Platinum or Goldsmiths, not the Band!
Before I start, this a great site. It''s very informative and I''m sure has proven useful to many people, like it has for me. It''s great to see an open discussion forum with a positive upbeat vibe.
Anyway, I have a question for a goldsmith/platinum smith. Most of the queries here appear gemstone related. It relates to the relative merits of white gold or platinum in a four-prong tiffany style setting.
My Fiancee and I have purchased a 1.3ct G SI1 ideal round stone. We have approached some jewellers to discuss setting the stone and have shortlisted two. We want a simple 18k gold ring with a platinum tiffany style setting. We like 18k gold and tiffany style setting and platinum setting has been recommended by almost everyone we have talked to.
The two jewellers are both reputable, but very different.
One operates from a back street and specialises in custom rings. He can make a hand forged ring in 18k gold and hand forged setting in platinum. He doesn''t have extensive showrooms so there isn''t a piece that we can look at before the ring is made. Although handforged sounds nice, my feels more comfortable if she can see exactly what the finished produce looks nice.
The second is a high street jeweller with an extensive showroom. He can show us a ring in his display that is the finished article that we want. Here the ring is made from cast blanks (both setting and ring). However, he wants to set the stone in white gold rather than platinum and we are confused.
Now for the technical bit.
His view is that platinum is more malleable and pliable than white gold when cast. It isn''t work hardened. Therefore platinum, although harder wearing is more likely to bend and cause you to lose the stone, particularly in a four prong setting. He is willing to set in platinum, but clearly not comfortable. I believe a craftsman needs to be comfortable with what he is doing and I don''t want to press him where he doesn''t want to go.
What are the relative merits of cast white gold and cast platinum for setting a diamond? Does it make a difference if the setting is forged and work hardened? What advice can you give.
Thanks
Padraig
Before I start, this a great site. It''s very informative and I''m sure has proven useful to many people, like it has for me. It''s great to see an open discussion forum with a positive upbeat vibe.
Anyway, I have a question for a goldsmith/platinum smith. Most of the queries here appear gemstone related. It relates to the relative merits of white gold or platinum in a four-prong tiffany style setting.
My Fiancee and I have purchased a 1.3ct G SI1 ideal round stone. We have approached some jewellers to discuss setting the stone and have shortlisted two. We want a simple 18k gold ring with a platinum tiffany style setting. We like 18k gold and tiffany style setting and platinum setting has been recommended by almost everyone we have talked to.
The two jewellers are both reputable, but very different.
One operates from a back street and specialises in custom rings. He can make a hand forged ring in 18k gold and hand forged setting in platinum. He doesn''t have extensive showrooms so there isn''t a piece that we can look at before the ring is made. Although handforged sounds nice, my feels more comfortable if she can see exactly what the finished produce looks nice.
The second is a high street jeweller with an extensive showroom. He can show us a ring in his display that is the finished article that we want. Here the ring is made from cast blanks (both setting and ring). However, he wants to set the stone in white gold rather than platinum and we are confused.
Now for the technical bit.
His view is that platinum is more malleable and pliable than white gold when cast. It isn''t work hardened. Therefore platinum, although harder wearing is more likely to bend and cause you to lose the stone, particularly in a four prong setting. He is willing to set in platinum, but clearly not comfortable. I believe a craftsman needs to be comfortable with what he is doing and I don''t want to press him where he doesn''t want to go.
What are the relative merits of cast white gold and cast platinum for setting a diamond? Does it make a difference if the setting is forged and work hardened? What advice can you give.
Thanks
Padraig
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