Metals: 443 Questions Buyers Asked (page 3 of 3)

A seller listed a 2.5-total-carat platinum full-eternity band of reclaimed French cut diamonds, originally bought from an NYC dealer, for $1,950 and it sold quickly.

One buyer paid $350 for an antique 18k yellow-gold band, size 10.5, after watching listings for a long time, versus a quote of over $1,000 for a comparable new band.

Buyers who chose 14k to save money said the cost difference against 18k usually only amounts to a few hundred dollars per project, and the color difference is mainly visible when stacked directly against higher-karat gold.

One owner paid about 2500 dollars in labor alone to have a jeweler build a new custom mounting, since she supplied her own platinum and stones and was only charged for the work.

Members debated it: one said a wide antique-style setting looks most authentic in a single warm metal like 18k yellow gold, while the ring's owner leaned toward whichever metal would make her stone shine without detracting from it, since her existing jewelry was mostly white gold.

This seller's petite platinum diamond ring, bought for about $545, was cut from an initial $370 ask down through $350, $325 and $300 before finally selling at $250 or less, under half of what she paid.

The seller pitched her platinum diamond ring as suitable for a promise ring, a sweet 16 gift, or 'a unique engagement ring,' showing buyers sometimes repurpose non-traditional diamond rings this way.

Reported costs varied a lot: one buyer paid $295 at Tiffany to size a secondhand ring down half a size and said they'd never paid more than $150 elsewhere, while another had paid a comparable amount to size a platinum ring up two full sizes two years ago at an upscale jeweler, suggesting a $363 quote for just a half size may be an inflated go-away price.

Sellers described switching lower-end pieces to gold-filled or lower-karat (14k or even 10k) metal, marking pieces up only partway to avoid sticker shock, and buyers favoring lower-metal designs like filigree or gemstone-heavy pieces to control cost.

A seller listed a 3.6mm size-58 Cartier 1895 yellow gold band at $1,050, then dropped it to $850 and finally to $800 for a quick sale before it sold.

Buyers said 14k gold wears well daily and recommended it over 18k for durability, and suggested a lower-set, more-pronged, or semi-bezel design to resist snagging and bending regardless of which metal is chosen.

Switching a fancy yellow-brown diamond from a white gold setting into rose gold is described as intensifying the peachy warm tone of the stone, while white gold had done nothing for it.

Most buyers say neither is a real financial investment: a ring's setting sells for well above spot gold price because of fabrication and design, so buyers who want gold as an investment are told to buy bullion or coins instead.

Buyers noted titanium and tungsten cost far less but usually can't be resized, while gold and platinum cost more, can be resized, and are seen as a lasting piece worth wearing daily.

Nearly every buyer called it a rip-off; typical shops charge $50 to $150 for a simple half-size increase on a plain band, with $565 closer to what a full reshank or a brand-new ring would cost.

Buyers say platinum carries heavy making charges on top of the metal price, with one saying the making charges alone can equal what the same money would buy in gold or diamond.

Owners are split: one broke her platinum chain four times in a year of regular wear and suggests white gold if resale matters, while another says platinum is preferred for diamond settings since it holds stones more securely than gold.

One owner warns that, unlike gold, platinum rings generally cannot be resized, which mattered when her finger size changed after having children.

One buyer says platinum diamond jewelry is typically made at 950 purity (95% pure) because it's hard enough to hold stones securely at that purity, while gold is usually 18k since pure gold is too soft.

Nearly every owner here reports no regret, citing platinum's durability and hypoallergenic properties and not needing the rhodium re-dipping that white gold requires.

Several owners say platinum is hypoallergenic, while white gold plated with rhodium over a nickel alloy can cause a rash or allergic reaction for some wearers.

Owners say platinum resists damage well, with one noting a snagged prong just moves rather than breaking, and another reporting no issues after 16 months of daily wear including sleeping in the ring.

Buyers warn against silver for an engagement ring since it tarnishes and blackens over time; white gold or platinum hold up much better.

Most owners report years of trouble-free wear (one over a decade, several 3-4 years) with only occasional rhodium replating and rare prong tightening; a few switched to platinum afterward for a heavier feel and no replating.

Usually yes since platinum is denser and pricier, with one buyer's jeweler quoting about $500 more to switch their custom design to platinum, but a couple of buyers noted white gold had briefly cost more than platinum due to a palladium price spike.

Yes, a US-made 14k white gold alloy typically contains nickel, and one wearer developed an itchy rash after wearing hers daily even though she had no prior reaction to white gold jewelry.

Accounts conflict: one buyer said palladium white gold is usually only made in 18k in the US, while a working jeweler here said 14k palladium white gold is possible, just needs extra care during casting.

One jeweler said the metal weight difference between a 5mm and 6mm comfort-fit flat platinum band in the same size is about 1.6 pennyweight, roughly a 20% jump in weight and cost.

A buyer noted true Art Deco pieces are usually white gold or platinum, so finding a genuine yellow gold Art Deco ring is comparatively unusual.

One buyer said a white gold band needs rhodium replating roughly every 5 to 10 years of wear.

Buyers explain lower-karat gold like 9k or 10k has less pure gold and more alloy, making it lighter in color, cheaper, and more resistant to scratches and dents, but also more brittle with a higher chance of a prong snapping during repair, while 14k is a richer yellow and more malleable for repairs.

One buyer found her fiancé had paid far more than a near-identical ring's $95 online price; the discussion's advice was to check the stone's hardness, use 12k-14k gold or white gold with no plating or silver, buy from a brick-and-mortar seller for recourse, and bring someone knowledgeable along.

The person asking chose a 14k gold band and prongs over higher-purity gold because lower-karat gold is sturdier, which mattered since she works with her hands often as a nurse.

Buyers recommend white gold over silver, noting there's little visible difference between 10k and 14k white gold thanks to rhodium plating, and to check for a nickel allergy before choosing it.

One buyer flagged 14k gold instead of 18k as part of why this ring's price seemed too high for its specs.

Buyers say sterling silver is much softer than 14k or 18k gold or platinum, so it scratches, bends, and tarnishes more easily with continuous daily wear, and there is also a tradition and status element pushing couples toward gold or platinum for a ring meant to be worn for life.

One buyer said her store charges about $55 per rhodium replating, and mentioned a customer in healthcare who needs it redone every 3 to 4 months to stay shiny because of frequent hand-washing.

Mixed views: some say 18k is too soft and dents easily with daily wear and prefer 14k or platinum, but others report their 18k rings held up fine after years of everyday use.

One buyer said Cartier quoted her about $6,000 to swap her ring's setting from platinum to yellow gold after the fact.

Platinum is far denser than gold, so a ring of the same size uses a lot more platinum by weight than gold, and platinum also needs hotter soldering, casting and specialized equipment most jewelers don't have, which drives up manufacturing cost on top of the metal itself.

A jeweler here said yes, not because of hardness or density directly, but because it needs much higher heat to solder and cast and requires equipment like a hydrogen-oxygen torch that most jewelers don't own, unlike gold which is easy to cast and solder.

Yes, buyers said a platinum ring is typically 50-80% heavier than the equivalent gold ring, e.g. a 10-gram 14K gold ring's equivalent size in platinum would weigh around 15-18 grams.

A UK jeweler said the price seemed fair for a handmade piece worth around 4,200 pounds, but expensive if the ring turns out to be cast rather than handmade.