Platinum ring, white gold solder repair

[Reese]

Platinum ring, white gold solder repair

I had to have the prongs changed on a platinum setting I purchased for my diamond. When I picked up my ring I noticed a yellowish tinge where the new prongs were soldered. Also, I could see a seam where the ring was sized. When I questioned the jeweler he told me that white gold is used because the heat would melt the prongs. He rhodium plated them they do look much better but, I am worried about the strength of the solder joint. As far as the seam from the sizing, he did use platinum. He told me when sizing platinum you always can see when a ring has been sized. This is a fairly simple setting, with 8 diamonds, 4 on each side of the center stone. This guy has made a mess of my ring, nice guy but very sloppy. The tips of the prongs are a mess, they are not nice and smooth, the edges are jagged and smooshed against the diamond. I have brought my ring back 3 times and each time, it still is not fixed.

I am going to try to find someone else to fix everything. Is what he told me correct, I don’t want to look like a idiot when I explain all this to someone else.

Thanks,
Reese

 

[pqcollectibles]

Hi Reese!

Sorry you are having problems.

Sounds like your jeweler does not have a good smith doing his work. Maybe the jeweler hasn't seen quality work or he's feeding you a line.

I picked a platinum ring that was originally set with a princess cut diamond. It has princess and baguette diamonds channel set on both sides. I wanted that setting for a pear shape stone I already owned. My jeweler checked with her smith to see if it would be possible to rework the current ring to take my pear. He said Yes! My jeweler's smith removed the princess diamond and head, rebuilt the bridge in platinum to take the new pear head, put in a platinum V-point head, and set my pear. The ring was also sized. There is no seam or solder marks showing anywhere. My ring looks like it was made for a pear shaped stone. I also have another plat ring that has been sized and there is no seam showing.

If you've used the same jeweler 3 times without satisfactory results, I'd suggest taking your ring elsewhere for the work you want done. Hopefully you can find a quality craftsman that can perform the work correctly.

Good Luck!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Sounds like you're dealing with a goldsmith, when what you need is a platinumsmith.

Most goldsmith's are not adept with working platinum. It is a much more difficult metal to work with than gold.

A good platinumsmith will give you a pleasing finished product with clean lines, and no demarcation visible where the sizing is done. They're hard to find, but worth the search.