Wedding Rings

Engagement ring

Question:

Thanks for your suggestions!  This is really helpful!  Obviously we’re just starting out and getting ideas (and the easiest place to begin for now is the malls & Tiffany).  But we’ll meet with some jewelers, too.  Thanks again!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > After I proposed, my FW and I went to a jeweler I know of in Seattle and had > him help us design a ring that was all our/her own.  We brought up a bottle > of wine, and spent a few hours in his shop, looking and drawing.  A few > weeks later he had made a wax model, we changed it and played some more, > then finally had what she wanted.  Along with this experience we got more > information on gold, platinum, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, saphires, zircon, > and on and on.  He was able to answer all our questions about cutting, > shapes, clearity, size, value, hardness, lifestyle, use and abuse, > maintenance, care, etc. than I could ever imagine.  Now, neither of us will > ever enter a jewelry store again.  I would strongly suggest you leave the > shopping malls behind and make your way to an educated and knowledgeable > jeweler (Not a jewelry seller).  Once you find the right one, you will never > go back to the mall again. The gems they have access to are incredible, and > truly more valuable for the price you pay.  He can find you the right size > and color gems for the look you want and the setting you design. If they are > a true smith, they will not be as interested in selling you gems, but rather > the gold work that is created.  And this is obviously a concern of yours. > Our experience was so much fun, it was exciting, AND educational.  I was > very confident that we/she was getting what we/I paid for.  She wanted to go > with a traditional blue saphire (diamonds are passe’) as the main stone with > red saphires as accents and 2 diamonds for added brilliance and balance. > Our jewler found stones that had the exact colors we wanted and were > complimentary to the rest of the ring.  This ring is hers, and no others. > Pick your smith well.  Buy your rings smart.  He will enjoy it.  And you > will have a work of art, not just a ring with a stone to show off.  I was > happy, cause he actually suggested a smaller center stone because of the > size of her hands, her lifestyle, the ring design, and the color we were > looking for.  I saved money sort of, but with this savings, we were able to > put 2, instead of 1 diamond addition to the setting. > he is making my ring too (in a few months).  I have always loved emeralds, > but they are WAY to fragile for almost everything except sitting in a > drawer, so he showed me this brown diamond that actually turns emerald green > in the sunlight.  It is so amazing to look at.  He came across it after a 3 > year search for another client who ended up changing his mind, so now it > will be mine. > As far as your question goes and what I can tell you is, we did have a short > talk about platinum.  He said that it is (obviously) much more expensive, > and much harder.  He did not have the proper tools to work with platinum on > a regular basis and in the past, he typically sends out his casts to a > platinum smithery (or whatever) to have the work done there.  Most gold > jewelry is cast in 18k and I believe its hardness and color can vary > depending on the amounts of other metals that are added to the mix.  This I > am sure is true with white gold as well.  Gold is pretty tough stuff, so I > would imagine that unless you have a specific reason for wanting platinum, > it would not be my first choice (and wasnt). >My boyfriend are doing some research on engagement rings.  I prefer the >silver colored rings, but don’t really know the difference between platinum >or white gold (besides price)?  I’m wondering if a particular metal will >tend to require more cleaning, etc. >Thanks for your advice.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> snipped bits about education from jeweler… > The gems they have access to are incredible, and > > truly more valuable for the price you pay. > Sorry, but I don’t believe that for a second.  There is always a > mark-up on jewelery.  The *value* of a gem doesn’t change no matter > what you *pay* for it. > Huh? The mark-up is not always the same from source to source, any more > than the mark-up on clothing is the same from Macy’s to Gottschalk’s > (I’ve seen the identical sweater at both — they weren’t the same > price). It’s entirely possible that one jeweler would sell a gem for > $1000 and another would sell a comparable gem for $1500. In this case, > the $1000 gem is clearly a better value.

