Platinum finishes -- satin vs. polished (high shine)?!

[Lynn B]

OK... Shucash''s fishtail pave ring has a satin finish. (Photo attached) That sounds intriguing but I have never seen it in person (that I know of). Does anyone have any experience with (or photos of) satin-finished pieces?

Is it just a very, very fine "brushed" effect? Does it develop the same "patina" that shiny-finished pieces do? Would it help hide small scratches and everyday wear? Anyone with any information?!

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[Demelza]

I'm not a huge fan of satin finish except in certain instances. My understanding is that when it does get scratched, the scratched areas are high polish. It will get scratched just like any platinum piece. The other thing to know is that a satin finish or a high polish finish can be applied and re-applied. If you wanted your current rings to have a satin finish, you could just walk into any jewelry store that does buffing and have them apply a satin finish. It's just a matter of which polishing wheel they use. For your rings, I vote for high polish!

 

[Kaleigh]

I believe a satin finish will develop a patina just as a high polish would in platinum. It may hide scratches more but will get scratched none the less. I vote for high polish!!!

 

[Lynn B]

Hey, thanks guys! xoxoxo

It does sort of *scare me* because I have never seen it in person. And I never knew it could be so easily "changed". WF suggested satin for that particular piece, with a high polish head, but that was just Leon''s personal opinion. I''m sure it would be beautiful in either finish.

Any other opinions?!

 

[cpster]

Are you planning on getting a very similar ring? If so, I would go high polish. My husban'ds wedding band has a satin finish and we purchased it because of the specific vertical direction that the finish was applied. It doesn't last forever though and if you don't maintain the satin finish it just looks like a big mess. The jeweler can put a satin finish on in just a few minutes.

With a design like this though, go high polish all the way. I think a only a high polish head would just be weird. It's mostly diamonds so to me it doesn't make sense to do a satin finish where there is so little metal showing. I think a satin finish is more appropriate for pieces that show a lot of metal.

I really love this fishtail pave style.

 

[MissGotRocks]

So, girlie, have you decided this is the ONE?!?!?!?

I am going to vote for the high polished finish as well. I have known people with satin finish yellow gold pieces that over time just didn''t look good. They weren''t shiny and they lost that ''same direction'' satin. Just looked like they had been run over in the driveway!

Is there a picture of the band that goes with this ring? Not hard to imagine but I would like to see it!

 

[Lynn B]

Yeah, I think I am planning on getting this one!!! I just keep coming back to it and I love it so much. John said that it should be as durable and worry-free as my current shared-prong setting. That pretty much sealed the deal!!!

Oh, one more question (regarding high-polish vs. satin) -- does anyone know how the similar-looking the Michael B pieces are finished? In a high-shine platinum? Because THAT is definitely *THE LOOK* I am striving for!!!!

 

[Lynn B]

Oh, MGR, I forgot to answer your question! No... there''s no photo of a matching w-ring... dangit! But it will be an exact match of the e-ring.

*SO EXCITING!*

 

[Mara]

Lynn my darling!!!

Can I just say that I saw your fabulous ring, tried it on and drooled on it a little and then took some pictures with it...and you are INSANE to want to change your setting girl? That ring is awesome the way it is. Also it''s SO dainty. I honestly don''t think you will see one whit of difference between something like a 2.1mm and a 2.3mm...seriously. And all you see when you look at it is diamonds to begin with, so basically this fishtail thing will be just an improvement on the side view.

Not like I am trying to talk you out of it or anything (tee hee) but I LOVED the setting as you have it now. We both ooh''d and aaah'' over it. And your stone, fabulous. Anyway just another perspective. (keep the ring!)

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Mara, I hope you are about to post about your WF visit with Alj!!!

Lynn, I love your current rings, too!

 

[Mara]

DS I am just stuck at the airport waiting for my delayed flight...nothing much to post just yet but tomorrow morning after I am all fresh after a good night''s sleep I will be posting away I am sure. We have so many great pictures, we saw so many amazing things....met some great new people. Lots of fun though it''s always good to come home!!

 

[Lynn B]

MARA, girlfriend!!!! ARE YOU HOME???!!!!

 

[Lynn B]

OH! Just read that you are at the airport!
Can you check your e-mail from there???!

 

[FireGoddess]

DH''s wedding ring had satin finish down the middle strip of the band. Looked nice, but when it gets scratched the scratches are ''high polish'' looking. I vote high polish for yours...

 

[Mara]

Date: 5/6/2006 7:46:08 PM
Author: Lynn B
OH! Just read that you are at the airport!
Can you check your e-mail from there???!

Why yes I can sweetie.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 5/6/2006 7:41:46 PM
Author: Mara
DS I am just stuck at the airport waiting for my delayed flight...nothing much to post just yet but tomorrow morning after I am all fresh after a good night''s sleep I will be posting away I am sure. We have so many great pictures, we saw so many amazing things....met some great new people. Lots of fun though it''s always good to come home!!

Oh, boy! One more sleep and we can live precariously through you and Alj while looking at pictures from WF!!!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Lynn you''re whispering again but I heard you loud and clear! I can''t help but think of your angelic face in those other ring pictures but when you make up your mind you are like a freight train comin''!

Good luck with your choice - I assume we will have pics coming!

 

[Demelza]

Date: 5/6/2006 9:00:19 PM
Author: MissGotRocks
Lynn you''re whispering again but I heard you loud and clear! I can''t help but think of your angelic face in those other ring pictures but when you make up your mind you are like a freight train comin''!


Good luck with your choice - I assume we will have pics coming!

