Platinum is generally regarded as the most prestigious of metals, it has a special allure because of its rarity, purity and longevity. However, not all platinum is equal and not all platinum craftsmanship is the same. This article provides some useful tips on how to choose the perfect platinum ring for your needs.
1. Know the purity content of your platinum ring. As with all precious metals, platinum must be alloyed with other metals in order to achieve the hardness required for jewellery. A ring that is alloyed with 80% Platinum and 20% other metals is worth a lot less than a ring that is 95% pure platinum. The Platinum Ring Company products are 95% platinum across the range.
2. Check the hallmark on the inside of the ring. Regulations require all platinum bands to bear a stamp or "hallmark" on the inside of the band. In Britain, the mandatory hallmark consists of the makers mark, the purity mark and the assay office mark. There may be additional optional marks, for example a date mark or commemorative mark. The purity mark is the three number code (in a box with a pointed top), this shows the precious metal content. For example, if it says 950, this would reflect a 95% purity rate.
3. Ask your jeweler about the alloy used in your platinum ring. If you are buying a pure platinum ring (95% platinum), then it should be alloyed with either Cobalt or Ruthenium. These alloys produce harder platinum that can hold a mirror bright polish and resist years of daily wear. Many .95 pure platinum rings are alloyed with the less expensive metal Iridium, but these rings are softer and will become scratched and dull within a year of daily wear. The platinum ring company uses a 5% cobalt alloy in all their rings. As Cobalt helps to make the hard platinum metal workable in jewellery manufacture.
4. Seek a master platinum smith. Find an ultra-specialist focused on designing and handcrafting jewellery in platinum. Working in platinum is very difficult. The metal doesn’t melt until it reaches 3223º, unlike gold that melts at a mere 1700º. The tools needed to work in platinum are completely different as well. Given these challenges, there are but a few talented master platinum smiths who have the expertise to make high-quality platinum rings. The Platinum ring company has been in the retail jewellery business for over a decade and has accumulated a vast knowledge of rings and has a trusted relationship with their manufacturers. The products they offer have been chosen as they represent classic examples of beautifully crafted, high quality rings, manufactured by the best, award winning, British manufacturers.
5. Look for quality handcrafting in the engraving, filigree, pavé or other fine details. Platinum rings today come in thousands of designs with differing details to suit personal tastes. These details may include engraving, or deep cuts in the platinum that form a design. Some jewellery manufacturers choose to imitate hand engraving by imbedding a design into the ring’s casting. This prefabricated engraving will eventually wear off and lose its luster. Therefore, look for deep and intricate hand engraving, which typically lasts for generations. Filigree is another design element reminiscent of the Art Deco period. Again, to save costs, many jewelers prefabricate filigree in the casting process. The result is chunky filigree that lacks elegance and finesse. True artistry from the Art Deco period calls for filigree that is created from hand-drawn wires and sculpted then soldered into a piece. For the best quality, ensure that any filigree in the platinum ring is handcrafted. Bezel set with pavé is another extremely popular platinum ring option. Bezel set refers to a border of metal, often set with small diamonds that accent the center stone – and can make it appear larger. Bezel setting with pavé in platinum requires very specific expertise. Proper setting ensures that the focus is on the sparkle of the diamonds, not the platinum prongs holding in the stones. Noticing these fine points today will ensure the right choice for years to come.
6. Match your ring to your lifestyle. If high style and glamour are priorities in your life, go for a showstopper that’s loaded with exquisite hand artistry and a large center stone. If mountain climbing on Mount Kilimanjaro is your priority, forgo the delicate pavé work and opt for a platinum design with a low silhouette, that is, one that doesn’t elevate the center stone so that it won’t get banged around on rocks. Or, look at substantial platinum bands with unique engraving that look fashionable, yet are very practical. While most women fall somewhere in the middle, the point is that your ring needs to fit into your life. Some may feel more comfortable in a beautiful platinum band with an intricate floral design while others will gravitate toward a classic piece with a single center stone and filigree or the popular three-stone look with engraving. Nevertheless, since this purchase will likely be worn for ages to come, avoid the trendy, ultra-modern designs that promise to look dated in a few years.
7. Choose a style that looks best on your hand. Now that you’ve eliminated certain designs based on your lifestyle, figure out what looks best on your hand. a) Match the size of your ring to the size of your hand. If you are large-framed with large, angular hands, don’t choose a dainty piece that fades away. Rather look at bolder designs with a thicker platinum band or consider stacking several rings. If you are petite, choose more delicate pieces and plenty of details. b) Don’t be obsessed with the size of the center stone. It’s irrelevant that your best friend has a three carat. If it was set in white gold or poor-grade platinum, lacks style and its diamond has visible flaws, this is not a ring to covet. Think quality and substance in the design, the workmanship, the platinum alloy and the precious gems you select.
