White Gold Lab-Grown Diamond Necklaces

• Pendant: a single focal piece hung from the chain; solitaires, halos, crosses and open hearts.
• Station: small lab-grown diamonds spaced along the chain.
• Tennis: a continuous row of stones around the neck.

In a halo, tiny stones surround the main one, and the pendant appears larger than its center weight suggests. Bezel pendants hold their stone inside a slim gold collar and lie flatter under shirt collars. A solitaire on prongs is the simplest silhouette and lets the most light in. Pavé and graduated designs, where stones step down in size along a curve, are the largest group here.

The weight shown adds up every stone in the necklace. Most pendants run from about 0.5 to 3 ct tw; 1 ct tw already reads clearly across a table. Tennis necklaces go much higher. Gold is 10K or 14K on most designs, with 18K on a few.

Fasten the clasp at the back of the neck before perfume goes on, and unclasp it at bedtime so the links stay smooth and untangled. Store it hanging or flat, clasp closed, away from other pieces. A few minutes in mildly soapy water, then a gentle pass with a baby toothbrush, brings back the shine.