Platinum Ruthenium Alloy More Prone To Cracking?

[Lestat]

A question for all the metal experts out there...

I''ve read on this webpage that 95% Platinum alloyed with 5% Ruthenium is very good for scratch resistance but prone to cracking. They seem to recommend 90% Platinum and 10% Iridium as a better alternative. Is the cracking a potential long-term problem with the Ruthenium alloy or is it only a problem during initial manufacture of the ring?

I believe I''ve read that Tiffany uses the Ruthenium alloy, but some other manufacturers prefer Iridium... Is there a general concensus that one of these two alloys is supreme above the other for wedding/engagement rings?

 

[Laila619]

I think it''s only a potential issue during the making of the ring.

The 90/10 iridium is much softer.

 

[Lestat]

I noticed on that webpage that they list the hardness as 135 for the Ruthenium alloy and 110 for the Iridium. It doesn''t "seem" that far apart to me as a layperson, I couldn''t find any info on the net about how much of a difference 25 points would make.

If cracking is only a problem during manufacture, I suppose the logical choice would be Ruthenium for long-term wear.

Thanks for the reply

 

[glitterata]

I don't know about the ruthenium alloy, but my grandmother's 90% plat 10% irid wedding and engagement rings have held up well for 90 years and are still going strong.

 

[LGK]

Tiffany & Co uses that particular platinum/ruthenium alloy. I doubt such a big company would use it if it wasn''t viable.