Platinum polishing problems & questions

[PlatinumDiamondGirl]

I've been doing a TON of research online and I'm finding so much conflicting information I thought maybe some experts here would have the answers to my questions.

I've had my platinum solitaire engagement ring that I take extremely well care of for 10 months now. It had very few scratches and only one small dent on a top right side which happened very recently. I took it to the jeweler where my fiance purchased my ring to try and get the dent out. Well, in the process they've scratched the crap out of the top of both left sides of the setting. I asked the sales associate about this because it wasn't like that before. He claimed that they only have a polishing cloth, no tools in the store. He also claimed he didn't see the scratches and he would have to send it out to get repaired seeming to be frustrated with me. I don't want to send it out at this time. I don't know if it got messed up by something they pressed it against or what happened. A similar situation with the same store/sales associate where I took it in to get polished months ago and it ended up having clamp marks on the bottom of the setting that he put there apparently when he cleaned it. I had to take it back and they kind of smoothed that out but you can still see it.

So, I was looking online and trying to find a polishing cloth specifically for platinum, maybe even a rouge cloth and it's hard to find one. Do any of you have recommendations for a platinum polishing cloth that I can purchase to help minor scratches?

Another question I have which is also confusing, whenever a platinum ring is polished in store with a hand tool and polishing wheel attachment, is platinum removed from the ring or not? I've read both that it is removed and it isn't. But it can't be both! I emailed the same jeweler in another state (will be visiting soon) to see if they have polishing capabilities (they do) but they say a very minimal amount will be removed?

I'm so paranoid to the point where I don't even know if I trust them in the other state to polish my ring since the store where I live has royally messed my ring up. However, perhaps they are experts (not like my local store) and they have the right equipment there that I can trust them?

 

[Gypsy]

Lots of issues. You should be working with a jeweler with an in-house bench. Find a good one in your area and go there.

Second, polishing doesn't remove a lot of metal. But depending on the issue it may remove some, even with platinum. But it removes less, generally than it would have to with a white gold setting.

 

[drk14]

Another question I have which is also confusing, whenever a platinum ring is polished in store with a hand tool and polishing wheel attachment, is platinum removed from the ring or not?

I'm very sorry to hear about the troubles with your ring. Apparently, there are many steps to properly polishing platinum, and some of these steps use abrasive tools that will remove some metal. In other steps (especially when using fine abrasives in a high-speed rotary tool), the friction causes the outermost surface of the platinum to heat up so much that it starts "flowing", and the metal thus fills in any remaining scratches without being removed. So I think this may be why you have seen conflicting information about whether platinum is removed or not. In any case, as Gypsy says, the amount removed should be very slight (if the jeweler knows what they're doing!).

FYI, there's a very informative and detailed "Platinum Manual" on the website of Johnson Matthey NY. Chapter 5 deals with platinum polishing techniques.

 

[distracts]

Another question I have which is also confusing, whenever a platinum ring is polished in store with a hand tool and polishing wheel attachment, is platinum removed from the ring or not? I've read both that it is removed and it isn't. But it can't be both!

It depends on the method used.

And yes, find a store with an in-house bench. Speak to the benchperson about your concerns. Find a benchperson who can properly explain the process to you to your satisfaction and work with that person.

 

[Karl_K]

It sounds like they have a shoe salesman messing with rings pretending to be a jeweler.
Sadly not uncommon at all.

 

[PlatinumDiamondGirl]

It sounds like they have a shoe salesman messing with rings pretending to be a jeweler.
Sadly not uncommon at all.

Unfortunately, I agree. Which is sad and infuriating because it's a reputable jeweler but that's the conclusion I came up with which is why I don't trust the people in my local store as they apparently don't know what they are doing.

So is it worth buying a cloth with some sort of rouge in it or will that scratch it worse?

My only concern with finding a local store with an in-house bench to polish it is, how do I know I can even trust them with it? I guess I'm jaded now Part of me thinks I should get it polished from the same jeweler I got it from since they understand the setting but it would be in the other state I will be visiting. Is the hand tool and polishing wheel attachment they mentioned to me the correct way to polish platinum?

 

[drk14]

Is the hand tool and polishing wheel attachment they mentioned to me the correct way to polish platinum?

I think it's a little bit more involved. Here's a good description of a typical process:
http://platinumguild.com/files/pdf/V12N6_platinum_durability.pdf

 

[PlatinumDiamondGirl]

Is the hand tool and polishing wheel attachment they mentioned to me the correct way to polish platinum?

I think it's a little bit more involved. Here's a good description of a typical process:
http://platinumguild.com/files/pdf/V12N6_platinum_durability.pdf

Do you think with what the jeweler told me in the other state who has the hand tool and polishing attachment, it's not a good idea to have it polished with them, then? What do you suppose the chances of them scratching it up and making it worse are with that equipment? Thanks for the link, that was a good read.