Platinum - Superior to all the Precious Metals

Why choose platinum? Platinum is thought of as the superior of all the precious metals. Platinum is your metal of choice, when only the best will do.

Rarer than gold, stronger and more enduring - platinum is also the choice of jewelry designers for fine heirloom quality jewelry. There is a big difference between platinum and white gold. White gold does appear slightly yellowish as it loses its polish. Commerical white gold is commonly plated and will turn yellowish as the plating wears off.

Palladium white gold is a medium gray color. Platinum is always a cold light gray, and will retain its polish longer. While both metals are hard and will retain their strength and shape over time, platinum is very unlikely to crack or be brittle during any sizing operations. Also, platinum does not wear down as gold does, so, over the course of a lifetime, it will remain virtually the same weight and size. It is much better to set stones in platinum for that reason.

Platinum History

During the first 40 years of the twentieth century, platinum was the preferred metal for wedding and engagement rings and was almost always used to enhance the beauty of diamonds and other gemstones. However, for the duration of World War II, platinum was declared a strategic material and its use in most non-military applications was prohibited.

Platinum Statistics

1. Due to the unusual characteristics of this metal, a platinumsmith must have a different set of tools than a goldsmith. For instance, platinum melts at 3225 degrees fahrenheit, compared to fine gold which melts at 1945.
2. Platinum is more scarce than gold - The annual supply of platinum is only about 130 tons - which is only 6% (by weight) of the total Western World's annual mine production of gold.
3. Approximately 10 tons of ore must be mined to produce one ounce of pure platinum. Furthermore, the total extraction process takes six months.
4. All of the platinum ever mined throughout history would fill a room of less than 25 by 25 by 25 feet.
5. Platinum is heavier than gold, 11% more dense. One cubic foot weighs around 1,330 pounds.
6. Platinum has many more industrial uses than either silver or gold. In fact more than 50% of the yearly production is consumed (read destroyed) by industrial uses.
7. Also unlike gold, there are no large inventories of above-ground platinum. Therefore, any breakdown in the two major supply sources would catapult the price into orbit

. Platinum Eternity Ring