Do different platinum blends look different?

[gwendolyn]

Different jewelers (LM, Mark Morrell) use different kinds/blends of platinum for their rings, right? I know MWM uses 90% plat, 10% iridium alloy (because his website tells me so

). Not sure what LM uses. If they use different percentages of platinum in their jewelry, would that be obvious by looking at them?

Obviously I know the ideal would be to get the wedding band and the engagement ring from the same jeweler, BUT it is looking more and more likely like J and I will be getting married before we can buy an engagement ring (I''m thinking that''ll be a 1st wedding anni present or something). So, what happens if we get the bands made by MWM, thinking my engagement ring will also be done by him (Torchiere), and then change my mind and go for the classic solitaire by Leon? If the rings are made with different amounts of actual platinum in them, will they look mismatched?

Thanks for humouring yet another ultra nit-picky question of mine!

 

[chrono]

The different blends will not look different. They are different because each designer feels more comfortable with those metal properties (heating, malleability, etc). It is similiar to 14kt yellow gold - they come in many different blends but most people cannot tell the difference.

 

[strmrdr]

Yes there are differences and I can see them when comparing side by side.
http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/47/1/An-Overview-Of-Common-Alloys-Used-In-Jewelry.aspx

 

[strmrdr]

that said 950ru and 900ir look very close too me with just a slight tint difference rather than a different color, 950co does not match.

 

[gwendolyn]

Thanks! That info and those pictures are quite helpful, strmdr! I am really picky and would be able to detect the difference I bet (maybe only because I know they would be slightly different to begin with though but it would bug me, I think).

Next question, anyone know what combo LM uses?

 

[chrono]

My eyes must be insensitive then.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 4/28/2008 5:24:19 PM
Author: Chrono
My eyes must be insensitive then.

Or maybe I''m just highly suggestible.

 

[lyra]

I can tell the difference between the A and B/C, but not between B and C on the platinum blends. Not easily at all really. I prefer the look of A. Good question though Gwendolyn, I've always wondered about it. I chose WG because I would be OCD about patina. I prefer high polish and a very silver (white) metal. Well, for now anyway.

 

[Lynn B]

I don''t know about the chemical analysis THANG

but I can absolutely see a color difference between various platinum rings. I would either (1) go with the same vendor for both rings or (2) send Ring #1 in when ordering Ring #2 and ask the vendor to be sure the new ring matches.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 4/28/2008 6:30:36 PM
Author: Lynn B
I don''t know about the chemical analysis THANG

but I can absolutely see a color difference between various platinum rings. I would either (1) go with the same vendor for both rings or (2) send Ring #1 in when ordering Ring #2 and ask the vendor to be sure the new ring matches.

Do you think that would work if dealing with two artists like MWM and Leon? If they don''t already use the same mix, I kinda doubt they''d go out of their element just for moi.

Although if Leon is more varied in his platinum mixes, maybe that approach would work! I dunno, I am making this so hard on myself...

Leon doesn''t have his plat recipe up on his website anywhere, does he? I know he''s got the current market prices for the different metals on there, but I didn''t see anything else.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 4/28/2008 5:03:54 PM
Author: strmrdr
Yes there are differences and I can see them when comparing side by side.

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/47/1/An-Overview-Of-Common-Alloys-Used-In-Jewelry.aspx

I wrote to Leon today to see what he uses, stating that I would be looking to possibly match a ring by him with a plat/iridium ring, and he said that no one can see the difference between the platinum blends.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 4/30/2008 1:09:42 PM
Author: gwendolyn

Date: 4/28/2008 5:03:54 PM
Author: strmrdr
Yes there are differences and I can see them when comparing side by side.

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/47/1/An-Overview-Of-Common-Alloys-Used-In-Jewelry.aspx

I wrote to Leon today to see what he uses, stating that I would be looking to possibly match a ring by him with a plat/iridium ring, and he said that no one can see the difference between the platinum blends.

I really don''t know what too say other than he is wrong as I have compared them unplated side by side and saw a difference.
I didn''t have a preference color wise between 900ir and 950ru they both looked good but were different.
Now not seeing them side by side could I tell you which a ring is made from going by color?
No I couldn''t which is likely where he is coming from.

950co I might be able too tell by itself as it was a ways off from the others.

 

[strmrdr]

If you don''t mind me asking why not have both made by the same place in the same alloy?

 

[gwendolyn]

Ok. I am hoping these questions will all be for nothing anyway since I hope to get the engagement ring and the band done by the same person (either Leon or MWM), but if I did get the band first and then changed my mind on which e-ring setting I wanted (since it looks like J and I will be doing things backwards), I''d want them to match. One would be the 900ir, and the other 950ru.

 

[Miscka]

Can I be nosy and ask what has swayed you from your love of MWMs solitaires?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 4/30/2008 2:10:46 PM
Author: strmrdr
If you don''t mind me asking why not have both made by the same place in the same alloy?

Hopefully I will, but since J and I might be getting married sooner than expected because of marriage visas, I in all likelihood will have a wedding band before an engagement ring. I really love the MWM Torchiere, and J likes it, but prefers the Leon classic solitaire, which I also love. I just wanted to know what would happen if I chose a setting and then changed my mind after the wedding band was already made.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 4/30/2008 2:16:17 PM
Author: Miscka
Can I be nosy and ask what has swayed you from your love of MWMs solitaires?

Oh, I still love them! No doubt about it; I fell madly in love with the head of the Flame and, because I don''t want a knife edge, figure the Torchiere was made for me! But J likes the more simple settings, and he prefers the Leon Classic. I love that too (although I think it looks better with bigger stones, which mine won''t be), and since J says it''s our ring, I want to take his input into consideration too. Ultimately he says neither of them "offend him" as he puts it (weirdo

), but I''m considering the Leon more seriously now because J is more partial to it.