Pictures of worn WG--especially from James Allen

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Hey, I have been searching to find a good thread dedicated to pictures of worn white gold and wasn''t having much luck. I was hoping some people might post pictures intended to capture the affects--however large or small--of the affects of white gold being worn. Also, list the composition of the gold, how old the ring is, the time since the last re plating, how much it cost to maintain and how often you do it, and if you purchased yours from James Allen make sure you mention that one specifically. Also, if this is a repost please direct me to a good thread with this same objective.

 

[jstarfireb]

I don''t have any pictures because I had it replated, but the rhodium plating on one of my gemstone rings started to come off within weeks of buying it. I think it must have been poorly plated to begin with, because I haven''t had any issues since it''s been replated. Anyway, an area on the part of the shank that sits on the palm side of my hand started to look yellowish...not shiny and bright like yellow gold, but a dull yellow. Then the yellowish color started to creep up the sides of the shank. I took it to a mall store to get replated...it took about a week, and it only cost me about $30 or $40.

I think my story is a little atypical, and you can probably expect the plating to come off with daily wear for about a year or so. Replating still shouldn''t cost much though.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Thanks for the response but don''t forget important details, like composition of the metal, and how long is has lasted you since you got it replated. And, was that a JA ring?

 

[kcoursolle]

I don''t have any pictures I''m afraid, but I have a WG ring. The thing I notice first is a yellowish tint on the bottom of the band from being knocked there the most and I start to notice this after about 6 months. After a rhodium plating it looks just like new. Platinum wears much worse than WG and looks scratched and dull more than WG until a polishing.

 

[Cehrabehra]

White gold is gold and gold is yellow - if you really don''t like yellowish white then get platinum or face periodic rhodium platings that will be frequencied more based on your chemistry than anything at JA. Personally I prefer the warmer tone of unplated white gold to platinum, but white gold has issues with being in the pool, so I wouldn''t base a decision on how white gold wears because a) its gonna happen and b) its your chemistry that has most to do with how it will look.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

White gold generally will stay more shiny than platinum. The wearing off of the rhodium finish happens mainly where the ring gets wear, such as where it rubs another ring. It is very subtle and does not bother me since it is not on the top surface of the ring. I may do the rhodium plating every few years. I have no idea what the alloys are in my white gold rings. I have read on here that 18k white gold is preferable to 14k.

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Yea, I am actually a little confused about the palladium WG mix, as I hear that it doesn't require Rhodium plating? I am def. leaning toward the WG with platinum prongs combo, as I just don't think I can afford the platinum.

Also, I was so set on my diamond decision until I realized the upgrade policy only last for five years with JA and I have thus recently been going back and looking at SI1's etc...lol, I have got to quit doubting and just stick with my purchase. And if I feel that SI1 is lower quality, I don't see how I can justify it, even for 400 dollars, not for the engagement ring. And that stinking USA cert would probably get my business if I could use their website! Then i discovered Union Diamonds is in Atlanta, a place I could drive to--but the deals aren't quite as nice unless I drop to SI1, and then White flash offers the lifetime upgrade policy but that also requires going to SI1 and looking at the reports I suspect they all have inclusions visible from the side...I guess I have to decide by the morning though, going to be another late night. I am still about 99% on the JA, I guess if its not one thing--the clarity or color that is bothering me--its another, the cost or more rarely mm. And having the lifetime upgrade would be really nice, just in case. lol, diamonds...geez

 

[Stone Hunter]

I think it''s about your personal taste: if you want your WG to look really really like chrome which it does after plating.

It''s also about body chemistry: I''ve worn my wband for 15.5 years and NEVER had it replated. It was cast from a set of older rings though and is more 18K than 14K.

I got a JA ring in 18K WG and have worn it for 8 months. It still looks great to me. It looks just like my wband.

HTH

 

[poptart]

Hi, I have a white gold engagement ring that is on the second page of this link. I am not sure if you can see how yellowed the gold has become or not. The ring it is next to, however, is a brand new platinum ring, to give you an idea of the color difference. The ring is 14k, I am not sure what alloy, and is not from James Allen. It has platinum prongs, which I really like. If you can''t tell from the picture, the ring is starting to yellow a little on the top, and the bottom of the ring (palm side) is also yellowing. I have had it about 2 years, and have never had it replated. If you are leaning towards platinum prongs, I second getting them because they have kept my diamond very safe. Hope that helped a little.

*M*

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think palladium white gold is pretty new, so there''s no telling whether it will hold up better or not. But I''d go ahead and get wg and spend the max on the diamond and she can always get a new setting later. You seem to be concerned about the upgrade policy at JA. What is your diamond budget and what size are you trying to get?

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Date: 6/17/2007 10:22:43 PM
Author: poptart
It has platinum prongs, which I really like. If you can''t tell from the picture, the ring is starting to yellow a little on the top, and the bottom of the ring (palm side) is also yellowing. I have had it about 2 years, and have never had it replated. If you are leaning towards platinum prongs, I second getting them because they have kept my diamond very safe. Hope that helped a little.


