QuestionHi Thomas, I have a question that I'm not sure you can answer but I'll try anyway! I am re-setting my original diamond engagement ring as I don't like it any longer and my husband has recently purchased an eternity band for our 10th anniversary. I CANNOT decide if it would be best to have the diamond set into white gold, yellow gold, or platinum. The eternity ring is currently a white gold pronged setting (but that can change as it has to be ordered in my correct size). I love the look of the white/platinum settings that are EXTREMELY popular today but wonder if it's just a FAD and TREND and that I would be "safer" with a yellow gold engagement setting?? All websites I have referenced seem to focus on white/platinum yet I "thought" I heard yellow gold was making a comeback? Can you just please give me your opinion on what you feel would still be a classic in 10 to 20 years from now....as I don't want to re-set it once again.
Thanks soooo much for your time Thomas! MaryLou
AnswerFollow up-----------to MaryLou, an apology for the typos and a touch of added info.
Marylou, I always print and read my answers generally prior to sending out. This evening is hectic since my wife is doing all the prep for her brothers wedding on Friday, all except the catering. So, things are nuts around her and I am hanging on trying to help. I forgot to proof the answer.
For instance, in the top of the answer is this sentence:
'MaryLou, I am not certain if my answer will be "accurate" answer but is surely my personal thoughts on it all. Yes, trends come and do do in the jewelry world.' That should read "my answer will be the accurate answer..." and "trends come and do go..." I believe the rest will clear itself up as you read, despite the typos unusual for me to send out.
Other thoughts: Diamonds show best in white unless the stones are slightly off color. Then, yellow gold will make the stones show better in many cases. Platinum with stones is repaired around the stones with white gold but that works out fine, using a high karat white gold and rhodium plate for it all. We do this all the time with good results and no complaints down the road from customers. Yellow will always be a classic color. White will likely be a classic color, too, but the trend may certainly go back to yellow. In a solitaire as an engagement ring might be, the prongs or setting is generally white while the rest of the ring is yellow. For a setting of a single stone, I suggest white for strength and the rest of the ring the color of your choice. Eternity bands in channel set(true channel set with the metal edges over the edges of the stones) works quite well and causes the least problems over the years. So, there is the follow up and I will check this for typos. Sorry, I messed up in a way most unusual for me. God Bless. Thomas.
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Original Answer..the primary stuff:
MaryLou, I am not certain if my answer will be "accurate" answer but is surely my personal thoughts on it all. Yes, trends come and do do in the jewelry world. For now, white is the trendy color and you would be surprised to know just how many ladies have asked us to rhodium plate their yellow wedding rings to fit the trendy white! We get a lot of this. I for one, have little regard for trends.
Another trend in newer rings is multiples of tiny diamonds set all over the ring. Yes, this looks nice but unfortunately too often these little stones are not set very well in the metal and stone loses to happen more often than not. This happens even with the best of the manufacturer, though not as often as with the less well done knock offs with the same look.
For the long term, honestly, who can possibly predict? Is it black this fall for dresses or splashy subdued color? I don't know but do know the fashion changes. My "leisure suit" was given away a long time ago with the bell bottom pants. Who could predict tummies and low rider jeans? Trends are trends are trends.
My though is this, now that I finally got to it: Which color do you like the best? If possible, try to forget the popular styles and think the color you personally like best. That is the color you will like 20 years from now after 30 years of marriage. That color will mean what it means to you today, "this is my ring, this is my special ring from our 10th anniversary" and that loving thought will stay with you regardless of what is trendy. To me, that is more important than the currently and changing popular color.
As for platinum, this is a wonderful metal for jewelry and is long lasting. I love this metal, not so much for the color but how it works and holds up over the years. The downfall of platinum is shine. The brand new shine will fade quickly since platinum is more easily "burnished" or rubbed by stuff daily and the shine will soon become a dull look. Keep that is mind. Then again, the metal does seem to "rub" off the shine more than rub off the metal itself. The metal simply moves around more than is removed. With gold, the scratches actually remove metal and prongs and settings wear down much more quickly than with platinum. The trade off? The shine.
I personally believe yellow will be making a comeback but can't possibly imagine what that will be years down the road.
Yellow will always be a classy and classic color of gold and platinum will always be one at the top of the list for many reasons beside the fact it is a white metal.
Whew...I am not part of any fashion predicting organization and do not read many of the ladies magazines which sell like crazy and offer only fashion ads. My opinion is an humble one. Please accept my thoughts for what each thought is worth.
MaryLou, best wishes on the choice. Keep in mind if repair is needed down the road, gold can be rebuild with the stones in place(diamonds) but with platinum the stones are removed or repair is done with white gold since the heat to work platinum with platinum will burn the diamonds. That is one thought to consider.
I feel like I have stepped into a woman's world and almost defenseless..yikes. Well, I stepped in and stepped out gently.
God Bless and Peace. Get back with a follow-up if needed.
Thomas. October 17,2007
