Questions And Answers!

by Nancy Plante May 25, 2022

As you can imagine, we get lots of questions from customers, about all things jewelry-related. 

Here are three common questions: 

First, why do the diamonds in your store always look more sparkly than my diamond ring?

Second, what is the difference between Platinum and White Gold?

And third -- this is a very popular topic! -- how can I stop my ring from spinning?

Read on to learn about these topics, and if you have questions of your own, please leave a comment and we will get back to you right away!

Q: The diamonds always look so sparkly here in the store! Why do they sparkle so much? Do you use special lighting? A:  Our diamonds ARE especially beautiful! That's because we love well-proportioned diamonds, and those have the most sparkle. That being said, diamonds are at their most sparkly when they are clean! Sparkle comes from light entering the diamond and being reflected back up to our eyes.  Of course, all of our diamond jewelry on display is perfectly clean, so therefore it is perfectly sparkly! You can ensure that your diamonds are sparkly, by cleaning them frequently. Diamonds tend to attract anything that is oily or greasy -- so as soon as you use hand lotion, cosmetics, or soap, or you are cooking or doing other activities, your diamonds are holding onto all of those substances.  When the surface of your diamond is coated, it cannot reflect light, so this dulls the diamond.   If you hold your diamond ring up to the light and look at the side of the diamond, it should look as clear as glass. If it looks dull or filmed, it needs to be cleaned. Of course, you can always stop in to Plante's for a quick, free cleaning and inspection of your jewelry! But you can also easily clean it at home.  You can use a jewelry cleaner made for gold and gemstone jewelry. Follow the instructions carefully; do not soak it overnight or anything drastic! Usually the cleaner includes a small brush, which you can use to poke the bristles around and under the diamonds.  You are aiming to clean the bottom as well as the top of the gemstones.  Then rinse and air dry. If you prefer, just make soapy water as if you were going to wash dishes, with a little liquid like Palmolive. Swish the jewelry and use a soft old toothbrush to poke in around the diamonds, rise and dry. You can do this as often as you want -- our newly engaged ladies do it every day! So as you can see, there's no need for special lighting  -- your diamonds can look beautiful and sparkly every day.

 

Q:   What is the difference between platinum and white gold?

 

A:  Platinum and gold are two entirely different metals. 

Platinum is a naturally occurring white metal. It is denser and heavier than gold. Platinum is used in an almost pure form in making jewelry.

Gold occurs in nature as a yellow metal.  In making jewelry, pure gold is too soft to be durable on its own. The gold is alloyed -- mixed with other metals -- to produce a harder, more durable gold. Some alloys, when mixed with the yellow gold, produce white gold.

You are probably familiar with the term 14 karat gold. This is a ratio of how much gold is present in the jewelry piece. Pure gold is 24 karat (24K). 14K gold means it contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. 18K gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts alloy.

White gold has a warmer tone than platinum. Most white gold jewelry is plated with rhodium to give it a dazzling white finish.  Rhodium is a rare metal -- the most expensive metal!   

With wear, the rhodium finish sometimes needs to be redone. For earrings and pendants, it lasts a very long time. For bracelets and rings, which receive more wear, the rhodium finish might need to be renewed once a year or more, depending on your preference.

Q:  My diamond ring spins and it drives me crazy.  But my knuckle is bigger than the rest of my finger. Is there anything that can be done to make it fit better?

A:  As it happens, Pierre is an expert on rings and fingers! (We call him The Lord of the Rings.) Pierre has 41 years of experience in fitting rings.  

Whether you have knuckles that are enlarged, or your fingers swell at different times, Pierre has a solution for you. He will start by measuring your finger at the knuckle and below the knuckle, where the ring will go. The difference in size will help him determine what the best solution is for you.  

The simplest solution is to install a ring guard. The ring guard is a small strip of metal which attaches to the shank of the ring, and can be adjusted by pressing it against your finger.  These guards are usually a temporary measure but can be replaced if they wear out.  Guards are useful if you need to wear a ring and cannot get it sized right away. 

Pierre can install a ring guard while you wait.

A second option to make your ring fit better, is to install sizing beads.  These are small beads of precious metal that are placed inside your ring to take up extra space.

Your ring will be sized larger so that with the beads inside, it will be able to pass over your knuckle. Once the ring is on, the beads will help to hold it in place without spinning.   

The third option for fitting your ring, is to have an internal spring installed. This is a U-shaped piece made of a specially alloyed 18K white gold. We choose this metal because it has tension, so after your ring has passed over your knuckle, the spring will hug your finger and keep the ring in place. 

The fourth option for fitting your ring is to install a special shank that opens and closes.  There are two types, and Pierre will advise you which is right for your finger.  If your wedding set needs this type of installation, we will often join the engagement and wedding rings, and install a single opening shank.

It's a shame to have a beautiful, meaningful ring that you can't wear. Come and see Pierre, the Lord of the Rings, to find out how he can help you wear your rings comfortably.

Do you have a jewelry question? Leave it in the comments, or call us for personal assistance.

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