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Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat plat.? How about silver?

yssie

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I have heard both:


1. Plat./silver are softer and more easily scratched than gold, so gold rings/pendants will eat plat./silver rings/chains (though plat. can presumably be repolished with negligible metal loss).

2. Plat./silver are soft, so they pick up grit and become abrasive, and will eat away at adjacent gold which does exhibit this property.


What actually happens?
 

Hest88

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Silver is softest, then the usual gold alloys (in other words, I''m not talking 24K), then platinum.
 

stone-cold11

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depends on the alloy used. Generally gold alloy is harder than plat alloy but do not think that will be a problem if contact surface are smooth.
 

slg47

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Re:

Stone-cold11|1273077601|2563254 said:
depends on the alloy used. Generally gold alloy is harder than plat alloy but do not think that will be a problem if contact surface are smooth.

I am reviving this thread...so are there problems? or not?
 

Amys Bling

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Re: Re:

slg47|1315271795|3010378 said:
Stone-cold11|1273077601|2563254 said:
depends on the alloy used. Generally gold alloy is harder than plat alloy but do not think that will be a problem if contact surface are smooth.

I am reviving this thread...so are there problems? or not?


Great question. My friend just got a white gold wedding band to wear with her plat solitaire. Which metal will prevail??
 

rainydaze

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

after only three days of wearing an 18k palladium white gold eternity (with thin, flat channel-like 'walls') with my platinum ering (james meyer 1345, has the wraps) my eternity was all scratched up and dull! i have a palladium white gold spacer on order so that at least i can spare the eternity band's thin walls. i'll try to remember to report back on the condition of the spacer after a few days of wearing it.
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Do not mix metals.
Platinum will wear away other rings. But is easier to bend (in the case of most alloys).

Lower Karat golds wear away higher K golds.
White golds, especially when alloyed with palladium, will wear away yellow golds.

Never ever wear silver with gold.
 

kenny

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Garry H (Cut Nut)|1315284249|3010494 said:
Never ever wear silver with gold.

Why not?
What happens?
 

Rae~

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

My e-ring and wedding ring are platinum (95% Plat 5% Ruth). (FYI, the diamonds in the rings do not extend past the metal of the rings, so wear from girdle rub is not, I believe, an issue.) I *hate* the feel (and look) of even-remotely-tight rings, so while my rings are fine for most of the year, on really cold days I have to be careful that they don't slip off.

I have a plain silver ring that I used for initial ring sizing, and it is now my "heavy labour" ring (gardening etc). It is a little smaller than my wedding set.

I'd love to be able to wear this silver ring occasionally as a "safety collar" for my wedding set. Is there reason not to? If I do, how long before I see damage (if any) to the platinum set?
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Rae~|1315288403|3010511 said:
My e-ring and wedding ring are platinum (95% Plat 5% Ruth). (FYI, the diamonds in the rings do not extend past the metal of the rings, so wear from girdle rub is not, I believe, an issue.) I *hate* the feel (and look) of even-remotely-tight rings, so while my rings are fine for most of the year, on really cold days I have to be careful that they don't slip off.

I have a plain silver ring that I used for initial ring sizing, and it is now my "heavy labour" ring (gardening etc). It is a little smaller than my wedding set.

I'd love to be able to wear this silver ring occasionally as a "safety collar" for my wedding set. Is there reason not to? If I do, how long before I see damage (if any) to the platinum set?

Answering 2 birds with one post (hi Kenny):
the silver ring will be worn away by the platinum rings
 

Rae~

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Thanks for the reply, Garry. That outcome I can handle, since the silver ring is much more easily replaceable.
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Rae~|1315290524|3010518 said:
Thanks for the reply, Garry. That outcome I can handle, since the silver ring is much more easily replaceable.
Please bookmark this thread and report back after 6 months or so Rae
 

Rae~

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

I have bookmarked the thread and will certainly report back but it may take more than 6 months as we are heading into summer now and I don't expect to need to use the silver ring for at least another 9 months (sans travel to cold climes). But I will try to keep track of when/how often I do use it and if/when I notice any wear, I will be sure to note it here.

Cheers :))
 

Tuckins1

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Is it ok to mix 14k white and 14k rose gold?
 

audball

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

I was wondering that too Tuckins1 - is itokay to mis different colors of gold? What about finishes, say matte with polished?

I suspect maybe the rhodium plating on white gold could wear away wearing it with either rose/yellow, but that's just speculation.
 

slg47

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

so if I wanted to get a spacer band in rose gold to wear with my plat set...the plat would be OK but the gold would wear away?
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

audball|1315328302|3010779 said:
I was wondering that too Tuckins1 - is itokay to mis different colors of gold? What about finishes, say matte with polished?

I suspect maybe the rhodium plating on white gold could wear away wearing it with either rose/yellow, but that's just speculation.

14k white would wear away 14 yellow fastest and 14 rose not quite as fast - this is just an educated guess based on experiance with an 18K rose white and yellow chain I made for my mother in law and was able to inspect the wear rates over several years.

surface finishes and rhodium plating should not make much difference - both will wear off quickly whatever you wear beside them because as Yssie mentioned the main abrasive is often the fine dust - grit..
 

motownmama

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Man, I hear ya and I'm sure you know a heck of a lot more than I, but my mom's been wearing her rings for over 55 years - plat er/wb stacked with 2 YG sapphire and 2 YG ruby bands (all channel set) - and these were HER mother's rings before that(married 1920). They look beautiful - of course they have surface scratches, but not worn thin, out of round or in anyway damaged - what gives? She only takes them off to sleep and bathe and wash dishes.
 

bleeblue

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Hi Gary

What about same type and karat golds made with different alloys? For example most 18k white gold in the US are a nickel blend whereas 18k white golds in Australia and Europe use palladium. Would it be safe to wear a 18k nickel white gold ring with a 18k palladium white gold ring?

Same question with platinum made using various mixes. Espcially older rings with a 90% platinum content worn with more recent rings that tend to be 95%.

TIA
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

bleeblue|1315455309|3012371 said:
Hi Gary

What about same type and karat golds made with different alloys? For example most 18k white gold in the US are a nickel blend whereas 18k white golds in Australia and Europe use palladium. Would it be safe to wear a 18k nickel white gold ring with a 18k palladium white gold ring?

Same question with platinum made using various mixes. Espcially older rings with a 90% platinum content worn with more recent rings that tend to be 95%.

TIA
I think what metal is alloyed with platinum might have more impact, and I guess that palladium wg will wear out nickel wg.

But these are not from actual witnessed experiance....a grain of salt please
 

Gothgrrl

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

What about wearing yellow gold with rose gold. I wonder if rose gold will eat away yellow gold.
 

cereal_diamond

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

motownmama|1315369524|3011339 said:
Man, I hear ya and I'm sure you know a heck of a lot more than I, but my mom's been wearing her rings for over 55 years - plat er/wb stacked with 2 YG sapphire and 2 YG ruby bands (all channel set) - and these were HER mother's rings before that(married 1920). They look beautiful - of course they have surface scratches, but not worn thin, out of round or in anyway damaged - what gives? She only takes them off to sleep and bathe and wash dishes.

This is just a thought but I think it could be due to the fact that we're seeing alot more cast rings compared to handmade. I should think that back in the day handmade rings would've have probably been more common?? 1920's isn't that far off but just a guess :razz:
 

danyhutch

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Great question Yssie!!! Always was a little confused about it as well! :confused: Thanks for posting!!!
 

Parkerswife

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

What about palladium & yellow gold? Will one wear the other away? I have a yellow gold (made in Aus) engagement ring with a palladium circle around my diamond (bezel set) & have been considering a two tone wedder to go with it, yellow gold in the centre, palladium on the outside - will the palladium wear out the yellow gold as it rubs against my engagement ring?
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Parkerswife|1316403083|3020467 said:
What about palladium & yellow gold? Will one wear the other away? I have a yellow gold (made in Aus) engagement ring with a palladium circle around my diamond (bezel set) & have been considering a two tone wedder to go with it, yellow gold in the centre, palladium on the outside - will the palladium wear out the yellow gold as it rubs against my engagement ring?
Post a photo please
 

Gothgrrl

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

This thread has some great answers. If someone can answer does rose gold eat away yellow gold , all the mixing of metals questions would be answered. Thanks.
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Gothgrrl|1316465182|3020893 said:
This thread has some great answers. If someone can answer does rose gold eat away yellow gold , all the mixing of metals questions would be answered. Thanks.
sorry, thought i had posted - it must not have survived.

Many years ago I made an 18k white, rose and yellow gold chin. Each link was the same thickness.
After many years I checked for wear and the white wore the least, the yellow the most. The rose very slightly wore out the yellow gold - but a tiny amount in comparsion to the white vs others
 

Gothgrrl

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

Thank you Garry.
 

rogrant84

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

All the while I thought platinum is the most durable of the three that is why it is being used on airplane boosters/thrusters that it doesn't melt easily.
 

Garry H (Cut Nut)

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Re: Mixing metals - does plat. eat gold, or does gold eat pl

rogrant84|1319010930|3043320 said:
All the while I thought platinum is the most durable of the three that is why it is being used on airplane boosters/thrusters that it doesn't melt easily.
Most girls are not that hot! :angryfire:
 
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