8. Select the right stone. While there are many options of gem to be set into your new piece of jewellery, perhaps, the most timeless is the Diamond. One of the many positive attributes of platinum is its ability to compliment the diamond that it holds, with its clean polished finish. Choosing the correct diamond is of key importance, due to the longevity of a piece of platinum jewellery. At the Platinum Ring Company all their diamond products come with a GIA/IGI diamond certificate, in order to show you are getting the quality of diamond you have paid for.
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Tuesday 1 June 2010
The Hollywood Appeal of Platinum Jewellery.
If you are looking good barometer of jewellery fashions, one of the best places to look is to the stars of Hollywood. 2010 is proving to be the year of platinum among the A listers, as exemplified by the Oscars ceremony. The stars choose platinum as its natural white color maximizes the brilliance of diamonds and colored gemstones, making them sparkle brighter. Platinum is a premier metal and is renowned for representing everlasting commitments due to the longevity of the metal.
At the 82nd Annual Academy Awards earlier this year, a host of stars choose to wear platinum jewellery, to accentuate the gowns on one of the key nights of the Hollywood calendar.
Miley Cyrus wore a stunning platinum and ruby ring with complementing diamond and ruby earrings made with platinum. Other stars wearing platinum jewellery included Sarah Jessica Parker, Demi Moore, Jennifer Lopez and Faith Hill. However, the platinum trend was not just confined to the ladies, with Robert Downey Jr wearing a platinum timepiece.
If you are looking for Hollywood style platinum ring visit the Platinum Ring Company, for a wide range of exquisite platinum pieces.
However, this trend of actresses flaunting their platinum is not a new one. In the iconic 1942 film “Now Voyager” Bette Davis wore an elegant cluster ring of five oval shaped sapphires set in Platinum to form the shape of a flower. Marlene Dietrich was one of the highest paid actresses in the pre-war period. When travelling to Morocco she chose to wear a stunning 5ct clear cut emerald, surrounded by four pear shaped CZs and four baguette CZs set in to a platinum ring. Perhaps the most poignant example of a Hollywood platinum ring is the one given to Marilyn Monroe by Joe Di Maggio. The ring comprised of 24 rectangle cut diamonds set in platinum and sold for $770,000 at Christies in 1999. Platinum is the obvious choice for long term gestures, such as engagements and eternity promises. As the metal is used in its pure form (unlike gold), when you scratch a platinum product the metal is merely displaced. So, even though wearing your platinum ring each and every day may leave an impression on the surface, it remains what it was - a symbol for all things eternal.
Even though Di Maggio and Monroe didn’t last as a couple, they remained close friends. When Marilyn died prematurely, Joe placed a dozen roses twice weekly on her grave for the rest of his life.
For a gesture of longevity, a platinum ring is the choice of the Hollywood elite and could be for you.
At the 82nd Annual Academy Awards earlier this year, a host of stars choose to wear platinum jewellery, to accentuate the gowns on one of the key nights of the Hollywood calendar.
Miley Cyrus wore a stunning platinum and ruby ring with complementing diamond and ruby earrings made with platinum. Other stars wearing platinum jewellery included Sarah Jessica Parker, Demi Moore, Jennifer Lopez and Faith Hill. However, the platinum trend was not just confined to the ladies, with Robert Downey Jr wearing a platinum timepiece.
If you are looking for Hollywood style platinum ring visit the Platinum Ring Company, for a wide range of exquisite platinum pieces.
However, this trend of actresses flaunting their platinum is not a new one. In the iconic 1942 film “Now Voyager” Bette Davis wore an elegant cluster ring of five oval shaped sapphires set in Platinum to form the shape of a flower. Marlene Dietrich was one of the highest paid actresses in the pre-war period. When travelling to Morocco she chose to wear a stunning 5ct clear cut emerald, surrounded by four pear shaped CZs and four baguette CZs set in to a platinum ring. Perhaps the most poignant example of a Hollywood platinum ring is the one given to Marilyn Monroe by Joe Di Maggio. The ring comprised of 24 rectangle cut diamonds set in platinum and sold for $770,000 at Christies in 1999. Platinum is the obvious choice for long term gestures, such as engagements and eternity promises. As the metal is used in its pure form (unlike gold), when you scratch a platinum product the metal is merely displaced. So, even though wearing your platinum ring each and every day may leave an impression on the surface, it remains what it was - a symbol for all things eternal.
Even though Di Maggio and Monroe didn’t last as a couple, they remained close friends. When Marilyn died prematurely, Joe placed a dozen roses twice weekly on her grave for the rest of his life.
For a gesture of longevity, a platinum ring is the choice of the Hollywood elite and could be for you.
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