Platinum being one of the finest and rarest precious metals on earth, also has a very noble history. It was first used about three thousand years ago by the ancient Egyptians. Although it has been around for many centuries, the first platinum jewelry did not appear untill the late 1700's at the court of Louis XVI of France. Some of the world's most famous diamonds such as, the Hope Diamond, and Koh-i-Noor, are also mounted in secure platinum settings.

Today, platinum is becoming the more popular choice for engagement rings and wedding bands. In Japan, about 90% of all wedding bands and engagement rings sold are of platinum. More couples worldwide are beginning to recognize the beauty and elegance of platinum. The radiance of a diamond, and the durability and the rich white luster of platinum create the ultimate symbol of everlasting love.

Here are some characteristics of platinum that will help you understand why it is such a valued metal and why it is ideal for jewelry.

Platinum:

  • Is very rare and expensive, even more than gold. The major sources are South Africa, Canada, the U.S.S.R. and Colombia. To produce one ounce of platinum, 10 tons of ore must be mined, in comparison to producing one ounce of gold, which 3 tons of ore must be mined.
  • Does not tarnish, corrode or rust
  • In its pure state can be easily flattened, but not as easily as gold.
  • Has a hardness of 4 to 4.5 on Moh’s scale of hardness (about the same as iron), which makes it much more harder than gold and silver. Platinum is not easily scratched and when mixed with iridium, it becomes much harder which makes it more suitable for jewelry wear.
  • Has a rich white luster. It shines well and it enhances a stone's brilliance and depth.
  • Is very heavy compared to other metals. It is about twice as heavy as silver and 1.65 times heavier than 14K gold.

Platinum Purity

Their are five other metals that are part of the platinum family. Iridium, 5% to 15% is usually mixed with platinum to make it harder and more suitable for jewelry wear. Rhodium is used to plate white gold and platinum because it is harder and more reflective. Ruthenium is occasionally used to harden platinum. Palladium is inexpensive and lightweight, so it is occasionally used to reduce the cost and weight of platinum. Osmium is the hardest metal known, but it is rarely used in jewelry.

Platinum jewelry is identified by the marks PT, pt, plat, or platinum. But to be called platinum, the metal must consist of at least 85% platinum, and in most countries 90% to 95% is required.

When buying platinum jewelry always look for percentage markings such as:

PT 950 (95% platinum)
PT 900 (90% platinum)
PT 850 (85% platinum)
5% RUTH PT (5% ruthenium, 95% platinum)
5% IRID PT (5% iridium, 95% platinum)
10% IRID PT (10% iridium, 90% platinum)

Buying a piece of platinum jewelry is a wise investment. Platinum is one of the purest of all precious metals and the rarest. Platinum jewelry usually consists of 90% or 95% pure platinum, when 18K gold is only 75% pure gold and 14K gold is 58% gold. It is also heavier and more durable than other metals, which makes it perfect for jewelry wear.