The perfect tennis bracelet metal - 18k / 14k / plat

[LaraOnline]

Inspired by cflutist and her bracelets, I am wondering what PS opinion is regarding the perfect metal for a bracelet.
A tennis bracelet worn every day for 10 years - hardly stretched or damaged.
I wonder what the best choice of metal is, in an ideal world?
In an ideal world, all elements including the hinged would be hand beaten as being hand made has an implication on the density of the metal.
But in this day and age is any bracelet made without casted elements?
For white metals, plat seems like a good choice generallybbut perhaps is more likely to bend and loosen in a bracelet over time?
I have heard it argued that 14k offers the best strength for a tennis bracelet, due to the rigours that this particular design (all those connecting hinges) a tennis bracelet is put to.
Would be interesting to hear others' comments.
After all, when i order my cflutist inspired bracelet, I need to know which metal to go for!!

 

[Dandi]

Squeeeee!!! I love me a good old 'Lara is contemplation another amazing diamond purchase' thread!! mine is 14k and for me it is perfect, I snag it on clothes all the time and the claws never budge. Admittedly I don't wear it every day, but my diamonds are pretty small (6 pointers) so I can't imagine it would stretch too much with regular wear.

I can't wait to see what you decide on!!

 

[LaraOnline]

It's a terrible thing being stuck in a fairly ordinary Aussie family!
Time passes so slowly when its jewellery o'clock!
I have had this priced up for at least six months.probably longer. And I have a 'mood picture' on the wall.
DH promised me for Christmas / Anni / bday this dec but as it comes closer I suspect he is compiling a 'reasons not to bracelet' list in his mind!
Unless I am very careful I'll be stuck with a technology gift!

 

[tyty333]

It's a terrible thing being stuck in a fairly ordinary Aussie family!
Time passes so slowly when its jewellery o'clock!
I have had this priced up for at least six months.probably longer. And I have a 'mood picture' on the wall.
DH promised me for Christmas / Anni / bday this dec but as it comes closer I suspect he is compiling a 'reasons not to bracelet' list in his mind!
Unless I am very careful I'll be stuck with a technology gift!

I got a printer/scanner/fax one year for my bday ...just so many emoties to express
how I felt about this gift.

 

[LaraOnline]

LOL tyty!!

Please excuse a threadjack:
So girls like us have to 'be prepared'.
At the slightest sign of hesitation dh senses the uncertainty - and announces that as I don't know what I want he sure can't help me lol.
We went to paspaley earlier this year and I liked a necklace. He preferred much more expensive earrings. We couldn't agree so then we Left The Store

So if my aim is off I might get ... A camera..or?? .
SO must not mention the fax idea to dh that is for sure! Might give him ideas!

Back on topic:
Any opinions for best metal?cflutist's beautiful bracelet which has lasted 10 years of daily wear was done in 14k. I know a couple of jewellers who will argue with me that for a bracelet, 14k would be best because of the hardness of the metal.
So... I'm interested in what others think!

 

[cflutist]

I have heard of "Tiffany" inspired, but "cflutist" inspired? That is a first.

I asked Wink and he said that it is not so much the metal as it is the design and craftsmanship of my bracelets.
They are not machine made, but handcrafted where each link is joined with thick wire which is soldered by hand.

On the larger bracelet (.33s) there are two thick wires connecting each link.
On the smaller bracelet (.20s FIYs) there is a single wire, but it is flattened and not round, so there is more surface area.

I do have another machine made bracelet (.16s) which broke and I had repaired after 5 years of constant wear prior to me
getting the first bracelet from Wink in 2004.

 

[LaraOnline]

So the key is not so much whether the sections are cast or not, it is whether they are hand assembled!
That is useful!