Platinum, did I make the wrong decision?

[geisha_gyrl]

Hi all,

So, I recently ordered my 3 stone e-ring and chose a platinum setting. I went with platinum because I do love the feel and never having to worry about it yellowing then re-plated. I do know all jewelry has varying degrees of upkeep. However, I thought platinum had the least and I would just get it polished every so often. Well, I started reading about how quickly patina develops and some alloy blends are more susceptible. This had me on the hunt for the best alloy for scratch resistance. I found that ruthenium makes for an extremely scratch and wear resistant ring. I contacted my jeweler and the sales manager informed me that they use iridium which is the softest alloy blend. She swears that the platinum rings they get in for service still look great, blah blah blah and I didn't need to study the issue any further. She then offers to rhodium plate the ring for me. I did read that some jewelers do this. (I guess it's not a bad thing so that you have a high gloss look.) I emailed the sales manager yesterday to see if I could switch the alloy but I haven't heard back. So, I guess my question is did I make the wrong decision? If they will not change to ruthenium, do you think plating is a good option? I was thinking as it fades, it will not be as noticeable since platinum is a white metal. Or should I just select white gold? I have a little time to decide. They are still preparing the renderings for my ring so I guess I have until then. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[winternight]

I've been wearing platinum for years and it looks great. My mom has a white gold ring from the 1970s that still doesn't need replating, but honestly I don't think I'd get white gold anymore since it seems like people need replating much sooner. In my opinion the issues with platinum are overstated.

 

[mrssalvo]

Is is 95/5 or 90/10?

Personally, I love platinum and don't mind the patina it may get over time. That said, it polishes very easily and you don't lose metal the same way you do when polishing WG. I wouldn't worry about it at all.


ETA: I wouldn't plate it, but that's just me

 

[SilverFire]

Platinum and ruthenium alloy is more scratch resistant than the platinum iridium...unfortunately. My boyfriends mom had a platinum ring (pretty sure based on what she's told me it was platinum iridium) and it wore away so bad it looked like plastic. If you don't like the patina...you may want to see if they will change the alloy. I don't know if you can plate platinum or not. If you feel it's necessary and it can be done than it will protect the platinum underneath (not like it's a huge deal since it doesn't lose metal like white gold does when scratched). It will be a continuous bother though, seeing as how the rhodium does wear off in a matter of a year or so.

 

[lizzyann]

I love platinum! I like my rings white white white! I would rather get my ring polished once a year then deal with white gold and how it yellows. But is personal. I've had my engagement ring for over 8 years and even when it was in need of a polish it still looked beautiful! personally, I wouldn't rhodium it because at that point then just go with white gold.

 

[yssie]

All platinum will patina, no matter how much you baby it - that's just an inevitability. Some alloys are more scratch-resistant than others, and as mrssalvo said you will lose far less metal regularly polishing plat than you would gold.


Photos of my old ring (950/ir) month by month in this thread, I babied it to the extreme and it had a thorough patina on the shank by 6months: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/platinum-vs-white-gold.147732/#post-2668608']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/platinum-vs-white-gold.147732/#post-2668608[/URL]
My 950/ru plain 'workhorse' wedding band is a year old and also thoroughly patina'd now after regular wear, doing dishes, cleaning, etc.


Articles/sites w/ more info:
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/overview_common_alloys_used_jewelry
http://www.platinumguild.com/output/page3211.asp
http://www.mwmjewelry.com/platinum_purity.htm

 

[SilverFire]

personally, I wouldn't rhodium it because at that point then just go with white gold.

Unless you're allergic to the nickel in the white gold! Like me.

 

[SilverFire]

All platinum will patina, no matter how much you baby it - that's just an inevitability. Some alloys are more scratch-resistant than others, and as mrssalvo said you will lose far less metal regularly polishing plat than you would gold.

Too true....too true.

A rhodium plate might be a good idea, since yes...as it wears off it will not show as much. Again, as long as you don't mind the hassle of replating it. It will allow you the shiny look that you want. You could just see how it goes with the platinum and just get it polished eventually too?

