Wedding Rings

Allergic to Engagement Ring!

Question:

I am so depressed – after spending months designing an engagement ring with my boyfriend, I noticed that I am allergic to it.  I wanted a white gold band with the diamonds on it but little did I know that to get the white in the gold they add 40% nickel.  I am in a lose/lose situation now because I don’t have many options available. I can either have them coat it with some other metal but I will have to do this procedure every two years.  I would like to mount the diamonds on a silver band but I believe silver is too soft to work with. Our other problem is what type of band should we now purchase?  I do not like gold but a silver band will not match my white gold band. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I would be forever grateful. Depressed in Ottawa, Des (& Victor) Nov. 2, 1996

Response:

>I am so depressed – after spending months designing an engagement ring >with my boyfriend, I noticed that I am allergic to it.  I wanted a white >gold band with the diamonds on it but little did I know that to get the >white in the gold they add 40% nickel.  I am in a lose/lose situation now >because I don’t have many options available. >I can either have them coat it with some other metal but I will have to >do this procedure every two years.  I would like to mount the diamonds on >a silver band but I believe silver is too soft to work with. >Our other problem is what type of band should we now purchase?  I do not >like gold but a silver band will not match my white gold band. >If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I would be forever grateful.

how about platinum? — Liz Stokes         |            Hey! Where am I going? Ilaine de Cameron  |    And what am I doing in this handbasket?                    |     —

Response:

after spending months designing an engagement ring > with my boyfriend, I noticed that I am allergic to it.   I believe silver is too soft to work with.   I do not > like gold but a silver band will not match my white gold band.

First, be sure that it’s true, that silver is too soft for your jeweler. You didn’t indicate that your jeweler actually said this was so, only that you believe it is so.  Check to be sure you’re not mistaken before ruling out that option. Also, check with your jeweler to find out what they tend to use for the class rings they sell.  Often the simple high school class rings appear to be white gold or silver but instead are made from other, less expensive metals.  You can use whatever you care to use for your engagement ring.  There is no rule that says it has to be real silver or gold.  Especially when considering allergic reactions, you should be able to do whatever you need to do for comfort, style, and convenience. Vickie

Response:

i know how it is. My Mother is allergic to nickel and can’t wear her wedding band for long periods of time. As someone said, platinum works but as it can be a lot more then gold it might be expensive. Have you asked a jeweler abotu silver? I’ve seen plenty of silver rings with stones in them, but I have no idea on the softness of the metal. I do know that gold is a fairly soft metal so…. Also if you go with platinum I think it should be a close match for the white gold. good luck in what you decide to do…I hope you find a good solution. Kim (and Ian)

Response:

I have heard that you  can paint on clear nailpolish on the metal and that will keep you from reacting to it.  Obviously, this isn’t a fancy solution, but i think you can purchase stuff that you paint on like the nail polish, you get the same effect, and it doesn’t damage the metal. ask around.

Response:

Liz,         You have my sympathy.  I get contact dermatitus to most metals because of a minor lab accident.  The only metal that I can wear for any lenght of time is sterling silver.  So both my engagement ring and our wedding rings are sterling.  Sterling in actually stronger than gold above 14 carats.  BTW his engagement ring is also sterling.  The one drawback to silver is that every so often (about once a year) you must polish it to remove tarnish or deoxidize the metal.  I have found that not removing my rings when washing my hair keeps the tarnish down some. Good luck,                         —ejc —                         Erin-Joi (& Lyle)         May 24, 1997 at Alwyngton Manor, Warrenton, VA         known in the SCA as Tabitha of Erin, Clan Kyle                     Barony of Windmaster’s Hill         My employer doesn’t care what my opinions are as         long as they don’t affect his fund raising efforts.

Response:

> I can either have them coat it with some other metal but I will have to > do this procedure every two years.  I would like to mount the diamonds on > a silver band but I believe silver is too soft to work with.

Try sterling silver.  It’s got that lovely silver sheen but is harder and wears much better. Miche What I post is my opinion only. "Security and insanity are not the same thing!"   – Alex, _Shallow Grave_

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I am so depressed – after spending months designing an engagement ring >with my boyfriend, I noticed that I am allergic to it.  I wanted a white >gold band with the diamonds on it but little did I know that to get the >white in the gold they add 40% nickel.  I am in a lose/lose situation now >because I don’t have many options available. >I can either have them coat it with some other metal but I will have to >do this procedure every two years.  I would like to mount the diamonds on >a silver band but I believe silver is too soft to work with. >Our other problem is what type of band should we now purchase?  I do not >like gold but a silver band will not match my white gold band. >If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I would be forever grateful. >Depressed in Ottawa, >Des (& Victor) Nov. 2, 1996

What about platinum? I know it is very hard and very "pure" (and expensive) why not have the ring re-cast in platinum? Good luck!

Response:

writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – yes… >I am so depressed – after spending months designing an engagement ring >with my boyfriend, I noticed that I am allergic to it.  I wanted a white >gold band with the diamonds on it but little did I know that to get the >white in the gold they add 40% nickel.  I am in a lose/lose situation now >because I don’t have many options available. >I can either have them coat it with some other metal but I will have to >do this procedure every two years.  I would like to mount the diamonds on >a silver band but I believe silver is too soft to work with. >Our other problem is what type of band should we now purchase?  I do not >like gold but a silver band will not match my white gold band. >If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I would be forever grateful. >how about platinum? >– >Liz Stokes         |                Hey! Where am I going? >Ilaine de Cameron  |    And what am I doing in this handbasket? >                   |     >–

I agree with Liz.  Platinum, although more expensive than gold, is great for a wedding band or engagement ring (or both).  It is actually  harder than gold, so it hardly shows a scratch.  Also, you can get a finer, more delicate  band, because it doesn’t wear down over the years the way gold can. Elana

Response:

> What about platinum? I know it is very hard and very "pure" (and expensive) > why not have the ring re-cast in platinum?

Platinum is actually not very hard, it cratches easily, but it is very tough, meaning that it holds its shape very well.  If you want to have a ring cast in platinum, be sure that your jeweler’s shops knows what they are doing, since Pt is not easy to work with (high melting temperatures, contaminates easily,…). –Peter Mlynek

Response:

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