Need help with metal for custom band!

[texirish]

I still can''t decide platinum vs. white gold on the custom band I am designing with WF. They don''t really recommend one over the other, rather both have advantages and disadvantages I guess. You can check out the design for my ring over at https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/got-the-diamond-wf-aca-now-time-for-the-custom-ring.135640/ Comments and suggestions on the design are welcomed!

As you can see there will be lots of hand engraving, and I''m torn on which metal to use. I feel like white gold is harder and might keep the engraving longer, but then in the long run might wear down and need to be replaced? But from what I understand with platinum it will need re-polishing, and while it might scratch/wear easier because it is softer, it will always retain the same amount of metal, ie. it doesn''t lose metal, it just gets moved around a bit. As for the plating vs. re-polishing, WF does both for free, so I''m not worried about that, other than having to ship it, so hopefully it wouldn''t be all that frequent. I also read an article here on PS about metal alloys (http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/47/1/An-Overview-Of-Common-Alloys-Used-In-Jewelry.aspx) and I was also thinking about a palladium white gold?

Really need to make a decision by next week I think so I don''t delay the ring. The difference is about $550 between the 14k white gold and the platinum, and while its not a ton, its significant enough I want to make sure I should do it over the gold. Thanks for any and all help! Also, I''d love if people checked out my proposal idea and gave me some insights on it as well, https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/proposal-weekend-ideas.135685/ Thanks!

 

[stone-cold11]

I think with the amount of engraving, you don''t really need to worry about polishing again.

 

[texirish]

What do you mean exactly? The platinum wouldn''t dull or patina as much with all the engraving?

 

[stone-cold11]

There won''t be that many polish surface. Patina is more obvious on a large shining surfaces.

 

[texirish]

So you think platinum would be better for this band?

 

[stone-cold11]

Didn''t say that. Just not to worry about the patina when you try and decide on what alloy to use.

Also, WG is not really that much harder (HV value), more resistant to scratching than Pt, depending on the alloy use. Common WG alloy is about 125HV, while Pt, which I believe WF uses Pt/Ru 950, is at 130HV. So not much difference.

 

[texirish]

I checked with WF and they use iridium in their platinum alloy, although I''m not sure if its the 950 or 900 so it would be softer than white gold as far as scratches are concerned.

I''m curious if anyone has a palladium white gold ring like is talked about in the article. He mentions that it still needs to be rhodium plated, but I actually like the color of it as is not plated, its the 3rd ring

Its a little bit darker, but I don''t think that is a bad thing... anyone have any experience with a ring made of the palladium/white gold?

 

[stone-cold11]

hmm, at some point they were saying they are using Ru. Weird. Ya, if Pt950 Ir, then it will be softer. With 900, it is at 110HV compared to 125HV.

 

[texirish]

Date: 2/5/2010 7:02:27 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
hmm, at some point they were saying they are using Ru. Weird. Ya, if Pt950 Ir, then it will be softer. With 900, it is at 110HV compared to 125HV.

I''ll confirm with an email to them, but I called this afternoon and they told me the commonly use iridium.

Now that I''m looking at the palladium white gold, I''m also seeing a lot on just 950 palladium... any thoughts on it as a ring metal?

 

[stone-cold11]

Date: 2/5/2010 7:15:52 PM
Author: texirish

Date: 2/5/2010 7:02:27 PM
Author: Stone-cold11

hmm, at some point they were saying they are using Ru. Weird. Ya, if Pt950 Ir, then it will be softer. With 900, it is at 110HV compared to 125HV.

I''ll confirm with an email to them, but I called this afternoon and they told me the commonly use iridium.

Now that I''m looking at the palladium white gold, I''m also seeing a lot on just 950 palladium... any thoughts on it as a ring metal?

Pd depends on how good WF is with it. Some vendors note that it is more prone to brittleness, because of the tendency to absorb large volume of gases, probably depends on how skilled the bench is with the casting with Pd.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I have read mixed things about palladium on here. Try a search. Have you considered unplated white gold? It has anappearace much closer to palladium. I like it a lot.