Sizing a platinum ring

[newtodiamonds]

I need to have my platinum ring sized down about a 1/2 size - from a 7 to a 6 1/2. A friend told me that whoever sizes my ring should either give me back what platinum is cut out of the ring, or give me some money for it. Is this true? I never even thought of that before my friend said anything.

Also - would this platinum ring need to be rhodium plated after sizing it down? 2 jewelers told me yes, and another said no. I didn''t think platinum ever needed a rhodium plating!

 

[sxn675]

You know, you might want to consider having sizing balls added to size the ring down. That way, if your hands swell later (like if you have kids or whatever) then the balls can just be removed and you''ll have a larger size. I''ve never really heard of anyone asking for money for the half size down. I know that my setting probably wouldn''t have cost more for a half size more, so I can''t imagine getting anything back, know what I mean?

 

[denverappraiser]

The vast majority of the cost of most rings is in the labor, not the metal. The value of the piece of platinum removed is nominal. Most jewelers will be willing to give it back to you if you ask for it at the time that you drop the job off but it is very difficult to retrieve these pieces afterwards if they weren''t saving it for you. If you want it, remember to ask at the beginning. They save up all of the little pieces, filings, bits of solder and everything else that hits their lap tray during the day and send it off to the refiner occasionally. This does produce a nice bonus for the jeweler at the end of the year but the contribution of each job to it is quite small. Ask for it if you want but most people can''t do much with it. For the jeweler it''s worth a cup of coffee.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[PhillipSchmidt]

Hi New2,

In line with what Neil said, about asking for the piece. The jeweller knows you can''t do anything with it, so he will think it is a strange request, though of course he may be used to this question. I can''t remember the last time I gave a piece back (although it is a cultural thing). Neil sumed up it''s worth very well, that it is a cup of coffee (brewed. Reverse the situation where you are adding a piece in, and it is two cups of coffee and a cup cake for the work.

Leave it to the jeweller to rhodium plate it. They should be able to polish and plate your ring along with other work. They can show you the difference.

If plumb solder is used - it is as good as fused and there will be no way you can see the join.
If ordinary platinum solder, w/g, or w/g solder is used you will see a drag line at the join. Very fine lines are often unavoidable.

If your ring is not already rhodium plated and looks good to you then don''t worry about changing it.

A lot of jewellers use rhodium to whiten up platinum and diamonds. The rhodium wears off after time. When you come to have it re-polished it will wear off more, but you may not see any change. It only wears on exposed areas, so it not useful on rounded curves etc, which wear.

Back to giving back metal.
Gold is often asked for. Some people in the business of changing their old jewellery for new,want every piece so that they can melt it all in one. This is not possible with platinum. You can''t melt job lots of different alloys and create a workable alloy.