Platinum Wedding Rings: A New Fashion Wedding Jewelry May 31, 2006
Posted by in : Wedding Jewelry , add a commentIf you’re wondering why so many brides are saying “I do” to platinum, you’re not alone. While many of us have been prepped on the “4 Cs” of diamonds, we’ve kind of been left in the dark about the differences between gold wedding rings and platinum wedding rings - and why it’s so popular.
Platinum is both rarer and purer than gold — one of the reasons why its price has been increasing over the years, just as the demand for it has been increasing (in February 2003, its price exceeded $700 per ounce for the first time in over 20 years). It’s 35 times more rare than gold, and is found in very few places in the world — mainly South Africa and Russia — and only 88 tons of platinum are made into jewelry each year. It literally takes eight weeks and 10 tons of ore to produce one single ounce of platinum!
Platinum Facts
- * Platinum has an extremely high melting temperature. In its purest form it melts at 3214 degrees F, almost twice the temperature needed to melt 14 karat gold.
- All the platinum ever mined would produce a cube 17 feet on each side, less than 5000 cubic feet.
- It takes up to 10 tons of ore to produce one ounce of platinum, more than twice as much ore that is typically needed for an ounce of gold.
- Platinum is not susceptible to problems like stress corrosion or stress cracking as can be the case with white gold. (This problem mainly applies to prong settings etc. Don’t worry, your white gold wedding band will not suffer this problem).
Platinum is about 95% pure (as compared to 18-karat gold, which is about 75% pure). All metals have alloys, or blends of other metals, but platinum has very few alloys, so it doesn’t fade or change color, and retains its shine for years. Many think that white gold is comparable to platinum since they both appear to be the same color. But what many of us don’t know is that white gold is simply yellow gold with white alloys added to it, so it’s not uncommon, after many years of wear, for a white gold ring to return to its natural yellow color. Platinum, however, will retain its pure white luster for your entire lifetime and then some, ensuring you can pass down your most precious possession to your daughter and she to hers.
PLATINUM is the hardest of the precious metals, it never tarnishes. Its intense luster remains intact over the years, and it is completely hypoallergenic.
If and when you decide to say “I do” to platinum’s rarity, durability, purity and limitless eternal qualities, forever will truly mean forever.
Follow these easy tips to help keep your ring looking as great as the day you got engaged:
- Store your ring separately from other pieces of jewelry so it doesn’t get scratched. If it does get scratched, have it polished by a jeweler.
- Keep your ring in a safe place and remember to have it sufficiently insured. If you’re not sure about its value, take it to your local jeweler for valuation.
- Clean your ring periodically with a pre-packaged jewelry cleaner or soak it in mild soap and warm water, then gently rub it with a soft cloth. You should also have it professionally cleaned about every six months.
- Platinum is extremely dense, and remarkably heavy. Much more so than silver or gold. This property of platinum enhances and ennobles the quality of the jewelry from which it is created.
- Find a qualified jeweler for adjustments, resizing, polishing, and cleaning, and make sure they have a platinum trained bench worker.
- Over time, platinum develops a natural patina that many people prefer over the “just polished” look. When this happens, you can take your ring to a qualified jeweler to have it re-polished to a high-gloss look if you prefer.
- Take your ring off when cleaning, gardening, doing any kind of heavy work, or when working with bleach and harsh chemicals. Although the chemicals won’t damage the platinum, they may discolor diamonds and other gems.
Choosing a Diamond Engagement Ring May 31, 2006
Posted by in : Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Diamond Jewelry, Engagement Rings , add a commentThis is a post from a fellow blogger, rating her experience with Danforthdiamond.com.
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Take a look at these Diamond Engagement Rings and tell me if you’ve ever seen a selection of 18k yellow gold rings in a store that allowed you to choose the arrangement, diamond shape, and carat, for a price this low. I must have spent 1/2 hour learning about diamonds, looking at all the terms, for clarity, brightness, color - I never new that yellow diamonds were flawed. I always thought the yellow ones were more expensive.
I will admit that I looked at the stone in my engagement ring, to compare the quality my husband bought me ten years ago. Of course it was beautiful - what can you expect from a Welshman. But, if he knew of this site then I would have had something stunning. Not only is the price 30 - 40% less than in ‘brick and mortar’ stores, but they let you choose your diamond by size, quality, brightness, carat, and price. You just keeps selecting what you want until you are at the page that has your diamond on it. I must admit that it made me wonder if a couple other pieces of my diamond jewelry were not quite up to the grade the sales clerk promised.
There is also a great selection of other diamond jewelry on their site.
It could be because I am a woman and love diamond. It could be the guarantee, low price, and free shipping. It could be that I found a couple potential gifts for myself, but I had to rate Danforth a ten on my scale.
Which Engagement Ring Design Best Suits Her Style? May 18, 2006
Posted by in : Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Engagement Rings, Buying Engagement Rings , add a commentChoosing an engagement ring
The first consideration when choosing an engagement ring style is your loved one’s lifestyle.
Is she very active? Will her engagement ring need to stand up to an adventurous lifestyle of mountain climbing?
If your beloved is very active, you should probably stay away from stone shapes that are easily chipped or broken. Pear and Marquise shaped diamonds contain points that can easily chip. High settings are also more inclined to suffer damage from hitting hard surfaces and catching on everyday objects and clothing.
However, if your fiancé has her heart set on a shape or style of ring that is among the more fragile and she has an active lifestyle, make sure you order a “V-end” prong setting which will protect the points of the diamond.
Determine How It Will Look On Her Hand
Are her hands small, and are her fingers short? Or does she have a long and slender hand? These are questions you will need to consider when choosing your engagement ring style.
Pick The Diamond Shape that’s Right for Her
A broad banded ring will not flatter a small hand with short fingers, however, it will balance the proportion of a long slender fingered hand. A small ring will make a larger hand appear bigger and most women do not like that! Hand size and proportion are very important when deciding on the engagement ring. Take a good look at your loved one’s hand and decide what size of engagement ring will look best. You can still choose from all of the styles, but you must keep proportion in mind.
Finally, remember that you will purchase a wedding band to be given on the day of your marriage. It is important that the engagement ring and wedding band complement one another. We offer a wide variety of wedding ring sets to make this process effortless.
Selecting a Diamond Within Your Budget May 18, 2006
Posted by in : Jewelry, Diamonds, Buying Engagement Rings , add a commentThere are four factors diamond experts consider when valuing a diamond. They are Cut, Color, Carat Weight and Clarity. These four factors add up to the final cost of the diamond. Which is the most important factor for you to consider? Most experts believe the cut and proportion are the most important factors in determining a diamond’s value. They are what give the diamond its sparkle and brilliance. That is why we only sell good or better cut diamonds at DanforthDiamond.com, not cheap diamonds that have no luster. The brilliant shine from our expertly cut diamonds will add sparkle to your life for eternity. That being said, you will need to consider the other factors when choosing your diamond and we have included a brief summary below.
Remember, the most important factor is your own personal preference and taste.
Read the entire article on choosing a diamond within your budget.
Need Expert Guidance on Choosing an Affordable Engagement Ring?
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Or, email us ANYTIME at experts@danforthdiamond.com. It is our goal to respond to your email within one business day.
