4th July 2022 - Customer location: Maylands, WA

I just finished a set of three 950 Platinum rings for a couple in Western Australia. It was also decided that given we were doing this all remotely that the eternity ring would be made at the same time.

Doing so would also allow me to fit her three rings together perfectly whilst I had the engagement ring back for a checkup.

Above is her bridal set of rings stacked together. I created the engagement ring back in 2020. During the design process I sent drafts of all the new rings over to her and her partner in WA.

Those drafts allowed us to get the designs just right and to also discover that for her to be able to wear all three rings at the same time comfortably, they needed to be half a size bigger than the engagement ring was made.

This happens quite often and is something I check with bridal sets. Three rings worn together on the same finger = one wider ring

Article: Different width = different finger size

One of the benefits of Platinum just got greater

The beauty of a 950 Platinum alloy is that unlike white gold it is a naturally white precious metal. White gold is generally a grey-white colour and to enhance that colour it is standard in the industry to rhodium plate it which generally for rings lasts between 1 to 2 years before the need to re-plate.

Rhodium is one of the Platinum group of metals, the others being platinum, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. Due to Rhodiums use in the automotive industry and other global issues the price of rhodium plating solutions has increased by 350% in 2 years. That little 250ml bottle is $3746 once you add on the GST.

I have not reviewed my rhodium plating charge for well over 2 years but will have to do so shortly. I only repair/service jewellery I have made so I do not rhodium plate as much as a jewellery repair workshop would. The annual costs of the solution must be astronomical now. Interesting times!

Article: August 2013 blog post about repairs.

With the high cost of Rhodium there are some other plating options for white gold such as plating with Platinum and that may be something I look into in the near future if Rhodium solutions stay at that price or go higher.