Gold Cross Pendant Stainless Steel

Gold Cross Pendant Stainless Steel (3 x 2.5 cm) That Lets the Symbol Do the Work

A small, plain cross of 3 by 2.5 cm, deliberately without stones. On this symbol that is a choice rather than a saving: the shape does the work, not the sparkle, which makes the pendant feel personal rather than decorative. The base is stainless steel with a gold-tone finish applied in five layers of PVD.

Product details

• Material: stainless steel with a 5x PVD gold-tone finish

• Dimensions: 3 cm long x 2.5 cm wide

• Supplied as a pendant, chain sold separately

• Delivered in a Carpe Ice jewelry box

Plain or Iced Out

We carry this cross in two versions, and the difference is more than the stones. This plain one is more compact and quieter, so it stays appropriate in situations where a set piece would be too much. The iced out version is noticeably larger at 4.1 cm and is meant to be seen. In gold the plain version also behaves differently: a warm color on an empty face looks like a solid piece close up, where stones pull the eye to the setting instead.

On a Plain Cross the Finish Is the Product

PVD stands for physical vapor deposition. The gold color is bonded to the steel at molecular level inside a vacuum chamber rather than electroplated on top, and Carpe Ice applies it in five layers. That makes the finish noticeably harder and more scratch-resistant than a standard plated layer, the same technique watch brands use for gold-tone cases. On this design that weighs heavily, because there are no stones and no texture carrying the piece: what you see is purely the surface. Then there is the shape, because a cross is mostly edge. Four arm ends and long straight sides mean a large part of the form is exactly the part that rubs along your shirt or a belt. It is not solid gold, so take it off before the pool, the shower and sport, and store it dry. The silver-tone version is bare steel with no layer and can stay on; this gold-tone one has a PVD layer, so take it off.

Which Chain Goes With It

At this size and weight the pendant works on almost any chain. Keep the chain narrower than the pendant, so the cross leads. A box or Cuban holds it facing forward because those do not twist; a rope does turn, and then the cross ends up sideways during the day. Choose the same gold tone for pendant and chain, because gold beside silver looks accidental rather than deliberate. At 55 to 60 cm (22 to 24 in) it lands at chest height.

Care

A pendant sits against your skin all day and therefore picks up more sweat and aftershave than a chain does. Put it on once fragrance and aftershave have dried, and wipe it with a soft cloth. A plain face shows fingerprints sooner than a set pendant, but there is no setting for dirt to creep into; polishing compound is not the idea here.