Flower Moissanite Choker Necklace, 925 Silver 18k Plated

A choker sits high on the neck, roughly at the base of the throat, and that height changes what the pendant has to do. There is no long drop to carry the design, so the detail has to be concentrated, and a flower cluster does that: small stones arranged into a round head that reads as one bright point from across a room. The chain is short enough that the flower stays centred instead of sliding to one side.

The stones are moissanite set on 925 sterling silver plated in 18k gold. Plated is the accurate word: a gold layer bonded over sterling silver, not solid gold, and the silver core is why it will not tarnish the way a brass choker does against skin. Small stones are the test of a cluster, and moissanite passes it at Mohs 9.25 with a refractive index around 2.65, so the petals keep their edges and keep throwing coloured light.

The choice here is finish. Silver reads cool and matches steel watches and white gold rings. Gold is warm and shows up best against darker clothing and a tan. Rose gold sits between the two and is the most forgiving against most skin tones, which is why it is the usual pick when a choker is worn against bare skin rather than over a collar. All three use the same sterling silver base and the same flower setting.

• Stone: round cut moissanite cluster
• Design: flower head pendant on a choker length chain
• Metal: 925 sterling silver, 18k plated
• Finish: gold, silver or rose gold colour
• Fit: choker, sits at the base of the throat
• Closure: lobster clasp