Can 18K Palladium Sandblasted Recesses be Polished?

[Sapphire1]

Hi.
I have an 18K Palladium black opal ring. The alloy is Hoover & Strong, 75% Au, 13% Pd and 11% Cu.
During the design stages, I made it know that I wanted the ring's finish to be highly polished without rhodium plating, to show the 18K palladium color.
After the casting, I was told that the recesses could not be polished because of the depth and size. I then had the recesses sandblasted, the stones set and the ring polished.
The ring was completed several months ago. The recesses were dark which made the whole ring look darker than I liked. I recently brought the ring to a polisher who 'bombed' the ring. The recesses were still too dark, so he then acid bathed the ring, which lightened the recesses as per the photo, and then polished the high spots.
If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have made the recesses so deep, so the entire ring could have been polished.
Does anyone know if there is a way to polish the recesses at this point, so the entire ring can have a polished look?
I was told I can rhodium plate the ring and that the recesses would be whiter but with a matte finish, as compared to the high spots, which would have a mirror finish.
I'd rather keep the natural 18K palladium color as it has its own personality, depending on the light source.

Attached are 2 pics.
One showing a rendering of the ring during the design stages, and the finished ring.

Thank you for any feedback.

 

[MollyMalone]

Would you clarify somethg for us, Sapphire1: when you speak of "recesses", are you referring to the inside surfaces of all the various cutouts?

 

[Sapphire1]

Would you clarify somethg for us, Sapphire1: when you speak of "recesses", are you referring to the inside surfaces of all the various cutouts?

Hi. Yes.

 

[denverappraiser]

Cool ring.

What you want is extremely difficult without a recast. Actually, it's difficult even then. How about this as an off the wall idea?: Put enamel in the spaces matched from the base color of your opal (the dark blue). You could get a feel for what it would like by just using paint and then take it out with paint thinner.

Special note: Opals are very chemically sensitive. Bombing solution, Acid baths, and even paint thinner can cause you trouble. Do these things CAREFULLY.

 

[Sapphire1]

Hi.
Thank you, and I appreciate your response.
The recasting would entail removing the Opal. I have faith in my jeweler, but it wouldn't be worth the risk of damaging the Opal.
The enamel is a thought, but would also make the ring darker, which I'm trying to avoid.
I'm not certain of the exact components of the acid wash and the 'bombing' components, most likely a cyanide mix, but was assured by the polisher that the Opal would be fine.
One of the risks is to always have the polisher working on the ring in regards to holding overnight, handling, scratches, breakages, etc.
I have a question.
What are your thoughts on what the finish would look like if I rhodium plated the ring, regarding the sandblasted recesses?

 

[denverappraiser]

Like you, I rather like the color of palladium white, in fact I wear a ring made from it, but it’s not a particularly white material. If what you’re expecting is chrome, that’s not the material for you. Rhodium would whiten it up to be sure but it would change the personality of the piece considerably. By the way, it’s kind of hard to undo plating in those recessed areas if you decide you don’t care for it.

Another thought. Add a bunch more diamonds. That too has a problem because as it gets dirty it’s going to change but if you had 3x as many diamonds, it would lighten up the overall look considerably.

 

[Sapphire1]

I very much appreciate your feedback.
I'll likely leave well enough alone as they say. The ring does have her changing personality, matching the Opal's, depending on the light source and orientation. The wash did lighten up the insides and the E-F Si1 diamonds add just the right amount of sparkle, as the background for the Opal.

 

[MollyMalone]

I hope you come to feel "well enough" is not settling. The recesses themselves, most often in shadow anyway, are not what "make" the ring. The 18K palladium gold is more distinctive than rhodium-plated & sets off that handsome opal to such nice advantage. (Kudos to you on the design & to the original goldsmith, especially for that well executed bezel)

Would you be good enough to share some hand shots with us; PSers love seeing those!

 

[junebug17]

I actually really like it as is! Great looking ring.

 

[Sapphire1]

I hope you come to feel "well enough" is not settling. The recesses themselves, most often in shadow anyway, are not what "make" the ring. The 18K palladium gold is more distinctive than rhodium-plated & sets off that handsome opal to such nice advantage. (Kudos to you on the design & to the original goldsmith, especially for that well executed bezel)

Would you be good enough to share some hand shots with us; PSers love seeing those!

Hi.
Thank you for your kind words
I do like the ring very much.
The recesses had gotten darker over the past 5-6 months, but the 'wash' resolved that. Then I was thinking about how to get the recesses the same finish as the high spots without plating, but that was not possible.
So as you astutely point out, settling would not make one as satisfied with the finished product, and in my case, I do like the ring very much.
In the Sun, the finish 'pops' and changes along with the Opal, which I wanted to be the main focus, hence the smaller (. 06ct.) diamonds, which are very well cut. The eye goes right to the Opal with the diamonds in the background, just as I wanted the finished design to be.
I changed casters after the first cast,who used only 6% Pd, which was unknown to me until after I had the casting spectro analyzed. I then had the model recast, with the 2nd caster who uses 13% Pd.
The jeweler on the street (47th Street, NYC) has been working the bench for 40 years. One of his specialties is working with Black Opal. Gerry Manning had recommended the jeweler to me. Excellent jeweler, and a really nice man
Here are a few hand shots, as well as pictures of the Opal.

*Some of the pics posted horizontally instead of vertically for some reason.
4 pics posted. I'll post a few more in the next post.
The Opal has more red than the photos show.

 

[Sapphire1]

I actually really like it as is! Great looking ring.

Thank you. Much appreciated
Here are a couple of more pics of the Opal as well as the casting prior to polishing.

 

[nojs]

A very unique and fabulous ring, thank you for posting pictures!

 

[Sapphire1]

A very unique and fabulous ring, thank you for posting pictures!

Thank you!
Here's one more photo of the CAD/CAM model, prior to casting.
And another Opal photo
Notice the ever changing colors and locations.

 

[Travelgal]

I think your ring looks very cool as-is. I know I am not answering your question in the post, but I really like the ring.

 

[Sapphire1]

I think your ring looks very cool as-is. I know I am not answering your question in the post, but I really like the ring.

Thank you.
But you really did help answer my question
I also like the ring as is very much
In a perfect World, if I could polish the recesses I probably would. But as long as they are now lighter, I'm very happy with the look.
Compliments don't hurt either lol!