Not sure of the best non-destructible test besides SG. $900 is a bit excessive, maby supply your own Pt & add $200 labour - that's what I have paid in the past. I have & love platinum rings, tuff & durable. I wish I bought that ringface that day so do a good job with it. My white gold objects are Rhodium plated & they look "plated" in so much of a way. Pt looks tough while precious & is more practical. 14grams is a nice size
That is still exy. Avg Manufacturing Jeweller earns $20 per hour. Australia: http://www.moving-to-australia.info/information-on-salary-australia/ Australia (Michael Hill): http://www.payscale.com/research/AU/Employer=michael_hill_jewellers/Salary States: http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/331/Jeweler.html I can confirm about Michael Hill wages (In Brisbane). Even their casters were only getting about $25 per hour. Wallace Bishop is no better. Avg Independent is slightly above award wage. Quick file, sand, pickle, anneal and solder. Quick sand & polish. Most Jewellers do not alloy. They buy alloyed metals direct from JM, Ainslie, AJS, HOJ, et cetera.
$200 normally covers melt & alloy, labour & assay. That's fair I think, & I loose a little metal to shave n file. That's for a correctly sized original piece of art. Well worth it.
