White gold bracelets are beautiful when adorned with a variety of stones as in white gold tennis bracelets or when created with twists or left solid. They feature an unparalleled beauty and are the perfect choice to complement many skin tones. Several strands can be twisted into one large strand or combined with gold and copper to produce a unique piece. Chunky jewelry styles using large stones or no stones are often created and are extremely popular.
White gold bracelets are available in a variety of karats which refers to the amount of pure gold in the piece. The entire alloy consists of 24 karats, k for short and will be marked on the back. A piece of 10k jewelry will be considerable harder but contains much less gold than the 14k, 18k and 22k which are commonly sold. The gold is mixed with a variety of metals to give it the white appearance. These include silver, palladium, nickel or they may be rhodium plated. Nickel has lost popularity for use in jewelry due to a high incidence of allergies in wearers. Rhodium plating has increased in popularity as it gives a white brilliance which is unmatched in a simple alloy. The problem with plating is that it will have to be redone over time as the finish gradually wears off, exposing the gold color underneath. It is more common in newer pieces and nickel is found in most older pieces. Occasionally platinum is used, but like rhodium it is very expensive so a minimal amount will be added.
White gold tennis bracelets enhance the visual size of diamonds as the brilliance makes the metal difficult to distinguish from the actual stone. The metal is not limited to diamonds though and stunning designs featuring a ruby setting, garnet, aquamarine, blue topaz or spectacular black diamonds are also available. Sterling silver is likewise beautiful but lacks the extreme bling associated with this metal. It will have different markings and will not include the number and k symbol, which is an easy method for differentiating from less shiny antique jewelry and that made of silver. The brilliant flash and fire from cubic zircona is also enhanced when placed in a white gold bracelet, making this a popular and less expensive option when shopping.