It is a better "value" to the consumer. But, the true *value* of the gem has not changed….meaning, no matter what you pay for something, it doesn’t change what it is worth.  Of course, paying $1000 for something worth $500 is better than paying $1500 for the same thing (the customer got a good deal). But, the value is still $500. > I *am* a little skeptical about the "diamond" that looks brown but turns > green in light. That sounds like alexandrite, which is only a > semi-precious stone. But I don’t exactly have a passionate interest in > diamonds, so I wouldn’t stake my lunch money on this issue. > To the poster:  I don’t think one would require more cleaning than the > other.  Platinum is just stronger…also much more expensive.  IMO, it > is just a phase.  People now like the "silver-look", so the jewelers > try to sell the platinum because they can make more money off of you. > You can make the "it’s just a pricey fad" argument about any wedding > item that you’re not having yourself, you know. Since there are > platinum wedding rings in antique stores, they must have been around > more than a few years…

Once again, I did not say "fad".  When something is *in*, it does not mean that the item was not around 50 years ago, or even hundreds of years ago.  I did not say that platinum was a new invention.  It is true that only recently (probably this decade) has platinum become popular for engagement rings though. Tracy (sorry is anybody is offended by me calling platinum rings a phase.  I have nothing against them.  They are beautiful and sturdy.) > Wende

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Response:

In article > Yep, that is the way I see it.  I think the phase will pass, and > people > will go back to the more traditional style.  There will always be > people who choose different styles, no matter what, so I’m not > suggesting that *all* people will choose classic styles.  As you, > and > others, have mentioned, platinum rings are found in antique shops. > Therefore, they have been around many years.

Sigh, perhaps my wording threw you off- the point was that platinum *is* a "traditional" style.  Platinum is a "classic" style to many people –  though perhaps this may reflect location, culture, and the time frame you’re considering (I figure the turn of the last century,my grandparents’ generation, is ‘traditional’ enough for me). The fact that platinum rings were very common 100 years ago, and have continued to be used over these one hundred years suggests a "classic" "timeless" style. Gold is *too*. C. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

In article > An upswing in popularity is a "phase".  No where did I day that > platinum was recently discovered.  It is currently a popular > choice for > engagement rings and wedding bands.

A ‘phase" implies something that will pass and eventually we’d go back to the more "traditional" way of doing things after said phase passes – back to the classics. Therefore, suggesting that platinum rings are a "phase" implies that it will pass, and gold is more "traditional" – more classic, something whose appeal will stand the test of time. Obviously, this is not the case.  Bell bottoms are a phase, pouffy sleeves are a phase, they pass and come back, whereas "classic" styles never come and go, tho they may be more popular during sometimes than others. C. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

> A ‘phase" implies something that will pass and eventually we’d go back > to the more "traditional" way of doing things after said phase passes – > back to the classics. Therefore, suggesting that platinum rings are a > "phase" implies that it will pass, and gold is more "traditional" – > more classic, something whose appeal will stand the test of time. > Obviously, this is not the case.  Bell bottoms are a phase, pouffy > sleeves are a phase, they pass and come back, whereas "classic" styles > never come and go, tho they may be more popular during sometimes than > others.

Yep, that is the way I see it.  I think the phase will pass, and people will go back to the more traditional style.  There will always be people who choose different styles, no matter what, so I’m not suggesting that *all* people will choose classic styles.  As you, and others, have mentioned, platinum rings are found in antique shops. Therefore, they have been around many years.  It is my opinion (which I stated in my original post about platinum rings.."IMO") that platinum is now a popular metal chosen for engagement rings/wedding bands.  I know it has been around a long time, and I know it will be around for a long time as well.  BUT, as many others mentioned…people have mistaken their platinum ring as a silver ring.  If platinum had a huge wide-spread traditional classic appeal, people would not assume those rings were silver.  Anyway, I understand what you are saying about how it is not a fad like bell-bottoms.  I’m not suggesting that a couple will exchange their rings in 5 years for gold.  I’m saying that right now (for engagement/wedding rings the percentage of platinum rings sold is higher than 10 years ago; and that percentage is likely to drop within the next 10 years.  This is my opinion, which everybody has a right to disagree with….and once again, I have nothing against platinum rings. Tracy — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > * > *To the poster:  I don’t think one would require more cleaning than the > *other.  Platinum is just stronger…also much more expensive.  IMO, it > *is just a phase.  People now like the "silver-look", so the jewelers > *try to sell the platinum because they can make more money off of you. > Huh? Platinum is a *phase*? Odd concept. It was discovered in the 16th > century. On the little finger of my right hand I wear two rings. One is an > early 20th century platinum and yellow gold wedding band which belonged to > a female relative, the other is a very narrow gold band with a row of tiny > (maybe 5-7 point) diamonds and rubies across a full half of the > circumference of the ring, in a rounded platinum setting that sits on top > of the gold and makes the whole thing appear like a platinum ring with > inset stones – hard to describe, sorry. That second one belonged to my > great great grandmother. Phase? No. Just having an upswing in popularity > at the moment.

