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A byword for luxury and longevity, platinum ranks among the most precious metals found in fine jewelry and the jewelry world. Its rarity and silvery-white brilliance have made it a luxurious metal that brings unique elegance and panache to every creation it graces. These exceptional qualities also explain its widespread use in crafting an engagement ring or a platinum wedding ring. Paired with a diamond, platinum fully embodies the promise of eternal love.
However, to be used in jewelry, platinum must be alloyed with other metals to increase its hardness. The malleability of the "king of precious metals" nonetheless allows it to be applied to a vast range of creations in many different jewelry forms. Its brilliant, luminous tone also showcases an exceptionally wide variety of precious and semi-precious stones, such as jade, labradorite, and opal.
The word "platinum" comes from the Spanish "platina", meaning "little silver," and was named in reference to its distinctively natural gray-white color. While platinum was already used in Ancient Egypt and pre-Columbian South America to craft adornments and jewelry, it was Spanish explorers who named the metal upon their discovery of Colombia in the 16th century. Despite its undeniable aesthetic qualities, the colonists regarded it as an impurity of silver and showed very little interest in it.
It wasn't until the 18th century that explorer and astronomer Antonio de Ulloa was officially credited with the discovery of platinum. Research into its properties followed, and French chemist Pierre-François Chabaneau became the first to demonstrate its ductility. Platinum's unique characteristics made it a strategic metal during World War II, when its use for non-military purposes - including in fine jewelry - was strictly prohibited. Today, platinum is used across numerous industries, and its rarity has made it a symbol of eternity, purity, and love. Platinum anniversaries, in fact, mark 70 years of wedding.
Platinum production comes primarily from mining operations. It is a non-renewable resource found in only a handful of locations worldwide. Most extraction takes place in South Africa, though Russia also holds significant production sources. Finally, some countries with more limited reserves participate in the global market despite smaller-scale operations, including Zimbabwe, Canada, and the United States.
Regardless of its origin, platinum's value today surpasses that of gold. This luminous metal remains far rarer than gold, and its purity and resistance to the test of time make it a particularly prized and highly sought-after material. While it is widely used in the jewelry industry, it is also employed in the automotive sector, electronics, chemistry, and the medical field.
Due to its rarity and timeless inalterable nature, platinum is considered the most precious of all metals. Platinum is a blend of five stable isotopes and one radioactive isotope. While its gray-white color is often compared to white gold, it is an even more luxurious metal. Furthermore, platinum exists primarily in its native state and belongs to the platinum group metals. It therefore has a face-centered cubic crystal structure.
This metal has a hardness of 3.5 on the Mohs scale and a density of 21.45. For reference, its melting point is 1768.2° and its boiling point is 3,825°. Platinum's properties make it an excellent catalyst and electrical conductor. Ductile and malleable, it also boasts unique chemical characteristics that make it an indispensable metal across many industries, including chemical manufacturing, photography, medicine, defense, and more.
Too malleable to be used in its pure form in fine jewelry, platinum must be alloyed with other metals such as palladium, titanium, copper, iridium, ruthenium, or rhodium. A piece is considered "pure" when the jewelry displays a purity of 950 or 900. The various creations then bear the following designations:
Choosing a piece considered "pure" in platinum guarantees you exceptional and enduring jewelry for an incomparable gift.
Hallmarks are very small symbols stamped on jewelry to certify their platinum content. Depending on the shape of the mark, it is straightforward to determine the percentage of pure metal that makes up the jewelry alloy:
Platinum is the most expensive precious metal on the market and, as such, the most luxurious. To understand this price difference, it's worth noting that platinum is approximately 40% denser than 18-karat gold - a significant contrast that partly explains the higher price of platinum jewelry.
However, other factors also contribute to platinum's luxurious status, including its rarity worldwide, its purity, and the specialized expertise and tools required to work with it in fine jewelry. In fact, platinum is thirty times rarer than gold and achieves a higher level of purity than gold ever could. Together, these factors make platinum an exceptional metal whose price is fully commensurate with its extraordinary and singular characteristics.
While platinum is considered the rarest metal, it is above all its magnificent natural white luster that has built its reputation over the years. The exceptional freshness and luminosity of this pure tone elegantly enhances the brilliance of diamonds and brings out the colorful radiance of many gemstones. Platinum also provides an excellent setting for gemstones, and its malleability opens up vast creative possibilities for artistic designs.
Known for its strength and longevity, platinum also offers excellent resistance to corrosion, oxidation, and extreme temperature changes. Whatever conditions it faces, platinum retains its natural brilliance over the years, making for a timeless and unique jewelry piece. These durability properties make it a metal of choice and a sound investment for jewelry worn daily, such as wedding rings or engagement rings. While a certain patina may develop over time and lend the piece a singular character, a simple polish at a jeweler's will restore its full brilliance and panache.
Furthermore, platinum is a perfectly hypoallergenic metal. It suits all skin types, making it an exceptional gift choice with the added assurance of avoiding any unpleasant allergic reaction.
Even though platinum doesn't tarnish, regular care of your platinum jewelry is still essential for a consistently radiant shine. Whether it's rings, necklaces, or bracelets, simply clean your pieces with warm water, soap, and a soft toothbrush. Using gentle, circular motions, your jewelry is quickly rid of impurities without scratching. Wipe with a soft cloth and buff with a chamois leather to restore a dazzling brilliance in just minutes.
It's important to note that platinum scratches more easily than gold in everyday wear. Jewelry should be stored separately to prevent unsightly surface scratches on platinum pieces. Should scratches appear despite proper care, a jeweler can easily polish the piece and make those minor imperfections disappear.
Wedding rings, chains, rings, bezels… Ocarat presents a wide selection of premium platinum jewelry to symbolize your union or simply give an exceptional creation that will stand the test of time like no other. This online jewelry store brings you the finest models from leading brands, offering a varied selection of exceptional quality. Whatever your desires or the occasion, you'll find the perfect platinum jewelry piece on Ocarat.
"The precious metals king," platinum stands apart with its exceptionally uniform, naturally white brilliance. Its rarity and high price point explain why a hallmark is always stamped on it to prove authenticity. Look closely at your jewelry for markings such as "Platinum," "PLAT," or "PT" paired with the numbers 950 or 999. If such a mark is visible, you're looking at a piece of pure platinum jewelry.
Particularly kind to sensitive and reactive skin, platinum is above all an enduring metal that never tarnishes over the years. Its wear resistance makes it possible to create timeless jewelry that will accompany you throughout your life with elegance and panache.
To properly clean your platinum jewelry, simply use a little warm water and soap. With a soft toothbrush, gently scrub the metal to remove all impurities. Then wipe it with a soft cloth and buff with a chamois leather if you have one.
If your platinum jewelry shows scratches or scuffs, you can contact a jeweler who can quickly polish the piece and restore its full brilliance. Storing it separately in a protected case is recommended to prevent this type of imperfection on your ring or bracelet.
Ocarat has curated the world's leading fine jewelry brands to bring you a premium selection of platinum jewelry. With a varied choice of wedding rings, bezels, chains, and rings, you can be confident of finding the exceptional jewelry piece that meets your every expectation in our online jewelry store. Discover the most beautiful platinum jewelry at the best prices through our prestigious selection.
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