Platinum Quality Can be Different in Every Jewelry
Platinum has become a popular choice for jewelry because of the strength, durability, and the platinum industry marketing efforts in recent years. Platinum is three times more expensive than gold. Jewelery market aggressively because they make three times the profit of each product they sell platinum compared to gold.
Platinum is a metal, lustrous natural white durable. Sometimes the claim strength and scratch resistance are overstated. Like all precious metals, platinum will scratch. An initial platinum different from white gold because it simply “plows” the metal, instead of removing them.
Traditionally, jewelry manufacturers used platinum alloyed with metals of the platinum group metals (iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium). With the right mix of platinum group alloys, platinum becomes one of the most difficult metal to make metal jewelry that is strong and durable. Platinum will not rust or corrode and platinum family metals make it hypoallergenic and ideal for people with sensitive skin.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for the country that only platinum jewelry items consisting of 950 parts per thousand pure platinum can be marked stamped “PLATINUM” or “PLAT” without more information alloys. From 750-950 Platinum, platinum group metals should also be indicated. For example, Iridium alloy PLAT900IRID to 10%. Historically, the most common alloys in America was 95% with Ruthenium Platinum 5% or 5% Cobalt and Platinum 90% to 10% Iridium.
There is a misconception that platinum is better than platinum 950 900. However, pure platinum alloy is very soft and mixture is right is what is important. different alloys and different percentages produce better results for different jewelry purposes. Some work better blend the mixture for casting and some better for handcrafting like bending the prongs over fragile diamond corners. Many artisans feel that PLAT900IRID is generally the best alloy for diamond rings.
While platinum is famous for its use in jewelry, more than 60% of platinum is used for industrial purposes, such as catalytic converters in autos and pacemakers in the medical field. Due to the scarcity and rapidly increasing demand for versatile metal, prices have soared in recent years.
The high price of platinum has led to several jewelry manufacturers to start using lower percentages of platinum and other metal alloys used to lower the cost of jewelry. Unfortunately, this new alloy mixture that reduces the quality that makes platinum very desirable. New alloys produce more brittle platinum that is more susceptible to damage.
For example, metal stamped 585 Platinum is really only 58.5% platinum and 41.5% pure copper and cobalt with results that are more likely to crack, crater, discolor or irritate sensitive skin. Less jewelry vendors carefully remove cap 585 and complicate the situation, so the consumer to believe the metal is traditionally a high-quality platinum.
Historically jewelry shoppers do not have to worry about the purity of platinum as a metal alloy in platinum group quality is uniform regardless of the particular alloy or percentage used.
jewelry shoppers today at potential risk because of low-quality platinum looks similar to platinum higher quality. While platinum looks similar regardless of the alloy, heavy alloy is a mixture of low quality is lower because there is so much less dense than platinum.
Currently there is no FTC guidelines for new platinum alloy that up to a jeweler or appraiser to help consumers determine if the platinum is suitable for use. Consumers deserve a warning if sold lower quality platinum because it may continue to rock as well and is more susceptible to damage. However, do not expect selling low quality platinum jewelry to indicate potential problems. As with any important purchase, it is up to consumers to be knowledge and ask the right questions before making a purchase.
