Custom Diamond and Platinum Engagement Rings
History
The perception of luxury today has
become identified with platinum in the promotion of goods
and services in any number of categories. Consider these examples:
The American Express platinum card and dozens of other platinum
status credit cards; leading luxury vehicles are now touting
platinum models; platinum records of the hottest music; furniture,
fine china, and stemware as well as fabrics are being designed
with the color of platinum. Platinum is the symbol of quality
and understated elegance used as the ultimate expression in
weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. Fine Platinum Jewelry
is no exception. We all want the finest to convey our deepest
emotions, to bring joy, to last forever. For its beauty and
value - more precious, more lasting, more lustrous, more understated
and more elegant, platinum is undeniably the ultimate and
RARE white metal (that can be made into jewelry). Mother Nature
makes platinum pure white. Never bleached or dyed, platinum
never tarnishes or discolors - compared to white gold which
is really yellow gold plus other white ingredients - white
gold will not be white forever. The majority of Platinum is
found in the Russian Federations, South Africa and Canada.
Platinum has a rich and noble history, first used by the ancient
Egyptians over three thousand years ago. The Spanish encountered
the South American Incas working with platinum nearly 800
years ago, although not for jewelry. The first platinum jewelry
in Europe for louis XVI of France appeared around the year
1780. Surprisingly, platinum has been around for thousands
of years but only used to fashion jewelry for less than 300
years - It is both an ancient and a young metal.
Platinum Facts
Platinum is among the finest, purest and rarest precious metals
on earth, and has an understated elegance that appeals to
both men and women.
- Platinum
is strong.
Platinum, one of the strongest and most enduring metals
in the world, is also one of the heaviest: it weighs 60%
more than karat gold. It is ideal for jewelry worn every
day because it exhibits little material loss, even after
prolonged wear.
- Platinum is pure.
In the U.S., platinum jewelry generally contains 90% or
95% pure platinum. By comparison, 18 karat gold is 75% pure
gold and 14 karat gold is 58% pure gold. Platinum is hypoallergenic
and resists tarnish.
- Platinum is rare.
To produce a single ounce of platinum, a total of 10 tons
of ore must be mined. In comparison, only three tons of
ore are required to produce one ounce of gold. Rarity lends
platinum its cachet.
- Platinum is lustrous.
Platinum's rich, white luster perfectly complements diamonds
and other precious gems. Its neutral color enhances a stone's
brilliance and depth.
- Platinum is fashionable.
Platinum jewelry appeals to many people today because of
its subtle beauty and elegant understatement. Many platinum
jewelry designs are accented with 18 karat gold, creating
a sophisticated, versatile and fashionable look.
About
Platinum Jewelry
Many jewelry designers and manufacturers
feel that platinum is best suited for both diamond and colored
stone jewelry because of its strength and durability. Platinum
prongs show little wear, and thus offer precious stones greater
protection.
Platinum is also one of the most enduring jewelry metals.
That's why the world's most famous diamonds, like the Hope,
Jonker Diamond Number One, and the Koh-i-Noor, are all secured
by platinum settings. Faberg, the famed nineteenth century
Russian jeweler, prized platinum, as did Louis Cartier of
Paris and many of the great jewelers throughout history.
Choosing a stone is only part of the jewelry-buying process.
Its setting is just as important, and platinum jewelry offers
unusual strength and durability. Fine platinum jewelry endures.
Classic design outlives the whims of fashion and retains its
character forever.
Platinum
& Weddings... The Perfect Marriage
As platinum's pure white luster, strength
and durability are recognized and admired, bridal couples
worldwide are rediscovering platinum as the metal of choice
for bridal jewelry.
A diamond and its setting should be forever. Because platinum
is superior to other metals in strength and durability, it
offers a diamond greater protection. The breathtaking radiance
of a diamond fused with the timeless elegance of platinum
creates a rare and enduring symbol of lifelong love.
Buying
Platinum Jewelry
Whether you are choosing a ring, pin,
bracelet, necklace or bridal jewelry, new and sophisticated
designs have created a wide range of platinum jewelry. Many
current platinum designs feature 18-karat gold accents. This
combination of metals enhances the unique qualities of each.
In the U.S., platinum jewelry usually contains 90% or 95%
pure platinum. If a piece of platinum jewelry is marked "iridplat,"
then it generally contains 90% platinum and 10% iridium, a
platinum group metal. If it is marked "plat," then it is at
least 95% platinum and another platinum group metal, most
likely ruthenium.
Owning a piece of platinum jewelry is a distinct pleasure.
You can feel and see the difference; platinum is heavier and
denser than other metals and it has an elegant, rich white
luster. Buying platinum jewelry is a wise investment. Platinum
is one of the rarest, purest and most enduring metals available.
An experienced jeweler can assist you in selecting platinum
jewelry that will bring pleasure to you and the recipient
for years to come.
Your
Questions About Platinum Jewelry
- Why
is platinum's purity important to me?
Platinum is hypoallergenic, resists tarnish, is one of the
strongest precious metals in the world and is extremely
durable.
- Is platinum the same as
white gold?
No, it is quite different. During World War II, the U.S.
government prohibited platinum's use in all non-military
applications, including jewelry. Because of strong consumer
preference for platinum's pure white luster, white gold
was substituted in platinum's absence. To create white gold,
yellow gold is alloyed with nickel and zinc (and small amounts
of copper and silver), thereby achieving a white metal look.
Platinum has purity, strength, rarity, durability, and a
natural rich, white color.
- How should I care for and
clean my platinum jewelry?
Platinum jewelry should be cleaned the same way you clean
other fine jewelry. Use a good pre-packaged jewelry cleaner
available from your local jeweler or have it professionally
cleaned by your jeweler. As with all precious jewelry, store
with care, not allowing pieces to touch or scratch each
other.
- Will platinum scratch?
Signs of wear, including scratches, will inevitably appear
in all precious metals, even with platinum. Due to platinum's
amazing durability and strength, however, there is little
or no material loss when it is scratched.
- Is platinum fashionable?
How will it coordinate with my gold jewelry?
Yes, platinum is VERY fashionable! It is fashionable to
wear platinum jewelry with your other fine gold jewelry.
Platinum jewelry often contains karat gold design accents,
just as karat gold jewelry is sometimes accented with platinum.
Platinum's white color beautifully contrasts with yellow
gold and adds versatility to your existing jewelry wardrobe.
Is platinum a good value? Yes! Platinum is an excellent
value because of its inherent qualities: its purity, its
strength, its durability and its rarity.
When you purchase platinum jewelry, you are buying jewelry
that is almost 100% pure. In the U.S., platinum jewelry
is generally 90% or 95% pure platinum, with 5% or 10% alloy
of a platinum group metal. By comparison,18 karat gold is
75% pure gold and 14 karat gold is 58% pure gold.
No other precious metal is as pure or bears all the qualities
of platinum. Worn over a lifetime and passed on to future
generations, platinum is the jewelry metal of choice.
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