Platinum
Chemical symbol: Pt
Atomic number: 78
'Platinum' comes from the Spanish word platina, which means "little silver" - the first platinum discovered was discovered in the sixteenth century when panning for gold, and it was thought to be an impure nuisance!
Platinum has been found in artefacts from as far back as 700BC. 18th century scientists identified platinum as potentially useful, but found it difficult to use due to its high melting point and hardness. This changed in the 19th century, when technological advancements meant scientists were able to alloy platinum with other metals to make it malleable. Historically, major global sources of platinum have included Russia and Canada, but today most platinum comes from river beds in South Africa. Demand from Japan in the 1960s brought platinum to the forefront of the jewellery market, and since then it has been cherished for its purity, colour and prestige. Since the 1980s, platinum has also been identified as potentially useful in medicine, specifically in treating cancer and in pacemakers.
Platinum is a extremely rare element - it is said that if all the worlds platinum reserves were poured into an Olympic sized swimming pool, there would only be enough to cover your ankles. For comparison, all the world's gold reserves would fill three pools of equivalent size.
that is is ideal for use in jewellery"
Platinum properties and usage
Platinum is a really useful metal which is widely used in industry – most famously for catalytic converters in cars. This combination of high demand and great rarity means platinum is a relatively expensive metal and is the most expensive metal we sell.
Platinum is a favourite for use in jewellery because it resists wear and corrosion, and because it is hypo-allergenic. When scratched, the metal is displaced rather than lost, so the volume of metal remains the same. Platinum used in jewellery is an alloy and is mixed with other metals to refine its characteristics.
Platinum wedding rings
The most common platinum alloy in wedding rings is 950, which means the platinum has a purity of 95%. The composition of the remaining 5% varies depending on which supplier we use.
Click the link to browse our range of platinum wedding rings
How to care for platinum rings
Platinum will show some scratches over time but the metal is displaced - not lost - so the metal will not wear down. Take great care with your platinum wedding band and consider removing it when doing chores or when there's risk of it coming into contact with hard substances or harsh chemicals. As platinum ages, the small marks come together to form a patina that most people find pleasant. If you want to restore a ring to its original high polish or matt finish, ask the jeweller who made it to refinish it for you.
Platinum can be cleaned using a shop-bought jewellery cleaner or by soaking it in a warm and mild solution of soap and water. Gently rub the ring with a soft cloth to dry.
More information
For more information about the contents of the metal alloys we use, have a look at Liza's blog entry on our metal alloys.
Not sure where to start with choosing wedding rings? Have a look at our Buyer's Guide for Wedding Rings.
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