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Quality Assurance Benchmarks highlight workmanship of semi-finished and finished jewelry. Learn how to evaluate the quality of a platinum cobalt ring with no diamonds in the shank that was sized down using a laser welder.

Side view illustration of platinum solitaire ring
Side view illustration of platinum solitaire ring

Finger hole is round.

Finger size is accurate.

Sizing joint is not visible, and there are no pits or excess solder.

There are no tool marks, and the piece is brightly polished and finished.

Perspective view illustration of platinum solitaire ring

The sizing joint is not visible, and there are no pits or excess solder.

The quality and hallmark stamps are visible.

Shank’s shape and original dimensions were maintained.

There are no tool marks and the piece is brightly polished and finished.

Potential Problems and Engineering Features

Always protect gemstones when working with a laser welder.

Jeweler wrapping a platinum solitaire using masking tape

Wrapping gemstones in masking tape or another material that cannot be penetrated by the laser provides protection while sizing.

The energy emitted by a laser is intense. Misdirected or reflected energy beams can be harmful to the operator or break the gemstones.

How-to Video

Sizing Down a Platinum Cobalt Ring with no Diamonds Using a Laser Welder

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Tool and Topic Related Info

Consumers often ask to have the removed piece returned to them. In this case, the removed piece has a weight of 0.3 pennyweights.

Close-up view showing a platinum band with a piece removed from the ring shank in preparation for sizing it down

The piece is too small to be of any value to a consumer. A retailer factors the value of the scrap into the price for the service. Allowing the consumer to keep the piece would considerably increase the cost.

The piece removed during size reduction weighed 0.3 pennyweights. Twenty pennyweights equal one troy ounce.

Approximately 2.2 millimeters = 1 size

The current platinum market price is $1,686.00 per ounce. Based on current pricing, the value of the small piece of scrap is approximately $25.00.

Featured Quality Assurance Benchmarks

Sizing Up: Platinum Ruthenium

Sizing up a platinum ruthenium ring using a laser welder

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Sizing Up: Platinum Ruthenium

Sizing up a platinum ruthenium ring using a torch

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Determine Finger and Ring Size

Learn how to determine finger and ring sizes accurately

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Sizing Down: Platinum Cobalt

Sizing down a platinum cobalt ring using a torch

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