White Gold Necklace

White Gold Necklace Adds Satin Surface

A white gold necklace shares with yellow gold the precious metal it is made of, but there the comparison ends. Pure gold is 24k, and much too soft to endure the rigors of daily activities. In the United States, 14k gold is the standard used in most jewelry, and this means the gold has been hardened by the addition of alloys.

To create white gold, it is necessary to add several alloys to obtain its silvery color. A mix of nickel, tin, copper, zinc, and manganese predominates over the natural yellow color of gold, and results in a durable metal for jewelry. Favored by many over silver, the smoother, silkier surface of a white gold necklace brings classic, clean lines to jewelry.

Substitute for Platinum

Platinum has become extremely popular in recent years, as has white gold. They are look-alikes, and it is difficult for lay people to tell the difference. In fact, white gold was developed during World War II as a platinum substitute because platinum was considered to be a strategic material and could not be used except by the military.

Even today, a white gold necklace has an aura of being a modern metal with its metallic sheen and futuristic look. When used in such an ancient design as a white gold Byzantine necklace, the silvery color makes an interesting combination with the ornate intricacy of this style of jewelry. White gold also contributes to the range of affordable quality jewelry, for it extends the basic colors that are available in gold jewelry.