things are moving forward + an apology

[amy_dub]

Ok so after much thought over the entire Tiffany's ordeal I asked my FF to go to a local family owned jewelry store that I've heard tons of great things about. (he carries the Scott Kay lines, as well as other well known designers) We went about a week ago and briefly discussed with the owner that I wanted a Tiffany Novo inspired ring. He said he could copy the Novo exactly if that was what my heart was set on, but to me that just didn't feel right... I like the look and feel of the Novo, but I'd feel like I was a fraud (if that makes any sense) for copying the ring exactly.

So we went today and picked out a setting similar to the Novo. We're making a few modifications to the band because it has a flat bottom on it instead of being rounded and I don't really like that as well as changing the prongs on it because the setting had what is called a "tulip"head on it, and I really didn't like that. We also decided to go with White Gold instead of Platinum as I'm not always the most gentle with my jewelry. Unfortunately he didn't have a cushion in store around the size we wanted so he's having one brought in that fits our budget and desired specs.

We're very excited about this because we're getting the ring as well as the wedding band for about half the price of the Novo, and we're able to get a bigger stone. We're both in love with the band and are extremely anxious to see it after the modifications as well as to see the stone once it comes in.

So, although I didn't want to agree with what everyone was saying earlier about going somewhere besides Tiffany I came to realize after this trip that you all were right. So I want to thank you all for talking some sense into me, even though it took a while to sink in... sometimes I can be a bit hardheaded. I want to apologize for being so rude to some of you over the whole thing, because I realize now that most of you had probably "been there before" and were trying to help me making a much wiser decision given that my FF has only been out of college for a year and I'm not graduating college til May, and obviously we don't have a money tree in the back yard.


Basically now I'm full of anticipation and anxiously awaiting the call to come see the stone and modified band! Then once the ring is ready.. I'll be on pins and needles until he proposes, which is going to be a total surprise.. I hate suspense!

 

[gwendolyn]

Sounds good. Congrats on your ring, and upcoming engagement! Any idea how soon it will be?

 

[mirre]

Congratulations on picking something out! Hopefully you won't have to wait long to get it!

I was wondering something though... I could be wrong but through my reading I thought that Platinum was stronger than White Gold so if you aren't very gentle on jewelry and wanted something stronger wouldn't Platinum have been the way to go? Just confused and trying to make sure I understood right.

Also... your kitty in the picture is adorable. It looks almost just like my cat at my mom's house. Mine has a little bit more white on his body but the faces are exactly the same!

 

[amy_dub]

Date: 12/11/2007 8:45:03 AM
Author: mirre
Congratulations on picking something out! Hopefully you won''t have to wait long to get it!

I was wondering something though... I could be wrong but through my reading I thought that Platinum was stronger than White Gold so if you aren''t very gentle on jewelry and wanted something stronger wouldn''t Platinum have been the way to go? Just confused and trying to make sure I understood right.

Also... your kitty in the picture is adorable. It looks almost just like my cat at my mom''s house. Mine has a little bit more white on his body but the faces are exactly the same!

I''m still a little confused on it too.. he explained it to me that platinum is a heavier, more dense metal, but that it is infact softer than gold. He said that platinum is more bendable and easily dented. He said that often people think that just because it''s a most expensive and harder to obtain metal that it is a superior metal. I have to say i do have a white gold ring now that I wear religiously and have had about 5+ years. I was in colorguard and often wore is while spinning my flag, which can be brutal on rings & watches. The ring doesn''t have a single dent in it and looks exactly as it did the day i received it.

Does that make any sense?

Thanks for the compliment on Domino. He''s my little rescue kitty. I adopted him 2 years ago and we''ll just say life has been much more interesting! He can be pretty wild, but also be the sweetest little snuggler

 

[anchor31]

I'm very glad you took the time to look at other alternatives. Now you both get what you want, and you can even have more money for the wedding! Congrats for the progress, I can't wait to see the finished ring.

ETA: Platinum bends and scratches more easily than gold. I'm also difficult with my ring, and my white gold ring is holding up extremely well! Hey, again it's more money in the bank account, and it'll look and feel just as gorgeous.

 

[tberube]

"We also decided to go with White Gold instead of Platinum as I'm not always the most gentle with my jewelry."

Why doesn't this make sense to me? Isn't white gold softer than platinum??

ETA: NOTE TO SELF - READ THE THREAD BEFORE RESPONDING TO THINGS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT... grrrr... Although I have to say, never in any article I've read about white gold vs. platinum have I heard any talk about platinum being softer than gold. I hear that it's the hardest metal ever and doesn't react to anything, etc. always I only hear that platinum is better, stronger, more precious, etc. etc. (btw I have a white gold ering). Just weird...

 

[amy_dub]

Date: 12/12/2007 9:35:32 AM
Author: tberube
''We also decided to go with White Gold instead of Platinum as I''m not always the most gentle with my jewelry.''

Why doesn''t this make sense to me? Isn''t white gold softer than platinum??

ETA: NOTE TO SELF - READ THE THREAD BEFORE RESPONDING TO THINGS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT... grrrr... Although I have to say, never in any article I''ve read about white gold vs. platinum have I heard any talk about platinum being softer than gold. I hear that it''s the hardest metal ever and doesn''t react to anything, etc. always I only hear that platinum is better, stronger, more precious, etc. etc. (btw I have a white gold ering). Just weird...

I did a little more research and from what I''ve read it''s not that it''s softer, it''s more "Pliable" than gold, which means it''s easier to scratch, dent, & bend. I guess that makes more sense than saying it''s "softer."

 

[surfgirl]

White gold vs. plat. is oftentimes confusing! White gold technically is probably sturdier in that it''s a combo of metals that make is stronger. OTOH, white gold, when scratched or polished, loses a little bit of the actual metal. Plat. is more pliable, and doesn''t need to be plated to remain white, but it also develops a patina over time. OTOH, when you scratch plat - say you get a gouge in it - the actual metal is just pushed around but you never lose it, so when someone re polishes it, you haven''t lost any of the actual metal, as you would with gold. Does that make sense? I know, a bit confusing! I personally prefer plat because I dont like to deal with replating my white gold with rhodium often, and I just like the heft and weight of plat. But different strokes and all...!

 

[Selkie]

Date: 12/12/2007 1:42:09 PM
Author: surfgirl
White gold vs. plat. is oftentimes confusing! White gold technically is probably sturdier in that it''s a combo of metals that make is stronger. OTOH, white gold, when scratched or polished, loses a little bit of the actual metal. Plat. is more pliable, and doesn''t need to be plated to remain white, but it also develops a patina over time. OTOH, when you scratch plat - say you get a gouge in it - the actual metal is just pushed around but you never lose it, so when someone re polishes it, you haven''t lost any of the actual metal, as you would with gold. Does that make sense? I know, a bit confusing! I personally prefer plat because I dont like to deal with replating my white gold with rhodium often, and I just like the heft and weight of plat. But different strokes and all...!

Surfgirl''s explanation is great. Just wanted to add that a lot also depends on the composition of the platinum alloy the jeweler uses. Rather than repeating the whole article, here''s a link to the Pricescope Knowledge page on platinum: link. 90% Plat. 10% Irid. is a great jewelry alloy, since it''s very white, and keeps a polish well. A 95% Plat. alloy will scratch up easier.