*M*

Hey, thanks for the replys poptart. Honestly if that is all we are talking about in 2 years time then I would just take it somewhere myself every now and then. Though I know it is different for everybody. But yea, I think I am settled on the WG, as long as they can get it for me without nickel so I don''t have to worry about alergies. But still feel free to post pics of worn WG, I am sure others like myself will want to see pictures of it in the future, to compare against the patina of plat.

Date: 6/17/2007 10:23:25 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I think palladium white gold is pretty new, so there''s no telling whether it will hold up better or not. But I''d go ahead and get wg and spend the max on the diamond and she can always get a new setting later. You seem to be concerned about the upgrade policy at JA. What is your diamond budget and what size are you trying to get?

Well, lets just say you don''t want to know all the details of my budget, and I have suddenly begun doubting everything--looking at my finances and wondering If I am really ready to do all of this, proposal cold feet and really feeling the stress, it would be so much easier If i didn''t have to go to Japan for 2 months. If anybody knows of a job I can do over an American telephone number or online so I don''t miss out on 2 months of work, let me know! and so I think I need a minute to relax. lol, geez. Anyway, I really just want a beautiful stone for her, and I cant afford anything over .7 really, even of low quality. Basically, something white and eye clean from all angles under .7 and I''m good to go, but I am pretty color sensitive and i bet anything she is very color sensitive, which makes color even more troublesome.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Do you have to stay in Japan for two months?

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Date: 6/17/2007 10:57:07 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Do you have to stay in Japan for two months?

well, a little over 1 1/2 months then she will come here for 1 week, with travel time it comes out to just about 2 months, a couple of days shy. And yea, I think I had better. It gets pretty difficult, and she has been really tired recently, her best friend leaving where she works and all. And I only make 280 in a 45 hour week...lol so, its not like its really worth it to miss out on a week with her. I am thinking my best bet might be to come up with some romantic date ideas that don't cost money to do with her. So I can reduce spending cost while I am there. And while I have never found anything before, this time I will have to find some sort of job while I am there, teaching English or something, while she is working. And when I get back of course, do whatever I have to....ugh

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

alright, I am back to myself now. And I will just stick with my purchase and make it work

Thanks for replying though.I better not see that cloud though or some of the good people at JA may be losing some teeth.

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 6/17/2007 4:56:41 PM
Author: WorkingHardforSmallRewards
Thanks for the response but don't forget important details, like composition of the metal, and how long is has lasted you since you got it replated. And, was that a JA ring?

Sorry! Thought I could get away with forgetting this since I don't have pics.

It was 14k white gold (don't know what was alloyed with it though), purchased about 2 years ago, and I believe I got it replated about 2-3 months after I bought it. It's been fine since the replating, and I've worn it quite a bit (it's a natural alexandrite, and I've made a hobby out of watching the effects of lighting on its color). So, like I said, it was probably a shoddy plating job to begin with. I haven't seen any signs of wear on any of my other WG rings, for that matter, and I have a ton of them. And nope, it wasn't from James Allen. Hope that helps!

 

[WorkingHardforSmallRewards]

Date: 6/18/2007 12:12:48 AM
Author: jstarfireb

Date: 6/17/2007 4:56:41 PM

Author: WorkingHardforSmallRewards

Thanks for the response but don''t forget important details, like composition of the metal, and how long is has lasted you since you got it replated. And, was that a JA ring?

Sorry! Thought I could get away with forgetting this since I don''t have pics.

It was 14k white gold (don''t know what was alloyed with it though), purchased about 2 years ago, and I believe I got it replated about 2-3 months after I bought it. It''s been fine since the replating, and I''ve worn it quite a bit (it''s a natural alexandrite, and I''ve made a hobby out of watching the effects of lighting on its color). So, like I said, it was probably a shoddy plating job to begin with. I haven''t seen any signs of wear on any of my other WG rings, for that matter, and I have a ton of them. And nope, it wasn''t from James Allen. Hope that helps!

No you cant get away with it just because you don''t have pics! (I don''t think any pics are forthcoming, I guess nobody wants to share worn down yellow white gold

.)
But yes, it did help, but it adds another expense. There was one nice local jeweler I met around here and I have been wanting to buy something from him, I also want to show him my new ring, as he went over the old one with me, made copies of the AGS report for me, gave me advice and showed me inclusions through the loupe, then we talked with his other customer for like 20 minutes about diamonds. So I guess I will go to him and have it checked again, and pay for a re plating before it is even worn (if he recommends it) just to make sure it doesn''t wear off on her just after we are separated.

 

[jstarfireb]

Unless your fiancee is unlucky enough to have the body chemistry that wears down rhodium plating in a few months...I think the money you''ll save by choosing WG over platinum will more than make up for the expense of replating! I haven''t heard of rings being replated before they''re worn, so if I were you, I wouldn''t worry too much about it. Just take a look at it the next time you see your FI and re-evaluate the need for plating then. I''d guess that the James Allen rings probably have a decent plating job in the first place, since JA is pretty reputable as Internet vendors go.

 

[Stone Hunter]

Just to reassure you...I know you''re stressed but I think you''re making good diamond choices and setting choices.

Really WG is fine and she can always reset the stone later. Again most of us have had no trouble with WG wearing so we don''t have photos. One poster that did have wear did link to her photo.

As far as the job stuff goes take a DEEP breath and think about your options.