Article by Mark Etinger
We all like the sound of the word “pure.” Indeed, the word has a fine sound to it. Pure has many positive connotations and when something is “pure” it must be better! Well, not always and especially with metal jewelry.
We all like the sound of 24 karat gold. But really, who wears a 24k gold ring nowadays? Nobody, at least not on a daily basis. Pure metal is softer and less resistant to scratches and dents. Truth is that most metals used for jewelry making are mixed with other alloys. This is done in order to strengthen soft metals, lower the metal’s melting point, change the color of the metal, and make metals more affordable.
Same goes with platinum jewelry. In the past, most platinum jewelry had to be somewhere around 85% pure platinum in order to be actually called platinum by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
However, we all know how popular platinum has become. It’s a favorite now for wedding bands and engagement rings and a status symbol for music industry celebrities. Really! Did you take a look at Beyonce’s hand lately? But pure platinum is also very expensive. Lots of jewelry lovers want it but few can afford it. Luckily there is a current movement that is trying to change the current FTC platinum standards to include platinum jewelry made from 14 karat, or.585 platinum.
You might not know this, but many platinum manufacturers are able to create a platinum alloy that looks and feels just like 950 platinum. In fact, it’s even more durable and long lasting than 950 platinum. This means that consumers can enjoy the luxury of platinum for the price of gold. So why settle for anything less than the best metal out there?
But how can you differentiate the various types of platinum? Jewelries that are on the market can contain different percentages of pure platinum:
Jewelry that contains at least 950 parts per thousand of pure platinum may be marked or described as “Platinum.” Jewelry that is 85%, 90% or 95% pure platinum may be marked “Plat” or “Pt” but only if a number is used in front of the term to disclose the amount of pure platinum in the mix, such as “850 Plat” or “850 Pt”, or”950 Plat” or “950 Pt.” Jewelry that is at least 95% platinum group metals, with at least 50% pure platinum, may be marked as platinum as long as the numbers of each metal are disclosed. For example, “600 Pt. 350 Ir.” or 600 Plat. 350 Irid.” for 60% pure platinum and 35% iridium, and “550Pt. 350Pd. 50Ir.” or “550Plat. 350Pall. 50Irid.” for 55% pure platinum, 35% palladium and 5% iridium.
Best thing about any of these combinations is the fact that over time, they simply don’t wear away anywhere near as fast as white gold or other gold alloys. Platinum is not susceptible to problems like stress corrosion or stress cracking, platinum will not oxidize or change color over time like gold tends to do, especially in jewelry that gets a lot of wear, like rings.
So if you are looking for that perfect platinum engagement ring or unique platinum wedding band, visit www.eplatinumrings.com today!
www.EPlatinumRings.com is a perfect example of how shopping for platinum rings online is financially sound and a lot more convenient. We cut out the middleman in order to give you the lowest prices possible.
About the Author
Mark Etinger is a business strategist at Ajax Union Marketing Ajax Union specializes in Business Development and Internet Marketing
