Platinum

General Information 

Platinum is the most valued of precious metals; its value normally exceeds that of gold. It has a beautiful silver-white colour, and does not tarnish (as does silver). It is unaffected by common household chemicals and, unlike gold, does not get damaged or discoloured by chlorine, bleach, or detergents. It is
tougher than all precious jewellery metals, but still must be alloyed with stronger metals to prevent it from
bending. Natural platinum contains small amounts of the rare element iridium. In jewellery, iridium is
alloyed with the platinum to increase its toughness and durability. Gold is often mixed with platinum,
giving it a light yellow hue.

USES
Platinum is the rarest and most expensive of the precious metals. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewellery figures are fashioned from platinum. It is usually the base metal for colourless or light blue gems. Platinum jewellery is rare and exotic, and is the fastest growing jewellery material in the world.

SIMILAR METALS
The few metals that achieve the bright metallic-white colour and lustre of platinum are softer, lighter in weight, and tarnish. Thus, platinum is easily distinguished.

Where mined

Platinum is extremely rare. There are few occurrences. The Ural Mountains in Russia have produced many pea sized nuggets and occasionally larger ones in placer deposits. The worlds largest deposit of Platinum is Meresnsky Reef, South Africa.
In the U.S. Platinum has been found in Trinity Co., California, and small amounts occur in Rutherford and
Burke Counties, North Carolina. Another U.S. locality is Cape Blanco, Curry Co., Oregon. Canada is a large producer of Platinum. The most notably of Canadian deposits is Beauce Co., Quebec. Platinum is also significantly mined in Alaska and Colombia.

Platinum is not a birthstone metal.

Anniversary Gift for Platinum

Platinum jewellery is the anniversary gift for the 20th year of marriage.

Lore

The perfect jewellery material for these understated times, platinum is regarded by many as a "new" metal. In actuality, platinum, one of the rarest and purest precious metals in the world, was discovered long before the concept of "modern" came into vogue.

Dating back to 700 BC, when the ancient Egyptians mastered the techniques of processing platinum, to 100 BC, when the Indians in Pre-Columbian South America combined it with gold, platinum has played an important role in the
culture of human existence. Though widely utilized since then, the true worth of platinum was relatively under appreciated until the mid-eighteenth century, when Europeans began to hold it in high esteem. Premier jewellers like Cartier and Tiffany owe much of their fame and importance to this period. The "Art Nouveau" jewellery that emerged from the fortuitous pairing of platinum and
diamonds has indeed transcended the years. During the first 40 years of this century, Platinum was the preferred metal for wedding and engagement rings, and was almost always used to enhance the beauty of diamonds and other gemstones.

Then, just prior to World War II, Platinum was declared a strategic material and its use in most non-military applications, including jewellery, was prohibited. During this time, White gold was developed as a replacement. Out of sight out of mind, and Platinum never quite regained its old position after it was released from its embargo.