An upswing in popularity is a "phase".  No where did I day that platinum was recently discovered.  It is currently a popular choice for engagement rings and wedding bands. Tracy — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

> That aside, I wanted to warn the above poster against mixing a > platinum > engagement ring with a white-gold wedding band.  In addition to not > matching (white gold maintains a faint yellowness that will show > against platinum), the platinum ring can wear away the gold, as > it’s > much harder (we just got an 18k white gold engagement ring from an > estate jewler, who stressed the importance of matching metals). > Thought I’d let you know. > Tracy

Thanks for the info, I’ll keep that in mind.  However, I wasn’t planning on wearing my E ring with a W band any way. I don’t wear my E-ring all the  time as it is, and if I did, I’d probably put it on my right hand if I have a wedding band on my left. (Yes, I’m one of those weird people that doesn’t worry about having my E ring on constantly) C. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

* *To the poster:  I don’t think one would require more cleaning than the *other.  Platinum is just stronger…also much more expensive.  IMO, it *is just a phase.  People now like the "silver-look", so the jewelers *try to sell the platinum because they can make more money off of you. Huh? Platinum is a *phase*? Odd concept. It was discovered in the 16th century. On the little finger of my right hand I wear two rings. One is an early 20th century platinum and yellow gold wedding band which belonged to a female relative, the other is a very narrow gold band with a row of tiny (maybe 5-7 point) diamonds and rubies across a full half of the circumference of the ring, in a rounded platinum setting that sits on top of the gold and makes the whole thing appear like a platinum ring with inset stones – hard to describe, sorry. That second one belonged to my great great grandmother. Phase? No. Just having an upswing in popularity at the moment. -h. —  "So that’s 2 T-1s and a newsfeed….would you like clues with that?"  Net Access…The NSP for ISPs….The NOC that rocks around the clock.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In article > To the poster:  I don’t think one would require more cleaning than > the > other.  Platinum is just stronger…also much more expensive. > IMO, it > is just a phase.  People now like the "silver-look", so the > jewelers > try to sell the platinum because they can make more money off of > you. > How is this a "phase"? Platinum is actually pretty traditional in rings. > So, are you suggesting that – like bell-bottoms – this phase will pass > and those silly people who actually like platinum will get over this > ‘fad’ and will wish they’d gone with gold? At some point someone posted > a rather detailed explanation of the use of various metals in wedding > rings, which IIRC reflected what was available at the times.  (Anyone > remember that?) > I happen to like the "silver" look myself, always have (shiny yellow > gold just doesn’t look good on me – case in point, just had to buy > glasses yesterday and gold looked horrible – so have always gravitated > toward a more silver tone). One of the draws though, is it’s more -IMO > – antique/classic look. I do prefer the muted colouring of the > platinum. I understand you can get white gold like that as well, but > I’ve only ever seen it ’shiny.’ I doubt this will be a passing phase > FWIW – though, we would have gone with white gold for cost reasons (new > platinum rings were out of our price range), but we lucked out and > found this antique platinum ring, with which we’re very happy. I’m not > sure what we’ll do about the wedding bands, though. We may settle for > white gold because I don’t want to spend a lot of money (yes, I know > I’ll be wearing it forever, but I just can’t bring myself to spend > money on jewelry). However, we’ll look as we did for the E-ring – in > antique stores, estate sales, pawn shops, etc and if we find Platinum, > we’ll get that (for me, DF doesn’t want a ring at all.) > C. > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet –

