Mr.G Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 I'm ready to propose. I'm looking for the ring, but need some help. Guys out there... what kind of ring did you get your lady? I'm thinking something like this: http://www.engagementguide.com/ring_gallery/details.php?ring_record_id=415&categories[]=1 I guess I'm more interested in hearing from anyone's experience the difference between white gold and platinum and all those. I'm looking at platinum because I heard it's more rare than gold and it's very durable, but it'd be great to get some input. Link to post Share on other sites
girl68 Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 Platinum is the "best" it is the strongest and the most expensive. If you're looking for the "best" medal and can afford it, yes get platinum. White gold or yellow? You have to know which she prefers to each her own. The trend though lately is definately white gold. But just a take a peak at all her jewlery, are all her necklaces white or yellow? The ring is simple and classic. Nice. As long as she likes the "bling" and doesn't mind the solitaire. (Some girls don't like rings that might snag becasue they stick up to high). Advice: try asking her bestfriend for tips. I'm a girl and I know that my bestfriends know what I like. Obviously only tell one friend- and hopefully it is one that you trust. Tell her to keep her mouth shut and you obviously want it to be a surprise. After that, goodluck. Link to post Share on other sites
Chinook Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 You have noted haven't you, that ring is sold without the centre stone..? "Platinum engagement ring that is sold without the center stone (semi-mount). There are 10 x 0.03 and 4 x 0.05 round diamonds in the ring." Link to post Share on other sites
girl68 Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 I think he's trying to get an idea and isn't actually buying that very ring shown. Link to post Share on other sites
Chinook Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 Ah okay <--- nickname is 'nim' (nice but dim) Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 My wife (stbx) has a white gold e-ring with a platinum eternity ring for a wedding band. To me, the white gold is "brighter" and the platinum has a richness to its silvery coloring. Longevity hasn't been an issue with either. For that matter, I have my mother's wedding set, in white gold, which is now about 57 years old and still looks great. I have limited experience with both metals (platinum more than gold) as a machinist but would say the gold is more easily worked into creative shapes (read less expensive) so factor that in if you're looking for a custom design. Diamonds are a whole separate subject, if you're planning on using diamonds in the ring, so do that research prior to shopping. The same goes for other gems, the sapphire family being one example. Knowing what your lady prefers and your budget are key. Take your time Link to post Share on other sites
Sunshine11 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 As a lady who is *thinking* her boyfriend might propose soon (trying not to get my hopes up though), I've been thinking about rings. I kind of feel like I'd like to be able to provide input in my ring, or ideally pick it out with him. Especially because I'd like to use the stone from my mom's ring. (It'll mean so much more to me, and be much less expensive!) So, have you thought about proposing with a stand-in, or maybe without one, and then letting her help you pick out the one she wants to wear? Also, I personally would rather have platinum and less diamond; some women would prefer (white) gold and more diamond. Either way, the one you posted the link to is beautiful! Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Durability doesn't make platinum, scratch resistant. It just won't erode down as quickly as gold does. Why not just set a budget and then, find out what she likes, whether directly or indirectly. If you want this to be a surprise, don't ask any of her g/fs or female relatives, what their opinions are. Dollars to donuts, they'll squeal on you!! Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 So, have you thought about proposing with a stand-in This is a great idea if time is short. A simple white gold setting and a CZ work fine. Perhaps a handwritten note in the box for her to read regarding the next "phase". Re:Platinum. IME, I find platinum micro-deforms with little to no loss, as it has a very dense molecular structure. Proper rouge and polishing equipment can restore its luster many times with little to no metal loss. Often one cannot even tell the setting is micro-scratched until polished, when its full luster reappears. Link to post Share on other sites
Lucky_One Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 White gold typically will need re-plating with rhodium after a few years, but that is pretty inexpensive (I just paid $20 to have a three stone band re-plated.) Platinum will not need that upkeep. I prefer all of it to have a fine patina of scratches anyway - often times too shiny = brand-new or cheap. Platinum is heavy, though; my jeweler had to send a bracelet back to Italy because the wires holding the box links together had stretched, just from the weight of the bracelet and wearing it nearly every day. I can feel a difference when I lift my fingers in the weight of the rings. Link to post Share on other sites
Thornton Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 White gold is simply an alloy of another metal with yellow gold, usually something cheap like nickel which doesn't really make the gold very white, so they plate the ring with rhodium to make it more silvery. Eventually the sparkly silvery plating will wear off and the ring will go yellowish, which means you have to send it away to be re-plated at a cost of around £30. I have a white gold necklace which I stopped wearing because it needed re-plating every year and it was costing too much. Do your girlfriend a favour and get a platinum ring... it's going to cost a bit more, but you won't have to keep forking out to get it re-plated. Personally I wouldn't want a man to choose a ring I'd wear for the rest of my life anyway... what if I hated his choice? Jewellery is a very personal thing, I'd much rather my man proposed with a cheap ring worth £10 and then took me shopping to choose my own engagement ring. Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 IDK, I've always used manganese as the alloying agent, melted in an argon atmosphere. I have all the heating, inert gas and plasma stuff since I do metal fabrication and welding. Playing with metal is kinda fun Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 White gold typically will need re-plating with rhodium after a few years. White gold is simply an alloy of another metal with yellow gold, usually something cheap like nickel which doesn't really make the gold very white, so they plate the ring with rhodium to make it more silvery.It depends on what kind of alloy they mix with the white gold and also what karat it is. None of my white gold jewelry has needed replating. This includes some heirloom jewelry which has an interesting story behind it, in that the jewelry was used to pay off part of a debt owed to my grandfather, for goods through his import/export business. The jewelry was originally heirloom jewelry for the chinese man who had to pay. But I do agree that platinum is more durable. Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Do you know what kind of ring she would want? Or bought her jewelry? If so you know her taste so just go with that? I just got engaged and my fiance bought me a 1 carat round cut solitaire ring, here it is for an example: http://www.kay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product1%7C10101%7C10001%7C-1%7C150866806%7C15051%7C15051.15057.15106 Do you know if she likes to wear gold or white gold jewelry? Def. get that tidbit of info, I'm glad my fiance already knew that! Overall, just have fun with it. My fiance said it's nerve racking but he loved the look on my face when I first saw it. Good luck!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Author Mr.G Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Durability doesn't make platinum, scratch resistant. It just won't erode down as quickly as gold does. I find platinum micro-deforms with little to no loss, as it has a very dense molecular structure. Proper rouge and polishing equipment can restore its luster many times with little to no metal loss. Often one cannot even tell the setting is micro-scratched until polished, when its full luster reappears. My jeweler confirmed that when platinum "scratches," it actually just displaces the metal so you're not loosing much metal over time. Other metals loose slivers when they get scratched. That's good to know. She never really wears gold jewelry so I think I'm going to go with platinum. I know I can pick out something she'll love. I might get her sister to help me pick it out, but I want to surprise her. Thanks for all the helpful responses! Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I wanted to add that some people are allergic to gold though platinum allergies are pretty rare. With gold, it's often an alloying agent which is the allergen. Be mindful of that when deciding on the metal used. Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites
stace79 Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 As a lady who is *thinking* her boyfriend might propose soon (trying not to get my hopes up though), I've been thinking about rings. I kind of feel like I'd like to be able to provide input in my ring, or ideally pick it out with him. Especially because I'd like to use the stone from my mom's ring. (It'll mean so much more to me, and be much less expensive!) So, have you thought about proposing with a stand-in, or maybe without one, and then letting her help you pick out the one she wants to wear? Also, I personally would rather have platinum and less diamond; some women would prefer (white) gold and more diamond. Either way, the one you posted the link to is beautiful! I thought the idea of "stand in" rings was awesome. Only possible drawback is you must purchase your ring wherever you get the stand in, so hopefully they have a lot of choice and something your GF will like. I sort of wish my fiance had known of that, but shh! My ring is still beautiful and he picked out something I love. I think the ring shown is beautiful, too. Link to post Share on other sites
2sure Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 LOVE the ring pictured as it is VERY similar to my own. Note: When my H asked me what type of stones I liked, i told him "Anything but ROUND". LOL. I love my ring. Link to post Share on other sites
Lauriebell82 Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 As a lady who is *thinking* her boyfriend might propose soon (trying not to get my hopes up though), I've been thinking about rings. I kind of feel like I'd like to be able to provide input in my ring, or ideally pick it out with him. Especially because I'd like to use the stone from my mom's ring. (It'll mean so much more to me, and be much less expensive!) So, have you thought about proposing with a stand-in, or maybe without one, and then letting her help you pick out the one she wants to wear? Also, I personally would rather have platinum and less diamond; some women would prefer (white) gold and more diamond. Either way, the one you posted the link to is beautiful! Oh, yay I hope he does!!! Seriously, it is like nothing you have ever felt when you see him down on one knee holding out the ring. I will have to disagree with the idea of a "stand-in." I was so attached to my ring that I didn't want to take it off and I wouldn't have traded it for the world. If you buy her something beautiful and sparkly OP, she will be in heaven! Link to post Share on other sites
sb129 Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I love the ring shown too, its very very similar to my own, and I have a diamond eternity ring as a wedding band. Mine is also platinum and it has a few tiny scratches, but nothing major. I hardly ever take it off. My H surprised me with the ring on my 30th birthday and I LOVED the fact that he had picked it out by himself, its more special to me that way, and I am so indecisive I would never have been able to make up my mind. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I like my ring but it wouldn't have been my choice. I love it because of what it represents and that he was so proud of himself for choosing it. Link to post Share on other sites
sb129 Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I think you'd struggle to go wrong with the kind of ring the OP has posted- its pretty classic and not too unusual. Go for it OP! Link to post Share on other sites
subdued Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Wow! Beautiful ring! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts