary artisan pieces.
- Pink: Clean and feminine. Pairs naturally with rose quartz, morganite and pale freshwater pearls. A popular choice for children’s jewellery and gifting pieces.
- Coral: A muted, vintage pink with genuine nostalgic warmth. Works beautifully in bridal jewellery alongside white or cream pearls, and with blush-toned beads like rhodonite and pink opal.
- Red: Vivid and confident. Pairs with garnet, red coral and ruby beads, and works as a deliberate contrast thread beneath white pearls for a fashion-forward result.
These colours reward confident design choices. Matched to their corresponding stones, they deliver seamless elegance. Used as contrast, they become the signature of a designer with a point of view.
Blues, Greens and Turquoise: Nature-Inspired Pairings
GRIFFIN’s blue-green family covers the colours most closely associated with the natural world: ocean, forest, sky and earth. These are among the most visually distinctive threads in the range and pair with some of the most popular gemstones in contemporary jewellery.
- Blue: Fresh and crisp. Pairs beautiful with aquamarine, blue topaz, chalcedony, and pale blue freshwater pearls - a natural go-to for spring and summer collections.
- Turquoise: Perhaps the most iconic pairing thread in the range. Turquoise silk beneath turquoise beads creates a seamless tonal unity; it also works beautifully with larimar, amazonite and chrysocolla.
- Green: Soft and botanical. Flatters jade, aventurine, serpentine and light green tourmaline. A contemporary colour with growing popularity in handmade jewellery.
- Olive: Earthy and muted. Sits beautifully with natural unpolished stones, wooden beads and forest-toned gemstones. Popular in bohemian and earth-inspired designs.
Earth Tones: Cornelian, Brown and Olive Colours
Earth tones are among the most enduring in jewellery design, and GRIFFIN’s Silk cord colour palette reflects this with a warm selection of cornelian, olive, brown and ochre-adjacent colours that suit natural, tactile and handcrafted aesthetics.
- Cornelian: A rich terracotta-orange named for the carnelian gemstone. Pairs predictably and beautifully with carnelian and amber beads; also provides warm contrast beneath sunstone, coral and autumn-palette designs.
- Brown: A mid-brown with warmth. Works with tiger’s eye, smoky quartz, wood and brown tourmaline. A reliable choice for artisanal and nature-inspired collections.
- Olive: Vivid and bold. A confident contrast choice that energises pale or neutral strands and pairs directly with Mexican fire opal, orange carnelian and sunstone.
Earth tones tend to sell strongly through handmade marketplaces and at craft markets, where buyers are drawn to natural, grounded aesthetics. Keeping a well-stocked selection of GRIFFIN earth tones is a sound commercial decision for sellers targeting their audience.
Matching Thread Colour to Clasp Finish
Clasps and findings anchor the ends of a strand, and the thread visible at those termination points matters. A mismatch between thread and findings can undermine an otherwise beautifully executed piece.
- Yellow gold findings: Cornelian complements warm gold tones. Avoid cool greys or blue colours, which create an unresolved contrast.
- White gold / rhodium / silver findings: White, grey, and blue colour work harmoniously. Black colour thread can also create an intentional and sophisticated contrast.
- Rose gold findings: Pink, and coral are natural choices. Garnet adds depth and coordinates well with rose-gold-toned metals.
- Oxidised / antique metal findings: Brown, olive, beige and cornelian colours echo the aged character of oxidised findings and create cohesive, artisanal aesthetics.
When in doubt, match the thread to the predominant stone rather than the finding. Jewellers notice the metal more than buyers do.
How GRIFFIN Natural Silk Thread Colour Holds Over Time
One of the most common concerns among jewellers working with coloured thread is colour stability. A piece built today should still look consistent in five years, and thread that fades or shifts undermines the integrity of the design.
GRIFFIN’s ecological dyeing process is specifically formulated for long-term colour stability. The dye penetrates the silk fibre rather than sitting on the surface, so colour isn’t simply a coating that can wash or wear away. Under normal conditions - worn regularly and kept away from prolonged UV exposure and harsh chemicals - GRIFFIN silk colour remains consistent across the life of the piece.
Things that can accelerate fading in any silk thread: prolonged direct sunlight or UV lamp exposure, contact with bleach or strong cleaning agents, and excessive moisture combined with heat. Avoid these, and the colour holds. For museum-quality archival pieces or work stored under UV lighting, UV-filtering glass is advisable regardless of thread brand.
Choose your colour with confidence. GRIFFIN’s Natural Silk 21-colour palette is designed to give professional jewellers and serious hobbyists the range to express any creative vision - and the durability to ensure it endures.