Free! From what I can gather, designer Scott Kay has pretty much been given the credit for restoring the prominence of platinum, which some prefer because it lends no yellow color to an otherwise-white diamond. That aside, I wanted to warn the above poster against mixing a platinum engagement ring with a white-gold wedding band.  In addition to not matching (white gold maintains a faint yellowness that will show against platinum), the platinum ring can wear away the gold, as it’s much harder (we just got an 18k white gold engagement ring from an estate jewler, who stressed the importance of matching metals). Thought I’d let you know. Tracy Before you buy.

Response:

> snipped bits about education from jeweler… > The gems they have access to are incredible, and > truly more valuable for the price you pay. > Sorry, but I don’t believe that for a second.  There is always a > mark-up on jewelery.  The *value* of a gem doesn’t change no matter > what you *pay* for it.

Huh? The mark-up is not always the same from source to source, any more than the mark-up on clothing is the same from Macy’s to Gottschalk’s (I’ve seen the identical sweater at both — they weren’t the same price). It’s entirely possible that one jeweler would sell a gem for $1000 and another would sell a comparable gem for $1500. In this case, the $1000 gem is clearly a better value. I *am* a little skeptical about the "diamond" that looks brown but turns green in light. That sounds like alexandrite, which is only a semi-precious stone. But I don’t exactly have a passionate interest in diamonds, so I wouldn’t stake my lunch money on this issue. > To the poster:  I don’t think one would require more cleaning than the > other.  Platinum is just stronger…also much more expensive.  IMO, it > is just a phase.  People now like the "silver-look", so the jewelers > try to sell the platinum because they can make more money off of you.

You can make the "it’s just a pricey fad" argument about any wedding item that you’re not having yourself, you know. Since there are platinum wedding rings in antique stores, they must have been around more than a few years… Wende

Response:

>   I clean my ring with jewler solution every day (can you tell > how excited I am about it) so I don’t know if it require more cleaning or not.

I heard from several sources that you can use toothpaste and a toothbrush to clean an engagement ring.  I haven’t tried it yet. Personally, I take mine by the jewelers every month or so and they clean it for free.  It always  looks so shiny and pretty afterwards, I smile all day… meister

Response:

> I had the same thing said to me last week.  They asked why I chose silver and I > felt the same way.  A little snobbish, but you should be proud of it. >

One of my male co-workers asked me the same thing.  He’s a year or so younger than me and of marrying age, so I told him it was platnium.  I’d hate for him to get into trouble one day meister

Response:

Platinum is certainly more popular right now, I certainly wouldn’t call it a phase or fad.  The engagement ring I was going to get from my first boyfriend was his grandmothers and done in platinum. We chose a white gold band with a yellow gold bezel around the stone.  This gives us the flexibility to get white or yellow gold bands. Melissa

Response:

> Also, I > understand that white gold is created by a coating of some other metal > on top of gold, which can eventually wear away.

      I inherited my Mom’s engagement/wedding ring set when she passed away two years ago.  It is both white and yellow gold.  The white gold looks just fine after being worn daily for over 53 years.   Lynn

Response:

I had the same thing said to me last week.  They asked why I chose silver and I felt the same way.  A little snobbish, but you should be proud of it. Jen (and Mark) September 16, 2000 Wisconsin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi Anita: I have a platinum engagement ring and besides price, some differences > are: platinum is heavier than white gold–it took me a little while to get used > to such a heavy ring on my hand (of course now I LOVE it!!).  Platinum is more > "precious" than gold, which explains the price difference.  I haven’t really > had any problems with cleaning it, I have one of those little Jewelry Cleaning > tubs that I soak it in once a week and then I go to our jeweler once in a while > and ask him to clean it.  It’s funny, unless you do a lot of research on gold > vs. platinum you really can’t tell the difference.  I have had a few people ask > me why I have a "silver" engagement ring.  I feel a little snobbish correcting > them > Good Luck!!! > Kerry > My boyfriend are doing some research on engagement rings.  I prefer the > silver colored rings, but don’t really know the difference between platinum > or white gold (besides price)?  I’m wondering if a particular metal will > tend to require more cleaning, etc. > Thanks for your advice.

