What type of platinum does Leon Mege use?

[gwendolyn]

Anyone know? I haven''t found it on his website, but I''d like to know if it''s the same compound MWM uses (90% plat, 10% iridium alloy) or if it''s different. Thanks!

 

[Deelight]

from what i found on his website under hallmarks it is says PT950 so therefore I would assume it is a 950/50 mix

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 4/30/2008 4:12:52 AM
Author: Deelight
from what i found on his website under hallmarks it is says PT950 so therefore I would assume it is a 950/50 mix

Ok, I *KNOW* I am being a pain in the you-know-what, but since plat can be mixed with a variety of metals, the 5% of whatever metal that isn''t plat in Leon''s mix could be things other than an iridium alloy. If it is iridium, then yay! A MWM ring and a Leon ring would match (colour-wise), even though the percents would be slightly different. But if not...hrm.

I am guessing Leon will only respond to me if I am placing an order or something, but there is a contact form on his website, so I am going to email him to see if I can find out the info. I am such a nerd. If anyone else cares (do you? probably not

), I''ll post the answer I get! If I get one.

 

[Deelight]

It would be a pretty cool to know I hope he responds to your query

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 4/30/2008 8:14:27 AM
Author: Deelight
It would be a pretty cool to know I hope he responds to your query

He did!

ETA: I just read the bottom of his email which says I'm not supposed to distribute the contents of the email, but is that for personal pricing info? He uses a ruthenium alloy. He also says I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

 

[Deelight]

Cool I can now add that to my little store of info about my future ring

Thanks Gwen

 

[gwendolyn]

No problemo, chica!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 4/30/2008 1:07:01 PM
Author: gwendolyn

Date: 4/30/2008 8:14:27 AM
Author: Deelight
It would be a pretty cool to know I hope he responds to your query

He did!

ETA: I just read the bottom of his email which says I''m not supposed to distribute the contents of the email, but is that for personal pricing info? He uses a ruthenium alloy. He also says I wouldn''t be able to tell the difference.

Wow, that is really great to know! That alloy makes the platinum harder/more durable than 900 or 950 plat/iridium!

From Mark Morrell''s site:

95% platinum (950) - alloyed with 5% iridium - Vickers hardness = 80

95% platinum (950) - alloyed with 5% ruthenium - Vickers hardness = 135 (Leon)

90% platinum (900) - alloyed with 10% iridium "Classic Platinum" - Vickers hardness = 110 (Mark Morrell)

 

[gwendolyn]

Yay, I''m glad you find that info useful as well, DS! I can''t help but feel like I''m somehow going to get in trouble for posting it on a public forum, but I also don''t see why that should be a secret. It''s good to know it''s extra durable! Right?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes! The reason I appreciate knowing is that I really had in my mind that I wanted 90/10 plat/iridium since MM likes it. The only other one I have seen talked about is the soft 95/5 plat/iridium. I really didn''t want soft platinum because that is why they look so scratched up. But I decided to just go with the Leon because I really wanted his basket setting. So I am really happy to find out he uses the most durable plat alloy! I can''t believe I didn''t ask that myself but I think I assumed it was iridium.

 

[gwendolyn]

Fantastico! I''m really quite glad that there are other people like you out there who like to know this stuff too! Helps me feel less weird.

 

[CrookedRock]

Very interesting girls! Thanks for sharing the info, now I''m even more excited than before!!!

 

[Deelight]

Date: 4/30/2008 6:33:00 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Yes! The reason I appreciate knowing is that I really had in my mind that I wanted 90/10 plat/iridium since MM likes it. The only other one I have seen talked about is the soft 95/5 plat/iridium. I really didn''t want soft platinum because that is why they look so scratched up. But I decided to just go with the Leon because I really wanted his basket setting. So I am really happy to find out he uses the most durable plat alloy! I can''t believe I didn''t ask that myself but I think I assumed it was iridium.

I had that same thought process but I really liked LM''s designs more so then MM''s (personal preference) so this just reassures me that it is UBER strong

fantastic

 

[ShannonM]

A lot of people have tried to talk me out of platinum saying that it would get all dinged up and loose it''s luster because it scratches easily. Does this stronger alloy mean that Leon''s rings would be more resistant to that? (I''m looking for reasons to convince the bf I neeed an lm and he''s an engineer so this would be a measurable difference for his very literal mind

)

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, the plat/ruthenium will be more resistant to dings and scratches. I deliberated a long time over the metals issue because they all had disadvantages. However, the more durable platinum would be the winner for me over all the other choices.