Hahaha, I agree MGR! When Lynn makes up her mind about jewelry, WATCH OUT!!! I mean that with tons of affection! I''m much the same way.

 

[Lynn B]

Date: 5/6/2006 9:01:53 PM
Author: Demelza

Date: 5/6/2006 9:00:19 PM
Author: MissGotRocks
Lynn you''re whispering again but I heard you loud and clear! I can''t help but think of your angelic face in those other ring pictures but when you make up your mind you are like a freight train comin''!


Good luck with your choice - I assume we will have pics coming!

Hahaha, I agree MGR! When Lynn makes up her mind about jewelry, WATCH OUT!!! I mean that with tons of affection! I''m much the same way.

LOL! You guys know me TOOOOOOO well! Well, um... I think it is a... done deal!

 

[MissGotRocks]

If that''s what will make you happy then I am tickled to death for you! Guess you gave them a credit card number, huh?

 

[Lynn B]

OH, I found a photo of the MB princess ring that reminds me of the WF ring. Definitely the look I am aspiring to. (But picture it with the rounded shank and more delicate prong tips - yum!) And I see that it is POLISHED SHINY!

 

[MissGotRocks]

I really like the shiny look. That ring should make your stone look huge - not that there is such a size difference in the shank but because the stones are spread around further and are smaller. I really do like the set you have but I certainly understand wanting a change. Most folks in my life don''t understand the changes that I made either - usually just minor adjustments on the same theme. It''s just the tweaking of something to near perfection that is the fun for me so I understand where you are coming from.

 

[Lynn B]

Thanks, everyone.

I know it seems *frivolous* (and even, gasp! *SILLY*) but I REEEEALLY WANT smaller melee and more diamonds around the shank. And those changes can''t be made to the existing rings, it entails a total remake. So then, since we are looking at a total re-make... why not get something a little different, too???!

My husband says a drug or alcohol addiction would be CHEAPER!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Date: 5/6/2006 9:57:48 PM
Author: Lynn B
Thanks, everyone.

I know it seems *frivolous* (and even, gasp! *SILLY*) but I REEEEALLY WANT smaller melee and more diamonds around the shank. And those changes can''t be made to the existing rings, it entails a total remake. So then, since we are looking at a total re-make... why not get something a little different, too???!

My husband says a drug or alcohol addiction would be CHEAPER!

Maybe. . . but looking at the recent pics of Whitney Houston. . . it would change your beautiful angelic face . . . . no, tell him you''ll stick to diamonds!

 

[mrssalvo]

Lynn,

Bill Pearlman is sending me the michael b ring you posted to look at this week. He''s sending one with the fishtail pave and one with the bead set. one will be 2mm and the other 2.2. I will me more than happy to share my opinions of each when i get them.

oh, and I vote for the high polish

 

[Lynn B]

Date: 5/6/2006 10:11:10 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Lynn,


Bill Pearlman is sending me the michael b ring you posted to look at this week. He''s sending one with the fishtail pave and one with the bead set. one will be 2mm and the other 2.2. I will me more than happy to share my opinions of each when i get them.

OH! Yes, yes, yes, PLEASE!!!!

Thank you!!!!

 

[JCJD]

My ering has satin finish on the top half of the shank, shiny on the bottom half. Let''s see if I can dig up a pic...

The satin part didn''t show scratches like the shiny part cause the scratches are still pretty satiny. Until my jeweler polished it all shiny last month (bad bad experience...specifically told them not to polish it at all, cried.....) the satin portion looked very nice, a little aged but definitly not shiny, and the shiny portion also had a lovely patina. It''s been a month since the polishing event (they re-satined it immediately while we waited) and it''s still satin. I can only tell where the satin''s been scratched if I look really closely and turn it so the metal reflects light to me (if that makes sense...). Yes, the scratches are shinier, but not like the normal shiny finish.

My wedding band started out satin and after 10 months of constant wear it has a nice patina. Shimmery I guess, but definitly not shiny, not satin either. I really like platinum''s patina and I guess having a satin finish helps it get there sooner, so if it were me, I''d go with satin.

It''s a bit hard to tell where your ring will be satin... on the sides of the shank? the prongs?

 

[Lynn B]

JCJD,

Thank you soooo much for the photo - how helpful was THAT??!!

If I chose the satin finish, I assume it would be the entire ring, every part except the head. It''s a big decision... and even though WF personally prefers that ring in satin, I am a little afraid because I''ve never seen it in person.... but I know I love the shiny.

 

[cinnabar]

Date: 5/7/2006 12:51:17 AM
Author: JCJD
The satin part didn''t show scratches like the shiny part cause the scratches are still pretty satiny. Until my jeweler polished it all shiny last month (bad bad experience...specifically told them not to polish it at all, cried.....) the satin portion looked very nice, a little aged but definitly not shiny, and the shiny portion also had a lovely patina. It''s been a month since the polishing event (they re-satined it immediately while we waited) and it''s still satin.

I''m sorry to hear your jeweler did that. I left my e-ring with a jeweler to have the prongs tightened, and when I got back they''d polished it without asking me. Mine wasn''t satin, but I liked the patina that had developed. They were so pleased with themselves for having made it "all shiny and brand new looking". I didn''t tell them in advance not to do it, because I never realised they would do anything extra for free, but it really sucks if you did tell them and they still did it.

I originally wanted a satin set, but a friend advised against it and said that the satin would wear off with use (her mother had been disappointed with the satin finish on her rings). I didn''t know they could be re-satined at the time, so I went for a plain polish.

 

[Mara]

I''m personally not a fan of satin rings, so I''d say shiny!!