Rebecca Moskal, Vice President鈥擬arketing, Platinum Guild International USA
Most couples have thought about their dream engagement ring and will likely know what they want when visiting their local jewelry store.
When shopping for an engagement ring, keep the metal in mind. Platinum is a good choice for its durability, providing a secure setting for a diamond or gemstone.
What is a platinum crown?
A platinum crown is an entirely platinum setting that sits on top of an engagement ring and secures the diamond or gemstone with its prongs.
Why choose to be crowned in platinum?
A platinum crown protects your diamond from loss or damage and reduces the ring鈥檚 cost of maintenance for life. Below are five reasons to consider choosing a platinum crown:
- It鈥檚 wear-resistant.听A platinum crown is听significantly more durable听than other precious metals. Platinum鈥檚 high density and superior wear resistance give a diamond or gemstone more substantial protection than its precious metal alternatives, which can become brittle and prone to cracking and breaking.
- It requires less maintenance.听A platinum crown requires听less maintenance over the lifetime of your engagement ring, which means a lower cost of ownership. In 10 years鈥� time, a platinum ring will cost approximately 2.5 times less than other white metals, considering the cost of repairing and replating required with wear.
- It鈥檚 the most secure setting for gemstones.听Platinum has no 鈥渕etal memory,鈥� meaning that when a platinum prong is bent to set a diamond or gemstone, the prong stays in its new place. Some metals have 鈥渕emory,鈥� so when a prong is bent to set a diamond, it tends to snap back to its original position, weakening the prongs over time. When subjected to blunt force or trauma through the course of wear, these prongs are more likely to crack or break, which may threaten a gemstone鈥檚 security.听听
- Patina: It鈥檚 platinum鈥檚 mark of authenticity. All precious metals scratch, but something very different happens when platinum scratches. When you bump, rub, or scratch platinum,听it doesn鈥檛 wear away. Over time, those scratches come together and reflect a satiny, matte finish (patina) on the surface of a ring. This patina is platinum鈥檚 mark of authenticity and assurance of its superior wear resistance.
- It鈥檚 naturally white.听Platinum crowns are naturally white, so they don鈥檛 need plating or replating and do not reflect color into gemstones.
Can you still be crowned in platinum, even if you prefer another metal color?
Yes! Platinum is the recommended metal for an engagement ring setting due to its ability to hold a gemstone most securely. However, if the overall look of yellow or rose gold is preferred, select a design that will accommodate a platinum crown for your ring. In fact, because of platinum鈥檚 durability and natural white color, platinum crowns are commonly affixed to gold engagement ring settings by fine jewelers.
When it comes to engagement rings,听ask your jeweler about a platinum crown!