What is platinum jewelry

In the early 7^th century B.C, the royal people of Egypt started using platinum in their ornaments. In that period gold was popular and platinum was not found that much. Platinum was the rarest metal to be available and able to be extracted very little amount from the soil in the earth. Value of the metal is based on their availability. Since Platinum is available in less quantity than the gold, it is considered as the more precious than gold, so the jewels made up of platinum is costlier than gold and silver ornaments.

Other qualities of stronger and purity also make platinum to supersede gold. Normally 85% pure platinum is enough to use for jewelry making across the countries. 95% pure platinum is used in USA and UK. It is dense and weighty by 68% compared to gold. This quality make platinum as long-lasting and not allow ruining.

Since platinum is very strong, when tiling the stones and diamonds in it, they are binding with it for a long period. To increase the strength and durability of platinum, other metals like copper, iridium, palladium, ruthenium and cobalt are mixed with it. This is similar to the alloying of copper with gold to make jewels. It is not possible to make ornaments using gold alone. Some amount of copper needs to be mixed, then only you will get the shape and will give a long life.

If the jeweler wants to make a jewel using platinum, he has to put the piece of raw platinum metal under the temperature of more or less 1769 degree Celsius. He has to be more skilled in this and need to put extra effort. But to melt gold, this high temperature is not required. This is one of the differences between making the jewelry using platinum and gold.

Gold may be allergic to some skin. People with sensitive skin can also use platinum because of its purity. Now the demand for Platinum jewels is increased because people prefer to buy and wear because it is considered as status symbol in the society. Since the demand increases, many jeweler involved in making new designs in platinum and in wedding rings, bangles, ear studs and chins made up of platinum start catching the important place.

In the modern world, Tiffany and Cartier introduced the platinum in the fashion jewelry during the 18^th century. After the World War II, platinum become the restricted material and many countries prohibit it and its usage was reduced. During 1960, in Japan, platinum slowly regain its popularity. Due to its white shining nature and purity, it becomes the symbol of asset, status and prestige of people. Then this spread into other countries as well and today it became a well accepted famous jewelry making metal.
Update Mar 2010 - For mens jewelry and other types of jewelry for the wedding you should read this article and it has some good information on contemporary mens jewelry.

How to identify the real platinum? Because of the costly like other things, many duplicate or bogus platinum materials are released by the fake specialists in this industry too. You can figure out whether the platinum is original or not by checking its weight and density. You may use the special instrument which is devised to find the fake coins. From the label on the jewelry also you get an idea; 950 platinum/plat label means the jewelry has 95% platinum.