Poll: which metal color for rings?

[cookies]

I asked this question in my earlier thread, but haven't got any reply so far. That thread has lots of confusing information, so I thought I should simply the situation and do a poll here.

So I am having a necklace made by Van Craeynest. The design is in the sketch below. It's based on the band 920, but with a few small rings in between each two columns. At the back of each two columns, there will be a plate attached, and the plate will have small diamonds bead set in it. The diamonds will face the neck. The columns will all be in 14K red gold, and the plate in the back will be all platinum.



I cannot decide which metal to use for the rings that connect the columns. The choices are -- red gold, yellow gold, white gold, and platinum. Initially I thought the rings should be in the same metal color as the columns, because they are all in the front. However, when I asked Larry, he suggested 18K YG, for the following reasons:

1. easy to bend 18K YG into a ring shape.
2. easy to solder 18K YG rings to 14K red gold columns, without risk melting the 14K red gold.
3. 18K YG won't stand out much, because the rings are quite small -- the diameter will be about 0.6mm, and the wire itself will be about 0.9mm thick.

The reason Larry didn't suggest 14K/18K red gold is, it's less ductile than YG (if I remember correctly), and might crack during the bending process. But he said they can experiment with various metals, including platinum/white gold/red gold, and see which ones will work well.

Right now, I am thinking the white metal rings (white gold or platinum) might look weird with red gold columns. Maybe yellow gold will look better with red gold. Ideally I'd want red gold rings with red gold columns, but it might not be an option in the end..What do you guys think? Maybe I should just do what Larry suggested, i.e. use yellow gold rings with red gold columns?

Btw, my poll allows you to choose 2 options.

 

[cookies]

So far there are 3 votes -- 1 for YG, 1 for WG, and 1 for Plat. I am a little surprised no one voted for RG.

 

[decodelighted]

I am having an INCREDIBLY hard time envisioning this necklace. But if there is already a platinum element -- I wouldn't add in another color. Don't care how much easier it is to use. White metal or Red Gold rings PERIOD.

 

[cookies]

Sorry decodelighted, I wasn't able to describe the design very well. Larry had to spend over an hour on explaining his sketch to me..and even that was based on all the previous conversations I already had with him..

I was thinking exactly what you said. I don't want to introduce another color unless I have to. The question now is, would the white metal look weird, sitting among red gold columns? Trying to imagine 2 red gold columns, then 3 white rings, then another 2 red gold columns, then another 3 white rings, and so on.. repeat about 30 times, all the way around the neck.

 

[decodelighted]

Why is the plate platinum in the first place? That's the heaviest metal, right? For a part that won't even show often it seems a bit strange to me to load that up with the most expensive materials (platinum & diamonds)???????

Are you sure they're not just trying to upsell you?


What if it was columns backed with an *engraved red gold plate* and red gold links? Keep It Simple Stu..... Sexy!

 

[cookies]

Larry was doing the design based on the budget I told him, so I don't think he is trying to upsell me. But I still could choose to go with a more plain and less expensive back. I think it might be a little boring not to have any sparklies in it, though. Larry is making a silver mockup model right now, so I could take a look before he makes the real thing. If I decide I don't like the platinum + diamond back, I'd do a red gold back with some millgrain.

The reason for using platinum in the back is, because the diamonds will be bead set into the plate, they will be most secure if done in platinum. Say if one of the four beads got bumped up or something, the diamond would become loose and eventually be lost, if the beads were done in white gold or red gold.

The idea of a platinum + diamond back is weird but interesting.. Larry's reasoning is, as one moves around, the columns will flip/rotate, so the sparkly back will show up. But I don't know what percentage of the back will show up.. All the chains I have are the standard round-ish ones (e.g. wheat chain, rolo chain, etc), and I cannot tell how much it rotates throughout the day.

 

[Fly Girl]

I recently had a necklace toggle clasp hand fabricated by a talented jeweler in 18kt red gold, because the color was just right for this project. Afterwards I was told that he would never do that again. My clasp is lovely, but apparently red gold is significantly more difficult to work with than yellow gold. So, my clasp will be a one-of-a-kind. I had no idea of the difficulty when I asked for red gold for my necklace.

I expect that while you may want red gold for your rings, it might be best to leave this decision to Larry. I'm sure your necklace will be gorgeous either way.

 

[cookies]

Fly Girl, thank you for the input! According to Larry, red gold used to be quite ductile and easy to work with. But the red gold alloys probably have changed over time, and are much more difficult to handle nowadays.

This morning, I had a strong urge to call Larry and tell him that I changed my mind and would be fine with 18K YG rings too. But I calmed down after breakfast, and started this poll. Do you think white colored rings will look weird? I am trying to decide if I should tell Larry that YG/RG are now somewhat preferred to Plat/WG..

 

[Fly Girl]

I would go with the 18kt yellow gold for the rings. That color is closest to the red gold so the rings will barely contrast in color. White metal will give more of a contrast and I'm thinking that the rings are not necessarily a design element that you want to stick out.

In any case, I think your necklace is going to be gorgeous.

 

[tyty333]

I think yellow gold would be a nice compliment to the red gold.

I have a white gold and yellow gold braclet and really like the look of mixed metals. Also
allows me to wear various colors of rings with it.