Some eye colors stand out from a mile away. Amber eyes are one of those rare shades that are equally as mesmerizing as they are unique. In fact, it’s estimated that only about 5% of people have amber eyes.
But how do some people have this eye color? And what makes amber eyes different from brown eyes? Let’s dive in and learn all about this eye color!
Why the Amber Color Is So Sought-After
Without going into too much color theory jargon, amber is a tone that’s between yellow and orange. It’s a natural pigment that gets its name from fossilized tree resin.
This gemstone has been a favorite for millennia. It was beloved by ancient peoples, including the Greeks and Romans. It was often used in jewelry and gems.
Just like the natural substance, amber eyes are rare. There are also many different shades of amber eyes. These eyes can range from a warm light brown tone to a golden, bright, almost orange shade.
What Are the Causes of Amber Eyes
Genetics plays a large role in the development of amber eyes. They’re found more often in regions with mixed genetic backgrounds, such as Asia and South America.
Amber eyes have a coppery look because they have a higher concentration of pheomelanin (a reddish-yellow pigment) than eumelanin (a dark brown pigment). These two pigments are controlled mainly by the OCA2 and HERC2 genes on chromosome 15.
The combination of pheomelanin and eumelanin leads to a warm tone in the iris’ stroma (the colored ring around the pupil).
Amber Eyes or Brown Eyes?
You might be wondering what the difference is between amber eyes and brown eyes. It all comes down to the mix of pheomelanin and eumelanin in the eyes.
Amber eyes contain more pheomelanin than eumelanin, which gives them their distinct gold hue. In comparison, brown eyes have higher levels of eumelanin, which creates a deeper, more uniform color. Think of amber as a more ‘copper’ shade, while brown eyes feature a darker and richer color.
Amber Eyes or Hazel Eyes?
Here’s where it gets confusing for some people: hazel eyes and amber eyes are not the same color. Hazel eyes have more of a mix of green and brown tones. Amber eyes don’t have any shades of green; they look more like light brown eyes.
Hazel eyes have specks of various tones mixed together, which can appear as different colors in different types of light.
Celebrities and Fictional Characters With Amber Eyes
Curious which top celebrities and fictional characters have amber eyes? Here are some of the best-known famous people with this unique eye color!
Celebrities
Nicole Richie
Nicole was one of the original reality stars, and she starred alongside Paris Hilton in The Simple Life. She has classic, stunning amber eyes, which are complemented by her olive skin tone and (sometimes) blonde hair.
Justin Bieber
Surely thousands of girls already know this, but yes, Justin Bieber has amber eyes. It’s not surprising considering the heartthrob’s classic good looks.
Jennifer Lopez
One of the biggest pop superstars out there is good ol’ Jenny from the block. One of her best features is her golden amber eyes, which she brings out with a similar hair color (and lots of bronzer).
Jennifer Garner
Another Jennifer on the list, the A-list actress has warm amber eyes that glow. Ironically, both Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez were married to Ben Affleck; he must have a thing for amber eyes.
Eliza Dushku
The stunning actress who rose to fame in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show has amber eyes.
Fictional Characters
Twilight cast
The ‘vegetarian’ vampires in Twilight have glowing amber eyes, which are captivating to the humans they come across.
Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Belle, one of the most famous Disney princesses of all time, was envisioned with amber eyes and brown hair. It’s no surprise that ‘Belle’ translates to ‘beauty.’
Simba from The Lion King
Okay, so he’s a fictional lion, not a human, but regardless, Simba is one of the most beloved characters with amber eyes.
Eyeglasses That Complement Amber Eyes
For all of you who have amber eyes, bring them out with the right eyeglasses!
These classic Prada eyeglasses feature Havana frames that will bring out the gold tones in your eyes. Generally, brown frames will bring out the light brown tones in your eyes, making a winning combination.
It makes sense that gold frames will bring out the amber in your eyes. These timeless Swarovski glasses do just that.
The elegant frames are perfect for daily wear. Gold jewelry is another extra touch that will make your eyes sparkle.
Sunglasses That Complement Amber Eyes
Tinted glasses will make your eyes pop even more. Pick a color like yellow, gold, or pink to bring out the unique tones in your eyes. These Ray-Ban shades come with gold/green lenses and gold frames, which will make your eyes glimmer.
You could also opt for brown gradient lenses that show off the brown in your eyes. Here’s another pair of Ray-Bans that would look incredible with amber eyes, thanks to the orange semi-transparent frame and brown lenses.
Contact Lenses to Give You Amber Eyes
For those of us who weren’t born with amber eyes, there’s always colored contact lenses. Shhh, it’s not cheating, it’s just self-expression. Just a reminder: you will need a prescription from your doctor for colored lenses.
AIR OPTIX by Alcon comes in several colors, one of which is honey. This shade will give your eyes that amber tone.
EZContacts customer Annette loves the look over her natural brown eyes:
“Love the honey color on my brown eyes.”
Crista loves the quality and clarity:
“These are just like wearing clear lenses! Would love feedback from others with dark brown eyes on what other colors would work. My first order is Honey.”
FreshLook Colorblends, also by Alcon, comes in several shades, including honey.
EZContacts customer Quentella has been wearing them for decades!
“Freshlook is Exactly my favorite HONEY color; I’ve been wearing freshlook brand for over 20 years now at age 78 they help me to look a little more attractive.”
TL;DR
Amber eyes are one of the rarer eye colors. Many people mistake hazel or green eyes for amber. However, amber eyes are their own unique shade.
- Amber eyes have more pheomelanin than eumelanin, which creates a light red or yellow hue.
- Brown eyes have more eumelanin than amber eyes, which gives them their darker look.
- Amber is a natural color that’s also the name of fossilized tree sap that can be thousands of years old. This is why it was a treasured color by ancient groups, including Greeks and Romans.
- There are a few celebrities and beloved fictional characters that have amber eyes, proving that although they’re rare, they’re real.
- Pick gold or brown eyeglasses and sunglasses to bring out your unique eyes.
- If you want to try out the amber eye look, then you could always try colored contacts.
