Platinum Jewelry:
Platinum is pure, rare, eternal and
versatile. Platinum is a natural white metal and because it is generally
95% pure (18 karat gold is 75% pure),
platinum jewelry does not fade or tarnish
and will keep its look for a lifetime. Platinum's purity makes it hypoallergenic
and ideal for those with sensitive skin. Platinum is extremely rare, 35 times
rarer than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the platinum in the world
were poured into one Olympic swimming pool it would be scarcely deep enough to
cover your ankles!
Gold would fill more than three pools. Platinum is
eternal and platinum jewelry is the perfect choice for a lifetime of everyday
wear. Its density and weight make it more durable than other
jewelry metals.
Platinum does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly and securely. Like
all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, the scratch on a platinum
piece is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost.
You can feel the difference in a platinum ring. Platinum weighs 60% more than
14k gold. In addition to its strength and density, platinum is remarkably
pliable. Just one gram of platinum can be drawn to fine wire over one mile long.
Platinum also plays an important role in medicine. It is not affected by the
oxidizing reaction of blood, has excellent conductivity, and is compatible with
living tissue. Because of these properties,
platinum is used for pacemakers and
is a life-saving metal for many people. Platinum's rarity and uncommon
characteristics make it exclusive and distinctive.
Caring for
platinum: Remove your
platinum jewelry on when doing home cleaning, gardening
and other types of heavy work or manual labor. Don't handle bleach or harsh
chemicals when wearing
platinum jewelry. Although
they won't hurt the platinum, chemicals may discolor diamonds or gemstones.
Store pieces separately so they will not be scratched by other items of jewelry.
Clean your platinum jewelry the same way you clean other fine jewelry, using a
pre-packaged jewelry cleaner or by soaking it in a mild solution of soap and
warm water then gently rubbing it with a soft cloth. Take your
platinum piece to
a qualified jeweler for polishing if visible scratches appear. All precious
metals can scratch and platinum is no exception. However, the scratch on
platinum is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost.
Over time, platinum develops a natural patina that many people prefer over the
"just polished" appearance. When this happens, you can take your piece to a
qualified jeweler to have it re-polished to a high gloss look.
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