Vatche platinum

[Kellyco]

expert opinions welcome!!! Please)))

I’m thinking of getting platinum for a vatche piece (e ring). I’ve never had plat before and afraid of patina. It’s not something I’d be a fan of. Also the “heft” or weight of it concerns me a tad as I like to feel like my rings aren’t there / comfortable for me. I can deal with it but the weight of it isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. I’m more concerned about the look.

I usually go for 14k WG. Mainly because i believe it’s whiter and harder. Vatche only offers 18k.

So how does Vatche’s platinum compare to others? I know I’ve read some are better than others, as far as staying shiny, not scuffing easily (would drive me nuts) and not as soft. I am kind of wishing they just have 14k. (I can always just get it rhodiumed) I don’t know where I’d take plat to be polished that I trust. Not many jewelers around me like that. Just mainly mall stores. I’d have to look into it.

If I go that route Should I request a certain mix for platinum from Vatche?

Also is there any kind of cloth or at home polishing I can do to platinum?

 

[Winks_Elf]

Hi Kellyco,

It's not true that Vatche does not offer 14k. They do indeed. Your jeweler has but to ask.

Their 14kwg is done with a nickel alloy. Their 18kwg is done with a palladium alloy. It's great because as the ring becomes much loved, the look is very much like platinum without the patina. The best part is it never needs rhodium plating because palladium is in the platinum family. It stays nice and white looking!

Their standard blend of platinum is PT950 with 5% ruthenium. They can do PT900 with ruthenium, or do either with iridium, which is a great choice for pieces with engraving and milgrain. If you do not specify a blend, they automatically do the PT950 with ruthenium.

Sunshine cloths are great for taking off the patina.

Hope that helps!

 

[Rivendell]

My rings are platinum and they have stayed shiny. They are a couple of years old and I wear them 24/7.

 

[Kellyco]

Hi Kellyco,

It's not true that Vatche does not offer 14k. They do indeed. Your jeweler has but to ask.

Their 14kwg is done with a nickel alloy. Their 18kwg is done with a palladium alloy. It's great because as the ring becomes much loved, the look is very much like platinum without the patina. The best part is it never needs rhodium plating because palladium is in the platinum family. It stays nice and white looking!

Their standard blend of platinum is PT950 with 5% ruthenium. They can do PT900 with ruthenium, or do either with iridium, which is a great choice for pieces with engraving and milgrain. If you do not specify a blend, they automatically do the PT950 with ruthenium.

Sunshine cloths are great for taking off the patina.

Hope that helps!

Hmmm so maybe I should go with 18k since it has palladium and stays white!
Do they not rhodium plate their 18k then, even when it’s brand new?
Or I can do 14k.
Now I have too many options LOL
Thank you!

 

[mdmc]

Hi Kellyco,

It's not true that Vatche does not offer 14k. They do indeed. Your jeweler has but to ask.

Their 14kwg is done with a nickel alloy. Their 18kwg is done with a palladium alloy. It's great because as the ring becomes much loved, the look is very much like platinum without the patina. The best part is it never needs rhodium plating because palladium is in the platinum family. It stays nice and white looking!

Their standard blend of platinum is PT950 with 5% ruthenium. They can do PT900 with ruthenium, or do either with iridium, which is a great choice for pieces with engraving and milgrain. If you do not specify a blend, they automatically do the PT950 with ruthenium.

Sunshine cloths are great for taking off the patina.

Hope that helps!

I just bought the Vatche U 113. I had ID Jewlery send it to them for me. He told me they no longer honor requests for their platinum settings.

 

[msop04]

Sunshine cloths are great for taking off the patina.

@Winks_Elf - How do the sunshine cloths work, and where might one buy some?

(sorry for the threadjack, OP!)

 

[Tophat1]

If you like that super shiny mirror like finish, get rhodium plated gold. Micro scratches in platinum will dull the ring in a matter of weeks.

 

[Winks_Elf]

@Winks_Elf - How do the sunshine cloths work, and where might one buy some?

(sorry for the threadjack, OP!)

Amazon! Pretty much any of the jewelry polishing cloths work, just don't use toothpaste on your fine jewelry.

Below is a picture of my much loved, not-really-clean rings that I took a fast shot of. Going left to right is 14kwg, 18kwg, 18kwg/Pal, and platinum. The plating has been long worn off of my 14k and 18k. The 18kwg/Pal is actually a Vatche piece.

To answer the question of whether Vatche plates their 18kwg/Pal, they do. My ring is 6 or 7 years old, and I've never replated it. The last time I asked for a special platinum blend they did it for me, but it's been a while. I have to call them today so I'll ask about that.

 

[Kellyco]

@Winks_Elf thank you so much for your help.

Once the rhodium has worn off the WG and platinum has been worn a bit would you say plat is whiter and/or shinier than WG? (It’s hard to tell in the picture). However the 18k/pal looks whiter than the other two WG.

I’ve done several searches here and it seems most people prefer platinum. So while I do love that super shiny finish, to be honest I don’t rhodium plate it that often and I just deal with it. I like the idea of platinum. And some people say it looks shiny a long time. I think the blend vatche uses is the one that is recommended to be harder and less likely to scratch easily.

Hmmm decisions!

 

[msop04]

Amazon! Pretty much any of the jewelry polishing cloths work, just don't use toothpaste on your fine jewelry.

Below is a picture of my much loved, not-really-clean rings that I took a fast shot of. Going left to right is 14kwg, 18kwg, 18kwg/Pal, and platinum. The plating has been long worn off of my 14k and 18k. The 18kwg/Pal is actually a Vatche piece.

To answer the question of whether Vatche plates their 18kwg/Pal, they do. My ring is 6 or 7 years old, and I've never replated it. The last time I asked for a special platinum blend they did it for me, but it's been a while. I have to call them today so I'll ask about that.

Thanks, lady!!

 

[msop04]

@Winks_Elf thank you so much for your help.

Once the rhodium has worn off the WG and platinum has been worn a bit would you say plat is whiter and/or shinier than WG? (It’s hard to tell in the picture). However the 18k/pal looks whiter than the other two WG.

I’ve done several searches here and it seems most people prefer platinum. So while I do love that super shiny finish, to be honest I don’t rhodium plate it that often and I just deal with it. I like the idea of platinum. And some people say it looks shiny a long time. I think the blend vatche uses is the one that is recommended to be harder and less likely to scratch easily.

Hmmm decisions!

@Kellyco, I used to be on "Team White Gold" and I thought I didn't like platinum... until I got my most recent setting in platinum (see avatar). I can see the heft being of concern if the setting you were considering were very thick and substantial... but I truly think you'll appreciate the added heft of platinum for a solitaire. You won't notice a thing when it's on your finger, but it feel so luxe when you're handling it... it's pretty cool. Now my white gold pieces just feel kind flimsy. LOL

Regarding patina, I've had my ring for almost 2 years, and I've only had it polished once -- it didn't need it, but I was at the jewelers, so... also, the knife edge will give the illusion of a thinner shank than it really is, so there's just not that much metal to patina. I think you'll LOVE platinum.

 

[Winks_Elf]

Thanks, lady!!

You are very welcome.

I called Vatche today as I said I would, and it is confirmed. They no longer do special requests on the platinum, so it is standard PT950 with ruthenium. It's been a while since I've asked.

 

[msop04]

I called Vatche today as I said I would, and it is confirmed. They no longer do special requests on the platinum, so it is standard PT950 with ruthenium. It's been a while since I've asked.

Oh wow... I wonder why they've stopped offering the different alloys? Could it possibly be that troublesome or expensive?