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| Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? https://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22491 |
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| Author: | bozman52 [ Sun Sep 05, 2010 11:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
I've used Cape Cod's on stainless, but I'm wondering if anyone has used them to polish platinum. If a Cape Cod is the wrong choice, I'd like to know what others have used to polish platinum. I have a very, very light polishing job to do, so I want something that's extremely gentle. Thanks in advance. -Craig |
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| Author: | RJRJRJ [ Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
I wouldnt see why not. The package says "for fine metals" and lists gold on there. Platinum is much harder than gold and has tremendous chemical and corrosive resistance, so I cant imagine that anything bad could happen. |
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| Author: | bozman52 [ Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
RJRJRJ wrote: I wouldnt see why not. The package says "for fine metals" and lists gold on there. Platinum is much harder than gold and has tremendous chemical and corrosive resistance, so I cant imagine that anything bad could happen. I was thinking the same thing, but felt it may behoove me to check on here before I took the plunge. Thanks for the input. -Craig |
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| Author: | mfserge [ Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
RJRJRJ wrote: I wouldnt see why not. The package says "for fine metals" and lists gold on there. Platinum is much harder than gold and has tremendous chemical and corrosive resistance, so I cant imagine that anything bad could happen. This is not entirely true. Platinum is a softer metal than Gold BUT Platinum is much stronger and holds up much better to wear. I wouldn't use a cape code cloth on platinum until I confirmed it is 1000% safe by asking either a jeweler or the manufacturer. Platinum is too expensive to be screwing around with. |
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
mfserge wrote: Platinum is a softer metal than Gold On what scale? Vickers (annealed metal): Platinum 41 Gold 22 Moh's: Platinum 4 - 4.5 Gold 2.5 - 3 Higher is harder in both cases. |
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| Author: | mfserge [ Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
Yes, in pure form extracted directly from the earth, platinum is harder than Gold... BUT gold is mixed with other alloys to be used in jewelry which increases it's hardness resulting in making it harder than platinum. Platinum in stronger and heavier than gold but in jewelry Platinum is softer than gold since platinum is used virtually entirely pure without the need to mix it with other metal alloys. Roffensian wrote: mfserge wrote: Platinum is a softer metal than Gold On what scale? Vickers (annealed metal): Platinum 41 Gold 22 Moh's: Platinum 4 - 4.5 Gold 2.5 - 3 Higher is harder in both cases. |
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
mfserge wrote: Yes, in pure form extracted directly from the earth, platinum is harder than Gold... BUT gold is mixed with other alloys to be used in jewelry which increases it's hardness resulting in making it harder than platinum. Platinum in stronger and heavier than gold but in jewelry Platinum is softer than gold since platinum is used virtually entirely pure without the need to mix it with other metal alloys. That's true if Platinum is mixed with iridium, there the vickers rating is only 80, but it's not true in watches where platinum is mixed with ruthenium (95% platinum by weight) which has a vickers rating of 135. 18k gold generally has a vickers rating of 125 (regardless of colour) - it can be increased to greater than 200, but not for practical applications. |
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| Author: | mfserge [ Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
Based on the sole watch in his signature I didn't know if he was referring to a watch or his platinum jewelry. |
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 5:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
mfserge wrote: Based on the sole watch in his signature I didn't know if he was referring to a watch or his platinum jewelry. That comment doesn't make sense either, but the science clearly isn't going to make any dents in your position. For the record 950 platinum with iridium is very, very, very rare in jewellery - it's great for stone setting, but lousy for the consumer because it ages extremely badly - very easily scratched, very easily deformed. 900 platinum with iridium is more common - still a compromise relative to 950 ruthenium or 950 cobalt, and less popular with consumers who consider 950 to be 'better' (which isn't necessarily true as it is measured by weight not volume), but if you were thinking of 900 platinum with iridium in his question, then we are back to the flaw in the vickers hardness argument as it is comparable with gold. |
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| Author: | Iantheklutz [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
As a small side question, how does Cape Cod actually work? I assume there are just very small abrasive stones suspended in some petroleum based solvent that is then used to soak a cloth. Is there some other mechanism (chemical?) Does anyone know what said stones would be made of? I've been tempted to put a bit under the microscope to get a better look... |
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
Iantheklutz wrote: As a small side question, how does Cape Cod actually work? I assume there are just very small abrasive stones suspended in some petroleum based solvent that is then used to soak a cloth. Is there some other mechanism (chemical?) Does anyone know what said stones would be made of? I've been tempted to put a bit under the microscope to get a better look... They claim that it is a proprietary polish formulation - I don't know more than that. |
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| Author: | bozman52 [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
mfserge wrote: Based on the sole watch in his signature I didn't know if he was referring to a watch or his platinum jewelry. My B01 is definitely not at the root of my question. Technically, I'm inquiring about a ring. However, I figured my question would be relevant for anyone with a platinum watch. The inside of the ring says "PT950." I'm hoping it's something other than the fragile stuff Roff alluded to . . . -Craig |
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| Author: | mfserge [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
Roffensian wrote: That comment doesn't make sense either, but the science clearly isn't going to make any dents in your position. My position is simple and accurate...platinum is softer than gold.. Obviously we're talking about the jewelry form Of the metals since I doubt anyone here is extracting precious metals from the earth so your vickers and mohls scales are pointless and useless. |
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
mfserge wrote: Roffensian wrote: That comment doesn't make sense either, but the science clearly isn't going to make any dents in your position. My position is simple and accurate...platinum is softer than gold.. Obviously we're talking about the jewelry form Of the metals since I doubt anyone here is extracting precious metals from the earth so your vickers and mohls scales are pointless and useless. Vickers is a scale of hardness used for (among other things) jewellery metals - pointless, useless, and backed by science - inconvenient for you perhaps, but I can't help that. @bozman52 - the problem with PT950 is that it doesn't really tell you very much. That means 95% platinum by weight (generally less by volume), but it doesn't tell you what the other parts are (and there's no easy way to tell without destroying the ring). If it's mixed with iridium then I would be amazed, more likely it is ruthenium or cobalt. Cobalt is generally only used when the ring is cast from a molten metal, and ruthenium is the more likely alloy. Ruthenium will give you about 90% platinum by volume and will provide a long lasting ring. It will be fine with cape cods, although it is a softer metal than SS so you should be gentle and less frequent with it's use. |
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| Author: | bozman52 [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can a Cape Cod cloth polish platinum? |
Roff, as always, thanks for the insight. I guess you're not a one trick watch pony after all. I didn't realize you were so well versed in metallurgy. -Craig |
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