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Education Center -> Platinum Information |
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Platinum Information |
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Platinum, one of the world’s rarest precious metals, is known as a symbol of timeless
strength and everlasting beauty.
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Platinum’s history is rich and storied. First utilized by the ancient Egyptians, and
also saw usage by pre-Columbian Native Americans. European exposure to platinum came
from Panama, Mexico and Peru. In the 18th century, King Louis XV of France declared
platinum to be the only metal fit for a king. It became the metal of choice for the
most celebrated European jewelers, including Fabregé and Cartier.
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Platinum’s elegance and subtlety appeals to both men and women, making the metal the
ideal choice for weddings and unions. Platinum shows almost no signs of wear even
after many years, another reason that it is suited well to wedding rings that are
worn for a lifetime. Besides being rare, beautiful and strong, platinum is also one
of the heaviest metals. Platinum jewelry weighs typically 60 percent more than a
14-karat gold piece of similar proportions.
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Platinum’s rich white luster maintains its royal appeal on its own, and is also a
perfect complement for the shining beauty of diamonds, with platinum’s neutral colour
enhancing the diamond’s brilliance and depth.
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Jewelry labeled ‘platinum’ must be at least 90% pure platinum. The platinum group of metals
also include palladium, iridium, osmium, rhodium and ruthenium. Of these, palladium has almost
the exact same qualities as platinum, but is less expensive to ore and produce.
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Platinum jewelry should be cared for in the same way as any other fine jewelry. Use a
good quality jewelry cleaner solution, or have it professionally cleaned by your local
jeweler. As with any precious metal, handle with care and avoid excessive rubbing or
scratching.
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