| What
is the difference between Platinum and white gold? |
| Platinum is naturally white whereas
white gold is artificially coloured by adding other metals
and is also frequently rhodium plated. The plating can
wear off, however, and the colour underneath is often
not as white as that of platinum. |
| Why
is a platinum ring more expensive than one in white gold? |
- Platinum is so rare that the price of the raw metal
is invariably higher that gold
- Platinum jewellery is most often 95% pure compared
to only 75% for 18 carat gold
- Platinum is denser than gold and weighs half as
much again as 18 carat gold
- Platinum requires a higher level of craftmanship
and requires great skill to work it
|
| How
do I know that a piece of jewellery is platinum and not
white gold? |
| All platinum jewellery must have
a hallmark applied by the assay office and this is your
guarantee that the jewellery is platinum. Look for the
following marks:
 Jewellery
is 85% pure platinum
 Jewellery
is 90% pure platinum
 Jewellery
is 95% pure platinum
 Jewellery
is 99.9% pure platinum
 Most
platinum jewellery is 95% pure and may also bear this
quality symbol.
|
| Is
platinum OK for sensitive skin? |
| Platinum jewellery is non-allergenic,
comaptible with all skin types |
| Can
platinum be scratched? |
Over time platinum develops a natural
patina, which many people find just as attractive as a
polished finished, but this does not represent any material
loss and platinum rings will not thin with age. It is
still important to care for platinum jewellery however.
- Remove it when doing manual work
- Clean it from time to time using a soft brush in
soapy water
- Dry using soft, clean, non-abrasive cloth
- Gently rub to maximise the shine
- Never use abrasive cleaners
- Store carefully in a safe place, seperate from other
items
If a polished finish is preferred your jeweller should
be able to offer an inexpensive re-polishing service.
|
| How
does platinum jewellery wear when combined with yellow
gold? |
| Extremely well, but signs of wear
can sometimes appear on the gold because platinum is tougher.
If you intend to do this it is worth considering choosing
a design combining gold and platinum, with the gold in
the part that will be in contact with your other ring. |
| Is
platinum jewellery easy to repair? |
| If looked after properly it should
not need to be repaired. Rings made in the 1920's are
still being worn today. Sometimes, however, a ring might
need to be sized, or maybe an accident has bent one of
the claws. Platinum must be repaired by an expert so you
should take it back to your jeweller who can arrange to
have it skillfully and promptly repaired. |
| Is
platinum a new metal for jewellery? |
Platinum was used for decoration
by both the ancient Egyptians and Inca civilisations and
in modern times was the first material capable of holding
diamonds in a delicate framework. This led to the creation
of the beautiful art deco pieces of the 1920's that can
be seen in museums today.
Until it was declared vital to the war effort in the 1940's,
nearly all engagement rings were made from platinum. It
is only in the last few years, however, that it has begun
to enjoy a renaissance as people have again begun to appreciate
its subtle look and refined feel. |
| Will
platinum go out of fashion? |
| Classic design and quality never
goes out of fashion. Neither will platinum. |
| Is
platinum good value? |
| Platinum represents excellent value
for money. The price may be higher than similar items
in gold but platinum is pure, rare, enduring, beautiful,
luxurious, classic, and the perfect host for diamonds,
precious qualities that make it worth paying that little
bit extra for. |
