Selecting platinum
These days platinum is becoming popular among individual when it comes for purchasing jewelry. As platinum is known for his strength, durability. On the other hand contrast to gold and silver platinum is more expensive as jewelers earn more profit on platinum jewelry. Platinum is a naturally white metal which last long compare to other metals. Platinum is a naturally white, lustrous metal that is long lasting. Sometimes the claims of strength and scratch resistance are showy. Like all precious metals, platinum will scratch. Therefore contrast to white gold platinum scratch is different because it simply “plows” the metal instead of removing it.
It has been found that usually jewelers use platinum alloyed with metals such as iridium, osmium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium. Therefore by proper mixing of these platinum groups “alloys, platinum becomes one of the hardest metals making it a strong and durable jewelry metal. Due to this platinum will not rust or corrode this is the reason why it is an ideal metal for individual who have sensitive skin.
According to federal trade commission rules platinum jewelry affirm that only items consisting of 950 part per thousand of pure platinum can be marked stamped PLATINUM without more alloy information. Though it is misperception that 950 platinum is better than 900 platinum. Though the fact is pure platinum is very soft and the right alloy mix is what is important. Therefore mixing of different alloys and different percentages produce better results for making different jewelry using platinum. Many jewelers say that PLAT900IRID is the best general-purpose alloy for manufacturing diamond rings.
Due to the increasing price of platinum most of the jewelers have started using lower percentages of platinum and to use other alloy metals to lower the cost of the jewelry. Unluckily, new alloy mixes are quality of platinum metal. The new alloys produce more brittle platinum that is more prone to scratch.
For instance metal which is stamped 585 Platinum usually is 58.5% pure platinum and 41.5% copper and cobalt with the result that it is more likely to crack, cave, fade or irritate sensitive skin. Less scrupulous jewelers remove the 585 stamp and complicate the situation, leading consumers to believe the metal is the traditional high quality platinum.
It has been found that today’s jeweler is at potential risk due to the use of lower quality platinum as it looks the same as the higher quality….Read More
http://www.cosmo411.com/blog/2012/01/23/selecting-platinum/