 

[geisha_gyrl]

Thanks for everyone's speedy replies. I'd hate to get it polished every month or every two months. I could handle once a year or so which is probably the same as plating. Yssie, I've looked at your pics before and they are very helpful. They remind me of my Tiffany silver. I usually take all my silver once a year to have Tiffany polish it. I guess it really doesn't matter which route I go. Upkeep is the same. Maybe if their smith is not willing to work with Ruthenium, I can get them to do 900/100IR. It will be a bit more durable. Plating is something I would have never considered but it doesn't seem like a terrible option. I do want my platinum to look like platinum but I also want it to have a nice polish. I read opinions of some jewelers/ smiths that said as the plating wears, it's not that noticeable because platinum is white unlike white gold. So, I guess the need isn't as great to run to the jeweler for re-plating. I don't know. This process has given me a headache!

 

[geisha_gyrl]

All platinum will patina, no matter how much you baby it - that's just an inevitability. Some alloys are more scratch-resistant than others, and as mrssalvo said you will lose far less metal regularly polishing plat than you would gold.


Photos of my old ring (950/ir) month by month in this thread, I babied it to the extreme and it had a thorough patina on the shank by 6months: [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/platinum-vs-white-gold.147732/#post-2668608']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/platinum-vs-white-gold.147732/#post-2668608[/URL]
My 950/ru plain 'workhorse' wedding band is a year old and also thoroughly patina'd now after regular wear, doing dishes, cleaning, etc.


Articles/sites w/ more info:
https://www.pricescope.com/journal/overview_common_alloys_used_jewelry
http://www.platinumguild.com/output/page3211.asp
http://www.mwmjewelry.com/platinum_purity.htm

Yssie,

Do you regret going with platinum?

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Stick with the platinum. I think patina is beautiful. I've been wearing one of my platinum rings nearly daily for 4 years now and it doesn't have enough patina in my mind. I'm sensitive to white gold and can only wear 18KT white gold for a few hours before it itches or I develop a red rash. Platinum is definitely my preference for rings.

 

[geisha_gyrl]

Okay ladies, I've just heard from the jeweler. They said they will mix the platinum with any alloy I choose. So, it's settled. I will get Ruthenium. I feel much better. I know I will still need to get it polished as it will still develop patina over time. However, it's comforting to know I'll get the most durable and resistant blend for my setting. Thanks ladies for your opinions. This process has been so nerve wrecking. God willing this will be the only time I have to do this.

 

[yssie]

Okay ladies, I've just heard from the jeweler. They said they will mix the platinum with any alloy I choose. So, it's settled. I will get Ruthenium. I feel much better. I know I will still need to get it polished as it will still develop patina over time. However, it's comforting to know I'll get the most durable and resistant blend for my setting. Thanks ladies for your opinions. This process has been so nerve wrecking. God willing this will be the only time I have to do this.

Congrats on your decision - an informed choice can never be the wrong one!


I will say don't bother getting it plated - plating gives that bright bright chrome-like white colour, but it doesn't add any sort of shine or polish, or hide scratches, or anything like that, which is what it sounds like you're expecting it to do (though it might sound logical that it would, the plating is *so* thin it's just incapable of acting as any sort of plastic-like filler)

 

[Sheherizaad]

:: edited ::

Stupid Auto-correct!! lol

 

[Sheherizaad]

What about titanium guys?

Any thoughts?

 

[UCLABelle]

I love platinum, and it is the only metal for jewelry I usually use. The patina is the beauty... it makes the metal softer... and distinguishes it from other metals. Having it polished too often ruins the piece over time, and I (as many in the trade will probably state) think it should only be done once a year or two. Tiffany, who made my engagement ring, would often stress this as well.

Do you strongly dislike the patina, or can you handle and appreciate it? If not, I would probably change settings... if you can... because there is nothing worse than stressing over it during your lifetime... it would be silly.