| Platinum Jewelry |
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Intro
Platinum looks quite similar to silver and it was called platina, meaning ‘silver of little value’ in the early years of its discovery. It was believed to be discovered in South Africa. Platinum has various unique features. It is a very dense metal and hence resists tarnishing. It has very small measures of alloy in it and hence is hypoallergenic. Most platinum used in jewelry in mined in Russia and a large percentage of platinum is used in jewelry making. It also has various other uses in the medical industry and the automotive industry.
Platinum family consists of some other metals namely palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. These six metals are used along with platinum to make jewelry. These metals are mixed together with pure platinum to make stunning designs and long lasting jewelry pieces. Silvery soft metal ‘palladium’ is often alloyed with yellow gold to produce white gold. ‘Rhodium’, another white metal is used as a plating finish for platinum jewelry and ‘ruthenium’, a grayish metal with a high resistance to wear and is alloyed for various pieces of jewelry.
Special characteristics of platinum
Platinum is a rare precious metal used to create fine jewelry. Durability and sturdiness make platinum a metal that is desirable for constant use. Platinum also has benefits of holding fine gemstones firmly in place and makes the jewelry long lasting. Platinum can be used with gold for bringing up a rich color variation and good with diamonds as its natural white luster provides a rich backdrop for diamonds. Platinum is just as elegant when made alone to create a piece of jewelry.
There are some myths about platinum that it is difficult to work with but the reality is that anyone with a little experience can learn to work in platinum, while it is true that working in platinum require extra time in the finishing process. Another misconception is that platinum jewelry must be plated with rhodium normally while platinum by itself is white enough so rhodium plating is not necessary.
Platinum compared to gold
Platinum is more workable than gold and as such lends itself to a variety of design options compared to other precious metals. Platinum is stronger, wears better and durable and requires less service. Most platinum jewelry is 95% pure and it does not cause allergic reactions. Its purity makes it the perfect jewelry option for people with sensitive skin. Platinum is rarely mixed with other alloys to create jewelry and is more pure than gold. People who suffer from allergic reactions with gold jewelry can wear platinum with ease. It is also important to keep in mind that platinum costs more than gold or white gold, but it will be more durable and long lasting even if you buy an everyday wear. In addition, platinum will not oxidize or change color over time like gold.
Buying & caring for platinum
When shopping for platinum jewelry, it is important to know how much platinum is in the particular piece. The amount of pure platinum in any piece of jewelry per thousand parts implies the amount of platinum content. The jewelry piece that has 950 parts per thousand of pure platinum is labeled as platinum. Platinum is a good choice for buying, as it is very strong and long lasting. Platinum is an excellent setting for diamonds and other precious stones. Also, platinum is more pure than any other precious metal like gold and it is hypoallergenic. Platinum jewelry should be kept in separate jewelry box away from other metals. Platinum can be maintained in the same way as gold and can be cleaned with a soft brush to get off any dirt. It is better to avoid wearing jewelry during manual work as this may damage the precious ones. It also has long lasting qualities and keeps up its luster longer making it a good option for buying. |
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