QuestionQUESTION: Hi Tom! Help...Hubby and I were married 10 years ago, but couldn't find a wedding ring to go with engagement ring, so no ring. Prices have sky-rocketed since then. Found 2 wedding bands on consignment: one is stamped 950 and has 6 small diamonds for $600; the other is stamped 1090 irid plat and has 7 slightly larger, brighter diamonds for $700. Both are supposedly 50 years old plus. This is definitely more in our price range, especially with the economy etc. They are both from the same owner. Which has more value? Also, my engagement ring is 950 plat. Will it matter which one I chose to wear against it? I just want to be sure I am not taken because I really don't understand. Thanks for any help you can give.
(good thing you studied physics, chemistry, etc. wink, wink!)
ANSWER: Hi, Joette.
I do hope my rambling answer will be of some help. This is tough not having the rings in my hands to see closely.
This is an interesting question and one with some answers and some mystery. The mystery to me is value. Honestly, without seeing the two rings there is not a way to begin to compare the value of one against the other. Truly all I know is one has slightly larger brighter diamonds and one is 950 platinum and the other is a 900 plat iridium alloy. Unless there is a lot of difference in the weights of the rings, the price for one or the other WITHOUT DIAMONDS could be very close. The 950 ring most likely has 5% iridium as the other metal, compared to 10% for the iridium content of the second ring; that amount will not affect the price very much compared to actual total weight of the metal. The real possible difference in these two rings is the diamonds. Will the owner allow the rings to be taken for evaluation? This would mean you pay for appraisal but if you are very interested, it is not a bad idea. Still, if the rings are normal in weight and not light and thin, the prices are likely ok as stated. That part is in your hands.
Do yourselves a favor and use a magnifier to examine the rings closely. Look at the stone settings. Touch the stones with a point of some sort and check for movement. Look at prongs or parts of the actual stone setting and see if the metal is very thin, something which would need work not far in the future. Look at the bottom of the ring band for obvious marks from resizing. There is no real way to know if the rings have survived well or if extensive repair has been done. Near the diamonds, repairs would have been done with white gold solders so look for tell tale yellowish coloration or variations in shine on the platinum near the stones and on the under carriage of the ring tops.
As for wearing one ring or the other against your 950 platinum ring, is yours an iridium alloy? If so, either ring will likely be just fine. Sure, hardness tests show the 950 version of plat/irid to be slightly softer than the 900 version. This hardness will vary somewhat with the state of the metal, meaning whether in a softer state just above annealed (softened state) or somewhat work hardened (working a metal hardens it). Even with tested differences in the 950 and 900 alloys, wear should be ok for either ring.
If your ring is perchance made with ruthenium, the hardness will be greater than either iridium alloy. The softer iridium alloy rings may wear a bit more quickly but I am not sure that will be significant. You might count on the iridium alloy rings to loose luster more quickly and perhaps dent easier than the ruthenium alloy platinum.
I asked you to examine the rings. Now, take another look and view the sides of the rings. Do the rings appear to be worn (flat like) from being worn next to another ring? That is not a problem unless the sides are getting thin. Look at the underside of the top of each ring and if that is hollowed out make certain the sides are not quite thin. Thin surfaces will wear just like thick surfaces but the life of thin areas is limited. This is all to be considered. Try with your ring and see where contact will be made. Generally, there are no particular or significant contact points. If for some reason your present ring contacts a thin area on the two rings being considered, that could mean problems down the road.
I do hope this helps somewhat. Best wishes with your choice of ring.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: WOW! What a fantastically thorough response and answer to my question. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Amazing in today's world. You don't know how much I appreciate it and how it takes the nervousness away to have a qualified professional respond! Thankyou again. I will definitely write that in my remarks! I couldn't get a picture for you, but I did go back and take a closer look. They are in terrific condition. The 950 has 5 diamonds (clear and bright) and is very similiar to a regular prong set that you see in a straight line across that is sold and is popular today, mabye about a 1/4 to 1/3 total weight. They sit in prongs that look like this: l_l They are kinda raised up like you see in the 3 stones and 5 stones that are popular now, like for a bridal ring. The edge is flat like my ring, no dents, scratches etc. Markings are very clean and clear on the inside. Heft of a 2 or 3 mm platinum band.
The 900 is a bit wider, older yet in great condition as well. The stones are all tight. At first they almost appeared channel set, but they are not. They are 7 stones, white and bright) and they all have prongs but the metal comes up around the outer edges as well, very pretty asthetically, and looks more like a band from the 1950's. They sit flat inside the band, but have individual prongs as well, if that makes sense. The entire top of the ring has a flat, low profile appearance to it, unlike the higher rise of the 950. All stones are tight. No metal work done or repairs. The sides of the band are like a smooth knife edge just at the top sides and and tapers down to almost flat. There are seven stones and they are probably closer to 1/2 total weight. When I looked at antique jewelry online I found something called "bead setting" and it almost looks like that, but on closer inspection, each stone has platinum prongs.
Now mind you - I am not sure exactly what I am saying, only repeating what a jewelry store worker said to me at the mall about different rings in her case. So I am comparing the size of the two pieces I am considering by using her words for these. I hope it helps create a better picture.
Also, the 950 is very similiar to what is out there now in white gold and yellow gold, just in platinum. But it is nice. The 900 also has the diamonds going straight across, but the last diamond on each side is contained in a point, to give the illusian of pears on each end. <ooooooo>
My ring is a heart center in a tiffany head with a pear shape on each side. So they look like this ( imagine the center stone a heart)
950 5 stone 900 7 stone
< ) 0 ( > or < )0( >
1o1o1o1o1o1 <OOOOOOO>
Note that the point of contact is where the diamonds of my engagement ring are and rest up on the wedding bands. After the pears, there will be a small gap on each side where you can see the skin of my finger between the wedding band and the engagement ring. Other that asthetics, it doesn't matter. THankyou for your help. I am sorry that I am not savvy enough to figure out how to get a picture to you. I hope my football diagrams help. I am looking forward to your reply. Thankyou again for taking soooo much time!
And God Bless you TOO!
Joette
AnswerJoette, at this point I am not sure what to say. Your positive comments are very encouraging to me in this work on allexperts. I have been chastised by a couple of folks for doing this free answer site since they think if you cannot get paid for it, why do it. Well, that is not me. This is one way I can possibly help someone else in an area where many feel lost and confused and at the mercy of sellers and others. So, I do what I can. You comments, yes, very good to hear and a warming to my heart.
Right now, I am not sure if there is a question here from you. The description is excellent and the "football" style works pretty well! : ) Still, I cannot provide any valuation without having the rings in these very hands. Sorry.
I am glad you took the closer look and both rings sound good. Don't you think? Which to choose? Oh my, you certainly have a favorite at this point I would think. If not, just try each next to your ring again. As for the ring with the bead set look, it is quite normal for the ring to have small prongs on each stone within a cutout, similar to a channel set. The difference is that with channel set the walls of the channel touch the outside edges of each stone, securing the stone in place. Actual bead set is quite labor intensive and manufacturers find it easier to make the ring with tiny prongs in the original, prior to stones being set of course. Then the stone setter has a much less intensive job and the work is more cost effective. Either setting style will wear quite well over time. The other ring should also wear well from what I gather in the excellent description.
Unless you have something specific, this is about the best I can do for now, wishing you the best in ring choices and the best in your lives, both of you. Get the ring you were not able to have in the beginning and start to enjoy it!
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
