Platiunum Rings FAQ's
- Is it worth buying a platinum ring?
Choosing a platinum ring over a gold or a silver one depends on what you’re looking for. Like any material, this metal has advantages and disadvantages.
In the list of advantages, platinum’s durability and density stand out. Platinum is stronger and more durable than gold, although this also depends on the gold’s karats, with lower karats being less valuable but much stronger than pure gold. While platinum rings are not scratch-proof, they scratch differently than gold or silver and don’t wear away. Platinum will develop a patina over time but it can be easily polished. By comparison, white gold rings will require more expensive re-plating as the rhodium plating will wear off. Platinum rings are hypoallergenic, they don’t rust or tarnish, and they are easy to resize.
In terms of disadvantages, the price of platinum may make you think twice before choosing it over silver or tungsten. Since it is extremely rare, platinum is more expensive than other precious metals. The price of platinum rings is also affected by the metal’s density. Platinum is denser than gold, which means that jewelers need to use a larger quantity of platinum to make a ring. The difficulty of working with platinum also raises the manufacturing price. Finally, platinum doesn’t make a good investment, especially compared to gold, and it’s more difficult to re-sell as not all jewelers accept platinum jewelry.
- Do platinum rings tarnish?
No, platinum rings never tarnish. Over time, their polished surface will dull and will require re-polishing, but a platinum ring will not change color, rust, or tarnish.
- Is Platinum better than gold?
It depends on what matters to you when buying a ring. For example, platinum is stronger and more durable than gold, but it is also more expensive and harder to resell. While gold can be used as an investment, platinum is not seen as a universal investment metal.
Platinum is hypoallergenic, while gold may contain metals that cause allergic reactions, depending on its karats. For example, a 10k ring will contain 10 parts gold (41.7%) to 14 parts alloys, which makes the jewelry much stronger but less valuable than pure gold. By contrast, the majority of platinum rings are 90-95% platinum.
Because platinum is denser than gold, a platinum ring will feel heavier on the finger. Some people prefer a more solid ring, so this would count as an advantage, while others like a more lightweight option.
- Why platinum has no resale value?
Platinum is mostly used in industrial applications, with only a small percentage actually used in the jewelry industry. Unlike gold, which is a monetary metal and is used by central banks for their reserves, platinum is not a universal investment metal. It can be resold as coins, ingots, and bars, though its value only increases in times of stability and decreases in periods of instability – unlike gold.
However, that does not mean that platinum jewelry has no resale value. Just like other jewelry, it can be resold. Keep in mind that while you can resell gold in virtually any jewelry shop, not all jewelry shops accept platinum rings. Some jewelry stores can’t melt the platinum and the re-use options are limited.
- Is Platinum better than white gold?
Both platinum and white god have their pros and cons.
Platinum rings are more expensive but more valuable than white gold. They are also slightly more easier to scratch than the white gold’s rhodium plating, although platinum’s density means that scratches don’t remove metal from the surface, only displace it. Platinum rings will never require plating, but they will need a simple polishing treatment to recover the metal’s shine. By contrast, white gold rings will eventually require full re-plating with rhodium, as the surface metal will wear off and reveal the yellow color of gold.
Both platinum and the rhodium plating of white gold are hypoallergenic, although when the rhodium wears off, the white gold ring will lose its hypoallergenic properties.
Jewelers can resize platinum or white gold rings, but it is more difficult to adjust a platinum ring due to the metal’s high melting point. Keep in mind that not all jewelers are skilled enough to work with platinum, so if you need to resize a wedding band, choose someone you trust. In terms or re-sell value, although platinum jewelry is more expensive, it is harder to re-sell compared to gold as it can’t be easily melted and re-used.
- Can you shower with a platinum ring?
While water does not harm platinum and you won’t have to worry about rust or discoloration, it is better to take off any platinum jewelry while showering. Exposing the metal to hot water will dull its shine over time faster and your ring will require a new polishing treatment sooner.
- Does platinum turn your finger green?
No, a high-quality platinum will never turn your finger green. The skin turns green when a ring contains copper. Although some platinum rings do contain small amounts of other metals, including copper, the quantities are too small to cause a skin reaction. If a ring turns the finger green, it is often made from a lower quality material with a higher amount of alloys added to platinum.
- Why are platinum rings so expensive?