Response:

Hi Anita: I have a platinum engagement ring and besides price, some differences are: platinum is heavier than white gold–it took me a little while to get used to such a heavy ring on my hand (of course now I LOVE it!!).  Platinum is more "precious" than gold, which explains the price difference.  I haven’t really had any problems with cleaning it, I have one of those little Jewelry Cleaning tubs that I soak it in once a week and then I go to our jeweler once in a while and ask him to clean it.  It’s funny, unless you do a lot of research on gold vs. platinum you really can’t tell the difference.  I have had a few people ask me why I have a "silver" engagement ring.  I feel a little snobbish correcting them Good Luck!!! Kerry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My boyfriend are doing some research on engagement rings.  I prefer the > silver colored rings, but don’t really know the difference between platinum > or white gold (besides price)?  I’m wondering if a particular metal will > tend to require more cleaning, etc. > Thanks for your advice.

Response:

I chose platinum because of the way my diamond looked in it.  I have a colorless diamond which actually appeared (to me and my df) to have a tint of yellow when placed in the gold ring.  I loved the heaviness of the platinum vs. the white gold.  I clean my ring with jewler solution every day (can you tell how excited I am about it) so I don’t know if it require more cleaning or not. Best Wishes, Jenny (and Mark) September 16, 2000 Wisconsin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My boyfriend are doing some research on engagement rings.  I prefer the > silver colored rings, but don’t really know the difference between platinum > or white gold (besides price)?  I’m wondering if a particular metal will > tend to require more cleaning, etc. > Thanks for your advice.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > In article > To the poster:  I don’t think one would require more cleaning than > the > other.  Platinum is just stronger…also much more expensive. > IMO, it > is just a phase.  People now like the "silver-look", so the > jewelers > try to sell the platinum because they can make more money off of > you. > How is this a "phase"? Platinum is actually pretty traditional in rings. > So, are you suggesting that – like bell-bottoms – this phase will pass > and those silly people who actually like platinum will get over this > ‘fad’ and will wish they’d gone with gold?

I didn’t say "fad"; sorry if it came off that way.  What I mean is that many jewelers are pushing it now…it has become more *popular*.  Since many couples are looking for the silver look and feel, the jeweler figures they might as well push the platinum rings.  The "phase" I’m referring to is that couples *right now* seem more into silver-colored-metals than gold-colored-metals.  Personally, I like a ring that has both silver and gold in it.  I don’t like how some jewelers try to tell customers that the platinum rings are the only rings that will hold-up over the years.  Like all those gold rings they’ve sold over the years have fallen apart.   Tracy At some point someone posted – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> a rather detailed explanation of the use of various metals in wedding > rings, which IIRC reflected what was available at the times.  (Anyone > remember that?) > I happen to like the "silver" look myself, always have (shiny yellow > gold just doesn’t look good on me – case in point, just had to buy > glasses yesterday and gold looked horrible – so have always gravitated > toward a more silver tone). One of the draws though, is it’s more -IMO > – antique/classic look. I do prefer the muted colouring of the > platinum. I understand you can get white gold like that as well, but > I’ve only ever seen it ’shiny.’ I doubt this will be a passing phase > FWIW – though, we would have gone with white gold for cost reasons (new > platinum rings were out of our price range), but we lucked out and > found this antique platinum ring, with which we’re very happy. I’m not > sure what we’ll do about the wedding bands, though. We may settle for > white gold because I don’t want to spend a lot of money (yes, I know > I’ll be wearing it forever, but I just can’t bring myself to spend > money on jewelry). However, we’ll look as we did for the E-ring – in > antique stores, estate sales, pawn shops, etc and if we find Platinum, > we’ll get that (for me, DF doesn’t want a ring at all.) > C. > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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Response:

