Vatche Platinum Mix...

[verticalhorizon]

Does anyone know what the platinum mix that Vatche uses? I e-mailed them and so far haven''t heard anything. There are plenty of existing threads that describe certain ''recipies'' of plat. maintain their lustre better than others.

 

[endless_search]

I want to know this too.

 

[CaptAubrey]

they may not want to tell you. they might consider that proprietary information.

 

[endless_search]

Maybe they could tell you how their mix compares to the other standard mixes.

 

[verticalhorizon]

Or at least they could tell me that they can't tell me.

 

[Jolie]

Wouldn't you need to know the mix in order to get the ring repaired or resized in the future? I bet they'll tell you the mix after you buy the ring (so not really proprietary info).

 

[DEVO]

I sent vatche this same question last year, but I have lost their response. I believe they said 950 (out of 1000) pure and not other details were given, but I can't remember if that number is correct (it might be 850, still looking for the email).

 

[LesleyH]

I just put a call in to Vatche to clarify this. They use 95% Platinum and 5% either Ruthenium or Iridium. Iridium has always been the staple alloy, but more and more designers have started using Ruthenium as it renders the platinum even more durable. Another popular alloy is cobalt, which is used by some of the larger manufacturers.

LesleyH
www.whiteflash.com

 

[verticalhorizon]

That's terrific, thank you. I had sent them another more specific e-mail and was hoping that someone would answer.

Does more durable also mean it keeps its lustre longer?

Can you recommend a method of cleaning/polishing platinum at home that someone can do? What about those little electric buffers?

 

[LesleyH]

VH:

I read a very interesting article in one of the trade magazines last weekend which discussed all the different platinum combinations. The bottom line is that platinum scratches over time, as does gold. More durable might mean that it will scratch less or take longer to scratch, but the scratching is inevitable.

The good news about platinum is that when you do repolish it you do not lose material. The home buffing kit will not work very well - you will need to have it done professionally.

LesleyH
www.whiteflash.com

 

[verticalhorizon]

Questions just beget more questions... Sorry!

Do designer setting manufacturers usually like to handle polishing their own work, like Tacori, Vatche, etc. or can a reasonable jeweler do it.

I ask, b/c I hear that having a reg. jeweler resize designer rings can void the warranty or just plain produce crappy results (dep. on experience with working on plat).

 

[LesleyH]

Repolishing a platinum ring is not an invasive process like setting or resizing. I do not believe that it would void the warranty. It is not customary to send a designer setting back to the manufacturer to be repolished.

LesleyH
www.whiteflash.com

 

[DEVO]

my bad... it's PT950, it even says so on the ring. doh.

also I got an email from GOG... stating the same. My lost email, said the same as well (the one from Vatche).

95% Platinum
5% iridium

 

[gailrmv]

I know this is an old thread, but I am still wondering about this topic.
After reading up on the different alloys, I see it was a mistake not to look into this more before choosing my setting.
As Lesley said previously, the Vatche company sometimes uses 5% Iridium, sometimes Ruthenium for their alloy with 950 Plat.
Since some time has gone by since her post, can anyone give more info? Has Vatche started using the Ruthenium more? Or doing anything else to enhance the hardness of their alloy?
Is there any way to tell what my ring is alloyed with?
I''m dissapointed to see how the shank is already getting dinged up! If Plat is marketed (and priced so high) for holding up better than wg over a lifetime, you''d think they''d make it a little less malleable (that is, for the alloy most commonly used!)
Thanks!