It's hard to generalize, Kate. I think it's a combination of a lot of things. My skin tone is quite neutral, but I wear warm colours much better than cool colours. Yet I wear a cool white and silver *just as well* as cream and gold.
I particularly like rose gold on cooler skin tones. I like the blue undertone of cool skin with that shade of pink gold. But rose gold also works on warmer skin tones.
Now, take someone like me, who wears both gold and silver equally well, but I look dreadful in rose gold because my skin is too peachy (I have a peaches and cream complexion).
Also, Kate! Warmer skin tones can wear silver!