Oval Diamond Cross Pendant Necklace in 18K Gold with Ball Chain
Five oval diamonds set in a black rhodium cross, hung from a 26-gram polished gold ball chain. Built for contrast, not delicacy.
18K solid gold cross pendant on a 56 cm ball chain, five oval-cut diamonds (3.03 ct total, VS / E) set in a black rhodium frame, approximately 26 grams overall.
3.03 ct Total
VS / E Color
Black Rhodium Frame
56 cm Ball Chain
Lab or Natural
Available in 18K yellow, rose, or white gold, with or without the black rhodium frame. Natural or lab grown diamond, chain length, and carat weight can be specified before production.
Black Rhodium Cross, Polished Gold Chain, Five Diamonds Doing the Talking
Most diamond crosses lose the diamonds against the metal. This one solves that with a simple structural choice: the cross frame is finished in black rhodium, the ball chain stays polished yellow gold, and the five oval diamonds sit in the dark frame as the only bright points on the piece. The contrast does what a heavier carat weight would otherwise do, each stone reads larger and brighter than its actual size. This is a diamond cross pendant necklace designed to be seen at a distance, not to whisper.
- Product type
- Diamond cross pendant on a solid gold ball chain
- Metal
- 18K solid gold (Au750) throughout pendant, bail, and chain
- Frame finish
- Black rhodium electroplate over 18K gold, applied after the stones are set
- Stones
- Five oval-cut diamonds in shared-prong settings, plus accent rounds at outer arm tips
- Total carat weight
- 3.03 ct, VS clarity, E color
- Pendant size
- 30 mm tall x 26 mm wide
- Chain
- 56 cm gold ball chain, 5 mm beads, blackened connecting links
- Total weight
- Approximately 26 grams
The 26-gram total weight is part of the design, not a side effect. The chain sits flat on the collarbone, the pendant hangs centered and steady, and the piece does not swing or twist the way a lighter cross would. Within our diamond necklaces collection, this is the cross built for daily wear with presence rather than as a layering accent.
Why the Frame Is Black, and Why the Back Is Open
The black rhodium treatment is the central design decision, and the rest of the piece is built around it. Black rhodium is electroplated onto the cross frame after the diamonds are set, which means the dark surface stops at the prongs and the diamond girdle, leaving the stones themselves visually free of any metal warmth from the surrounding gold. The bail and the ball chain are deliberately left in polished yellow gold so the piece does not read as uniformly dark, the contrast between the dark frame and the bright chain is what gives the cross its readable structure at distance.
The back of each diamond seat is left open with oval windows cut into the frame, two things follow from this: the piece carries less weight than a closed-back cross of the same outline would, and light enters the stones from both directions, which lifts the face-up brightness. The bail is a hinged tube rather than a soldered loop, which keeps the cross flat against the chest no matter how the chain moves.
18K Solid Gold Construction with Stones Selected for Oval Face Performance
The pendant and chain are produced entirely in solid 18K gold (Au750), no plated base metals anywhere in the body. The black rhodium finish is applied by electroplating after the diamonds are set, which gives a consistent dark layer across all prong and frame surfaces and is more durable than a painted or coated finish. The diamonds in this design are VS clarity and E color oval cuts totaling 3.03 ct, both natural and lab grown diamonds are produced to the same grading standard. E color matters more on oval cuts than on rounds because color retention near the tips of an oval is more visible to the eye, our production team specifically grades these stones at the bench for face-up tone before they go into the frame.
- ◆ 18K solid gold (Au750) throughout pendant, bail, and ball chain, no plated base metals
- ◆ Black rhodium electroplate applied after stone setting for a finish that holds at the prong edges
- ◆ VS clarity E color oval-cut diamonds, 3.03 ct total, graded at the bench for face-up tone
- ◆ 5 mm solid gold ball chain with blackened connector links tying the chain visually to the frame
- ◆ Factory-direct production, no intermediary between our manufacturing facility and your order
Frame Finish, Diamond Type, Chain Length, and Carat Options
This cross is built to order. The configuration shown is a starting point, not a fixed SKU. Two of the options below (frame finish and chain length) change how the piece reads when worn more than any other variable, decide on those first.
- ◆ Frame finish: black rhodium over 18K as shown, or all-yellow / all-white / all-rose with no rhodium treatment for a uniform metal look
- ◆ Gold color: yellow as shown, with rose or white available; rose softens the contrast against the black frame, white pulls the entire piece toward a cooler tone
- ◆ Diamond type: lab grown as standard, with natural diamond available on request at the same VS / E grade
- ◆ Carat weight adjustment: 3.03 ct is standard, lighter or heavier versions using smaller or larger ovals can be specified and will shift final price
- ◆ Chain length: 56 cm as standard (mid-chest on most wearers), shorter (45 cm) or longer (60+ cm) can be requested
- ◆ Chain style: 5 mm ball chain as standard, alternative chain styles (rolo, box, curb) can be specified
The two decisions that change this cross most are whether you want the black rhodium frame kept or removed for a single-color metal look, and the chain length you wear (a 56 cm chain places the pendant at mid-chest, a 45 cm chain raises it close to the collarbone). Send those two with your preferred gold color and your diamond type (lab or natural), and the production team will confirm stone availability and lead time before any order is placed.