Collection · 24 palettes

Jewel Tone Color Palettes

Emerald, sapphire, amethyst — deep and unapologetically rich.

Jewel tones are the opposite of muted — full-saturation colors anchored in the depth of gemstones: the sapphire blue of lapis lazuli, the deep green of malachite, the wine-red of garnet, the purple of amethyst. Japanese color tradition cultivated exactly these depths over centuries: 'ruri' (瑠璃 — lapis lazuli blue), 'kon' (紺 — the deep indigo of merchant robes), 'enji' (臙脂 — deep crimson from cochineal), 'murasaki' (紫 — the imperial purple processed from gromwell root). Each pigment was precious, labor-intensive, and status-marking — which is precisely what makes jewel-tone palettes the right choice for luxury retail, fine jewelry brands, premium hospitality, and any project where the material quality of the brand should be felt before a word is read.

Heian era

Lapis & Chalk— 瑠璃と胡粉

Lapis lazuli blue against oyster-shell white — the color of Buddhist scripture.

Kamakura era

Ultramarine & Chalk White— 群青と胡粉

The deep ultramarine of Buddhist mineral pigment against temple chalk white.

Heian era

Crimson & Navy— 紅と紺

Deep safflower crimson against navy — the courtly contrast of Heian-era robes and formal Edo textiles.

Muromachi era

Bellflower & Ink— 桔梗と墨

The deep violet of the bellflower set against ink — formal, discreet.

Heian era

Wisteria & Indigo— 藤と藍

The soft lavender of wisteria blossoms against deep indigo.

Edo era

Edo Purple & Mouse Grey— 江戸紫と鼠

The cool Edo purple worn by kabuki actors against mouse grey — theatrical understatement.

Edo era

Pale Blue & Vermillion— 浅葱と朱

The faded blue of Shinsengumi jackets against shrine-gate vermillion — restrained power.

Edo era

Madder Red & Evergreen— 茜と常磐

The rooted red of madder-dyed cotton set against enduring pine green.

Kamakura era

Red Lead & Ink— 鉛丹と墨

The dense orange-red of lead oxide pigment struck against ink black.

Edo era

Sky Blue & Vermillion— 空と朱

Clear sky blue against shrine-gate vermillion — a New Year morning.

Kamakura era

Vermillion, Black, Gold— 朱・黒・金

The ceremonial triad of temple lacquerware — vermillion, lacquer black, gold leaf.

Edo era

Crimson Lake & Pine— 臙脂と松葉

The deep lake crimson of cochineal against pine needle green — winter evergreen.

Showa era

Red Orange & Pale Lemon Yellow +2

Plate 241 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Red Orange, Pale Lemon Yellow, Isabella Color, Dark Medici Blue.

Showa era

Eosine Pink & Burnt Sienna +2

Plate 242 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Eosine Pink, Burnt Sienna, Diamine Green, Black.

Showa era

Light Brown Drab & Vinaceous Tawny +2

Plate 244 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Light Brown Drab, Vinaceous Tawny, Andover Green, Antwarp Blue.

Showa era

Carmine Red & Oil Green +2

Plate 245 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Carmine Red, Oil Green, Dark Tyrian Blue, Slate Color.

Showa era

Corinthian Pink & Brick Red +2

Plate 246 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Corinthian Pink, Brick Red, Sulpher Yellow, Cinnamon Buff.

Showa era

Eosine Pink & Khaki +2

Plate 248 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Eosine Pink, Khaki, Grayish Lavender - A, Dark Slate Purple.

Showa era

Hay's Russet & Ecru +2

Plate 249 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Hay's Russet, Ecru, Olive Ocher, Dark Medici Blue.

Showa era

Red & Yellow +2

Plate 251 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Red, Yellow, Diamine Green, Slate Color.

Showa era

Eugenia Red | B & Raw Sienna +2

Plate 252 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Eugenia Red | B, Raw Sienna, Sulphine Yellow, Green Blue.

Showa era

Corinthian Pink & Sulpher Yellow +2

Plate 254 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Corinthian Pink, Sulpher Yellow, Olive, Laelia Pink.

Showa era

Spectrum Red & Orange Yellow +2

Plate 257 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Spectrum Red, Orange Yellow, Blue, Aconite Violet.

Showa era

Pale Burnt Lake & Pinkish Cinnamon +2

Plate 258 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Pale Burnt Lake, Pinkish Cinnamon, Olive, Antwarp Blue.

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All 378 palettes (348 Wada + 30 editorial) in five formats
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378 museum SVG plates — print-ready at any size
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Jewel Tone Color Palettes

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Lapis & Chalk— 瑠璃と胡粉

Ultramarine & Chalk White— 群青と胡粉

Crimson & Navy— 紅と紺

Bellflower & Ink— 桔梗と墨

Wisteria & Indigo— 藤と藍

Edo Purple & Mouse Grey— 江戸紫と鼠

Pale Blue & Vermillion— 浅葱と朱

Madder Red & Evergreen— 茜と常磐

Red Lead & Ink— 鉛丹と墨

Sky Blue & Vermillion— 空と朱

Vermillion, Black, Gold— 朱・黒・金

Crimson Lake & Pine— 臙脂と松葉

Red Orange & Pale Lemon Yellow +2

Eosine Pink & Burnt Sienna +2

Light Brown Drab & Vinaceous Tawny +2

Carmine Red & Oil Green +2

Corinthian Pink & Brick Red +2

Eosine Pink & Khaki +2

Hay's Russet & Ecru +2

Red & Yellow +2

Eugenia Red | B & Raw Sienna +2

Corinthian Pink & Sulpher Yellow +2

Spectrum Red & Orange Yellow +2

Pale Burnt Lake & Pinkish Cinnamon +2

Embed this collection

Support the archive The full catalog, on your disk, as a thank-you.