Jabel has historically avoided producing 14KT white gold jewelry in favor of 18KT white gold and although it is assumed that the reason is one of prestige there are some hard facts that more than influence the preference.To fully understand the debate it is important to know that 14KT white gold contains a percentage of either nickel or palladium to contribute to its color with nickel a less costly choice. Many jewelry manufacturers choose to produce the nickel version of 14KT white gold to minimize cost at the expense of higher quality goods; therefore many metal suppliers supply the demand.However, nickel is a ferrous metal and is prone to corrosion and stress cracks with normal wear. Nickel is affected by chlorine and bromide, which is found in cleaning agents, hot tubs and swimming pools. With regular wear and usage 14KT white gold containing the nickel alloy will develop a yellowish tint that would result in re-polishing (thus removing metal) and re-rhodium plating.In an apparent effort to avoid all of these issues Jabel decided that 18KT white gold would be the best option. For a number of years our 18KT white contained a small percentage of nickel and this presented very few issues to most wearers. As the popularity of white metal jewelry increased so did our production; however, this increase resulted in a greater number of wearers who had allergic reaction to nickel. Our solution, which was put into practice approximately twenty years ago, was to greatly decrease the nickel content by alloying with palladium.While today we do offer 14KT white gold to make Jabel affordable to a wider community, we still prefer 18KT white gold that is alloyed with palladium. The use of palladium in our 18KT white gold was not only welcomed by the jewelry wearing public, but also welcomed by professional jewelers and setters since the metal was much more “cooperative”; the metal is easier to move and much less prone to cracking among other positive attributes.One may ask “What differentiates Jabel's 18KT white gold/palladium jewelry from that of other manufacturers?” The answer is no secret; our die striking of the metal along with expert craftsmanship and dedication to producing the finest quality jewelry that sets Jabel apart from others.Throughout the years Jabel jewelry has received countless testimonials touting its’ superior quality; however, we have not and will not rest on our laurels. We are constantly seeking ways to improve and remain committed to being “Masters in the priceless art of excellence.”
Email us to find a local Jabel jeweler at info@jabel.com