White precious metal alloy

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to white precious metal alloy compositions comprising at least one of platinum and palladium alloyed with gold, silver, and optionally one or more additional alloying elements. More specifically, and in one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to white precious metal alloy compositions that are suitable for the manufacture of jewelry and other finished articles. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing finished articles from such white precious metal alloy compositions.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A metal alloy for jewelry consisting of:
 from greater than 0 to about 35% by weight of platinum or palladium;   from about 10 to about 30% by weight of gold;   from about 32 to about 75% by weight of silver; and   from greater than 0 to about 4% by weight of one of nickel, copper, zinc, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         25 . The metal alloy for jewelry of  claim 24 , wherein platinum or palladium is present in said alloy in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         26 . The metal alloy for jewelry of  claim 25 , wherein platinum or palladium is present in said alloy in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 15% by weight. 
     
     
         27 . The metal alloy for jewelry of  claim 24 , wherein gold is present in said alloy in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 15% by weight. 
     
     
         28 . The metal alloy for jewelry of  claim 24 , wherein silver is present in said alloy in an amount ranging from about 36 to about 57% by weight. 
     
     
         29 . The metal alloy for jewelry of  claim 24 , wherein when nickel is present in said alloy, it is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 to about 3% by weight. 
     
     
         30 . The metal alloy for jewelry of  claim 29 , wherein when nickel is present in said alloy, it is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 to about 1.5% by weight. 
     
     
         31 . The metal alloy for jewelry of  claim 24 , wherein:
 if copper is present in the alloy composition, it is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 to about 3% by weight;   if zinc is present in the alloy composition, it is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 to about 1.5% by weight.   
     
     
         32 . A method for making a jewelry article comprising:
 providing metal alloy composition consisting of:
 from greater than 0 to 25% by weight of platinum or palladium; 
 from 10 to 16% by weight of gold; 
 from 32 to 75% by weight of silver; and 
 from greater than 0 to about 4% by weight of one of nickel, copper, zinc, and combinations thereof; and 
   forming said metal alloy composition into the jewelry article.   
     
     
         33 . A jewelry metal alloy composition consisting of:
 from greater than 0 to 25% by weight of platinum or palladium;   from 10 to 19% by weight of gold;   from 32 to 65% by weight of silver; and   from greater than 0 to about 4% by weight of one of nickel, copper, zinc, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         34 . The jewelry metal alloy composition of  claim 33 , wherein platinum or palladium is present in the jewelry metal alloy composition in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 20% by weight.