Hi, Anita. My fiance picked out "our" engagement ring.  He chose platinum not only for the look of it (the diamond’s fire is incredible against the pure white of platinum) but also for its durability.  Platinum, as has been mentioned already, is a much heavier and more precious metal than gold (and any alloy combination thereof).  It wears better than gold due to its density.  For example, my mother’s pure yellow gold rings of 40 years ago are so thin from daily use that they’re about to snap in half.  Apparently, this won’t happen with platinum.  Also, it’s often used to hold diamonds in their settings on pure gold rings!  The same wear factor is the reason. We rather like the look of platinum and that was the main basis for our decision.  Certainly, it’s more expensive but only initially.  It doesn’t require any additional nor special cleaning.  Especially if you go with a brushed type of finish.  My ring is highly polished and the jeweller explained that over the years, it will achieve its own wonderful patina from simply wearing it. We plan to purchase wedding bands that are inset with yellow gold and have the platinum rails surrounding a celtic design.  There are certainly plenty of options with mixed metals around.  My feeling on the topic is that I’d rather have my diamond in a platinum setting (even if the engagement band its set in is yellow gold) because of the strength of the metal.  All the rest is simply personal choice. Best wishes to you both. Cheryl (to Ian, September 23, 2000) > My boyfriend are doing some research on engagement rings.  I prefer the > silver colored rings, but don’t really know the difference between platinum > or white gold (besides price)?  I’m wondering if a particular metal will > tend to require more cleaning, etc. > Thanks for your advice.

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Response:

Platinum is moret expensive and stronger, thus probably wears better.  I have white gold and am very happy with it.   Melissa

Response:

In article > To the poster:  I don’t think one would require more cleaning than > the > other.  Platinum is just stronger…also much more expensive. > IMO, it > is just a phase.  People now like the "silver-look", so the > jewelers > try to sell the platinum because they can make more money off of > you.

How is this a "phase"? Platinum is actually pretty traditional in rings. So, are you suggesting that – like bell-bottoms – this phase will pass and those silly people who actually like platinum will get over this ‘fad’ and will wish they’d gone with gold? At some point someone posted a rather detailed explanation of the use of various metals in wedding rings, which IIRC reflected what was available at the times.  (Anyone remember that?) I happen to like the "silver" look myself, always have (shiny yellow gold just doesn’t look good on me – case in point, just had to buy glasses yesterday and gold looked horrible – so have always gravitated toward a more silver tone). One of the draws though, is it’s more -IMO – antique/classic look. I do prefer the muted colouring of the platinum. I understand you can get white gold like that as well, but I’ve only ever seen it ’shiny.’ I doubt this will be a passing phase FWIW – though, we would have gone with white gold for cost reasons (new platinum rings were out of our price range), but we lucked out and found this antique platinum ring, with which we’re very happy. I’m not sure what we’ll do about the wedding bands, though. We may settle for white gold because I don’t want to spend a lot of money (yes, I know I’ll be wearing it forever, but I just can’t bring myself to spend money on jewelry). However, we’ll look as we did for the E-ring – in antique stores, estate sales, pawn shops, etc and if we find Platinum, we’ll get that (for me, DF doesn’t want a ring at all.) C. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

My engagement ring is platinum, and our wedding bands will be. We liked the ‘feel’ of platinum as opposed to white gold; it’s much heavier. Also, I understand that white gold is created by a coating of some other metal on top of gold, which can eventually wear away. I don’t know if cleaning methods would differ because of this, but you might want to ask a qualified jeweler with it in mind. We actually didn’t find that platinum was all that much more expensive than white gold–the expensive bit was my pass

Filed under: Diamond Wedding Ring