Platinum Engagement Rings 101
When you decide to purchase a piece of jewelry for yourself or a loved one, you want to choose the best piece possible for your style and budget. You want it to be something that will symbolize a relationship that will endure. Many people now turn to Platinum engagement rings for this purpose. Platinum is one of the most popular metals for engagement rings and wedding bands today. Platinum has a natural white sheen that will never fade or change in color. It can accentuate the sparkle and brilliance of your diamond.
History of Platinum
Platinum is a metal that has a rich and deep-rooted history having been mined in Russia and South Africa. Platinum was first seen being used in decorative applications in ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. It adorned Egyptian coffins due to its strength and longevity. The South American Inca Indians also made use of platinum to decorate their artifacts, but over time it’s value diminished. It wasn’t until the 1800s that platinum began to reclaim its original status as a precious metal. Today, many couples regard platinum as the premier choice for the setting of fine diamonds and gemstones in their engagement rings and other meaningful jewelry.
Some Platinum Advantages
You may not realize this but Platinum is very rare. It is thirty times rarer than gold and four times stronger, which has made it synonymous with luxury and lifetime symbolism. It is very hard-wearing and resistant to damage and even has hypo-allergenic properties which are great for sensitive skin. So platinum engagement rings have multiple wins, but you still may be asking yourself what the difference between platinum and gold is. You can read more about that at Gold vs. Platinum for Wedding Rings.
The Purity of Platinum
When examining platinum you may notice a hallmark as a way of indicating its purity. You will most commonly see pure platinum marked with the letters ‘PLT’, ‘PLAT’, or ‘PLATINUM’. This indicates that the piece consists of at least 95% platinum. Sometimes other alloys are added (to reduce cost or for other reasons). Other alloys that may be added are copper or palladium. If this is the case, the hallmark will indicate the number of parts-per-thousand, such as ‘900PLAT’ (900 parts of platinum out of 1000).
Durability. Density.
Platinum is a very durable precious metal. The density of this metal makes it the most secure fitting available for your diamond or gemstones. And because platinum is a naturally white metal, re-plating your ring is unnecessary; it will always hold its luster and beauty. Platinum can, however, incur a scratch to its surface. This may develop a patina of wear, which is considered by some to be a unique and beautiful. It’s easy though to restore the pre-patina shine and reflective luster by buffing it with a soft cloth. It’s that easy!
How to Maintain Platinum
Here’s the beauty of owning platinum jewelry. It’s easy to maintain; all you have to do is be sure to clean it periodically. Use the same cleaning methods you might use to clean your gold – immerse it in a mild, non-abrasive jewelry clean and rub the surface gently with a soft cloth. You may want to have a jeweler clean it for you twice a year or so, to thoroughly clean its intricate services and to buff it to a nice shine. It can also be polished to really attract attention – this is up to you! If you don’t clean your rings regularly, your platinum will develop the patina finish we discussed earlier. Maybe that’s your cup of tea.
When you’re not wearing your platinum jewelry, you’ll want to store it in a cloth bag or lined jewelry box to keep it safe from bumping into other pieces.
At Gittelson Jewelers, we offer complimentary cleaning and polishing services for every piece of fine jewelry we sell. Contact us to learn more about how your favorite platinum jewelry can look new again.
In the end, Platinum will last forever, making it the ultimate symbol for true, enduring, and everlasting love.