Jewelry Tutorial And Diamonds Guide

Platinum or Gold Diamond Jewelry

Platinum and gold are one of the rarest of precious metals, they are found in only a few locations around the world. To produce a single ounce of finished platinum, a total of 10 tons of ore must be mined and three tones of ore are required to produce one ounce of gold. The rarity of platinum versus gold gives it its cachet (and cost).

Platinum is one of the strongest and most enduring of all metals, it is also one of the heaviest. A piece of diamond jewelry containing 90 percent pure platinum weighs 60 percent more than 14-karat gold piece of similar size. The platinum piece will cost over three times more than the 14-karats one.

In the United States, diamond platinum jewelry generally contains anywhere from 85 to 95 percent pure platinum. By comparison, 18-karat gold is 75 percent pure gold and 14-karat gold is 58 percent pure gold. We at Diamonds-USA use 95 percent of platinum for all our Platinum Jewelry.

If a piece of platinum is marked "Platinum," it contains at least 95 % pure platinum. Jewelry with 85 to 95 percent pure platinum is marked "850 PLAT" or "950 PLAT" or "950 Pt.," etc. Diamond jewelry containing at least 50 percent pure platinum and at least 45 percent platinum group metals (palladium, iridium, osmium, rhodium and ruthenium), with 95 % of the two groups together, is marked with the platinum content followed by the other metal. For example:"600 Plat.350 Irid." Diamond jewelry that contains less than 50% Platinum should not be marked as Platinum at all.

Is platinum the same as white gold?

No, it is quite different.During World War II, the US government prohibited platinum use in non-military applications, including diamond jewelry.Because of strong consumer preference at that time for platinum's white look,white gold was substituted in platinum's absence.

To create white gold ,yellow gold is alloyed with other metals .But gold will always keep the yellowish shade so it is dipped in a rhodium liquid chamber that covers it with a white rhodium coat.

Signs of wear ,including scratches, will inevitably appear in all precious metals including platinum.When your jewel will develop visible scratches it is the time for maintenance, re polishing and re dipping it (in case of white gold). Dipping is a two minutes procedure.

We carry "18k white gold" but recommend the "18k white gold with Palladium" Alloy as the perfect metal of choice for ring bands.

The "18k white gold with Palladium" alloy that we use is a special alloy that has 75% pure Gold and 15% pure Palladium (another precious metal which makes the ring cost 40% more than other 18k white gold alloys) we use this alloy as it ends up to be "white" after polishing and not light yellow as the regular "18k white gold" that is commonly used at jewelery shops. As all white gold rings are dipped in Rhodium metal for the final white look our ring bands will not show the yellow tint underneath when scratched.(The prongs head is still regular 18k white gold but usually it doesnot get scratched).

Care and cleaning of your Diamond Jewelry

Fine jewelry is a precious possession that is designed and crafted to last a lifetime. However, proper care is required to assure the lasting qualities of your jewelry. Diamonds-USA is pleased to offer simple guidelines for the care and cleaning of your fine diamond jewelry.

General Tips

Store your diamond jewelry in a clean, dry place.

Keep your diamond jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments and dividers. If you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper.

Don't jumble your diamond jewelry pieces in a drawer or jewelry case. Pieces can scratch each other.

Be careful when removing your diamond jewelry to wash your hands. Do not leave your jewelry on the rim of a sink where it can easily slip down the drain.

See your local jeweler at least once a year to have your diamond jewelry checked for loose prongs, worn mountings, and general wear and tear.

Diamond Jewelry

Diamond jewelry is very popular. Some pieces, such as diamond engagement and wedding rings, are often worn 24 hours a day. Even though you may wear your diamond jewelry around the clock, you should give thought to its care.

Diamonds are durable, but they still require proper maintenance. diamonds can get smudged, soiled and dusty. Lotions, powders, soaps and natural skin oils put a film on diamonds and cut down their brilliance. Clean diamonds glow, because the maximum amount of light can enter the stone and return in a fiery brilliance. it takes just a little care to keep them that way:

Do not wear diamond jewelry, especially rings, when doing rough work. Even though diamond is one of the hardest materials in nature, it can still be chipped by a sharp, sudden blow.

Chlorine can damage and discolor the mounting on your diamond jewelry. Keep your diamond away from chlorine bleach or other household chemicals. You should also remove your diamond jewelry before entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub.

Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewelry cleaner, a mix of ammonia and water, or a mild detergent. Dip the jewelry into the solution and use a soft brush to dislodge dust or dirt from under the setting.

Always thoroughly rinse and dry your jewelry after cleaning and before storage.

Avoid touching your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle clean jewelry by its edge.

Earring Stud Back Nuts

There are three main types of earring backs. The most common and cheapest one is the Friction back nut, it is usually used with the cheaper 10K and 14k gold earring studs, we do not use this type. The screw back is solid and safe but not too expensive and we use it in most solitaire studs. The Alfa back is the most secured and expensive one, used with high end Designer's earring studs. Of course you may loose any of them equally as they are very small.

International ring size conversion chart: