Nowadays, really innovative materials seldom appear on the luxury market. Traditional fabrication processes have reached their technical limits. A new way of innovating must be found, where material and process combine to achieve exclusive characteristics. A new 18K very white gold alloy has been developed using such an approach. Very interesting properties have been obtained by combining an unusual composition and a new technology. The very white color means that rhodium plating can be eliminated. Freedom in design is achieved using the additive manufacturing process of selective laser melting (SLM). Reaching a hardness of up to 500 HV looks to be a possibility.

This paper will describe the metallurgical aspects of the alloy and the process. Their potential and the challenges they pose will be illustrated through applications in the Swiss luxury goods industry.

Author: Dr. Laurence Simonet