More About Platinum, Some Interesting Facts

• Melting Point: 1774 degrees C & 3225 degrees F
• Specific Gravity: 21.4
• Hardness: 4-4.5

Platinum was discovered by the Spanish explorers in Columbia, South America in 1538.

Originally Platinum was called platina, because it looked much like silver that was called Plata. After it was first discovered, it was used for pots and pans. As a jewelry metal, it didn’t gain popularity until the early 1900s. During World War II, the U.S. government banned the use of platinum in jewelry making, and white gold was used instead.

Platinum’s popularity is based on several of its attributes. Platinum is a very dense white metal that resists and doesn’t require flux when it is soldered. Flux is a substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed. These metals can also be cast, another good reason why Platinum is a metal of choice for jewelry makers. Platinum contains only about 10% of other metal (alloy). That makes it basically hypoallergenic, except for the very few people who are extraordinarily allergic.

There are six metals in the Platinum “family,” platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. Most platinum used in jewelry comes from mines in Russia. Much like with diamonds, a cartel closely monitors how much is mined and made available on the open market. This is much like what De Beers does with controlling diamond output. Much of the available platinum is used in jewelry making, but it also has uses in other industries, such as the medical and automotive industries.

If owning a piece, or more, of jewelry in this precious metal, visit the store and one of our sales people will be happy to show you several items from which to choose.