Platinum is expensive because it is extremely rare. This precious metal is also mainly used in industrial applications, which makes its use in the jewelry industry even more exclusive. Because platinum is dense – denser than gold or silver, for example – a platinum ring will also weigh more than other precious metals and have a higher selling price.
- What are the dangers of platinum?
Platinum as a solid metal is not dangerous and high-quality platinum jewelry is always safe to wear and hypoallergenic. However, platinum can be dangerous in a soluble salt or in a fine powder form. In a salt or powder form with short-term exposure, platinum may cause allergic reactions, skin and eye irritation, and asthma-like allergies. Long-term exposure to platinum salts may cause more severe damage, including skin allergies and respiratory problems.
- Does Platinum lose its shine?
Yes, platinum will lose its shine over time. Platinum rings develop a patina that makes the metal look slightly darker and antique. This vintage effect is actually preferred by many who choose platinum jewelry, but the patina can be easily removed by a jeweler who can restore the ring’s silvery white luster and shine.
- Can Platinum be worn everyday?
Yes, platinum jewelry can be worn everyday. This precious metal is durable and strong, but it will scratch and will develop a patina that can be polished to restore the metal’s shine. While platinum rings scratch, they don’t wear away and lose less weight over time compared to an 18k gold ring, for example.
- Does platinum hold its value?
Platinum does hold its value as it is a rare precious metal and only a small percentage of the mined metal is actually used in the jewelry industry. This makes platinum jewelry great as a family heirloom. However, platinum jewelry is harder to resell compared to gold or silver and even though it can be traded in ingots or bars, it’s not considered a standard investment metal.
- How long do platinum rings last?
A high-quality platinum ring should last for generations. Like all metals, platinum does scratch and it will also patina with age, but it will generally require less maintenance than silver or 18k gold. One major advantage of platinum rings is their density and hardness, which minimize the loss of metal layers through scratches over time. Any scratch merely displaces the metal instead of removing it, which means that platinum will lose less weight over time compared to gold.
- Which platinum is best?
A platinum ring with a purity of 90-95% percent is best. Luckily, this is also a common standard in the jewelry industry, as the rarity of platinum often translates into high-quality jewelry – if you’re buying from a reputable jeweler.
If you’re looking for the best, you should buy a 95% pure platinum ring that has other precious metals in its composition. The other 5% should be made up of metals like iridium, palladium, or rhodium.
- Why is my platinum ring turning yellow?
If your platinum ring is turning yellow, it may actually be white gold plated with rhodium and sold as platinum at a higher price. Platinum will never turn yellow – or discolor - even if it contains other metals.
- Why is platinum so special?
Platinum is one of the rarest metals metals in the world. Annually, only around 190 metric tons of platinum are mined worldwide, compared to 3,300 metric tons of gold. But platinum’s rarity is one among many other things that make this metal special.
Platinum is the heaviest among precious metals and it is more ductile but less malleable than gold. Since it is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation even at higher temperatures, it is considered a noble metal. Platinum is used in a wide range of industries, from automotive to medical. In jewelry, it provides superior durability compared to gold or silver, as it is denser and harder than these popular precious metals. A high-quality, high-purity platinum ring will last for generations, which means that it’s an ideal choice for heirloom jewelry.
- Is Platinum better than diamond?
Platinum and diamond are very different materials. Platinum is a precious metal and diamond is a solid form of pure carbon. In terms of hardness, diamond is the hardest natural material on Earth. On the Mohs scale, diamond has the maximum hardness of 10 while platinum has a rating of 3.5. In terms of price, platinum is cheaper than diamond. These two materials are also used in different ways in the jewelry industry, with diamond used for gemstone settings and platinum used to craft rings.
- What are the weaknesses of platinum?
Platinum scratches easier than a metal like tungsten carbide, for example. Platinum rings will also develop a patina over time. A simple polishing treatment will remove the darker color, although some people like the vintage-like appearance of an older platinum ring.
Although not an actual weakness but more of a disadvantage, the high price of platinum is also something to keep in mind when buying jewelry.
- Is Platinum good for your skin?
Platinum is hypoallergenic, but in its solid metal form it doesn’t have other health benefits. In recent years, platinum and diamonds have been used in the skincare industry. Some cosmetic chemists and skincare brands claim that creams with platinum can protect the skin from free radicals while also improving skin’s radiance.
- Can Platinum rust?
No, platinum never rusts or tarnishes as it is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation even at high temperatures.
- How do I choose a platinum ring?
First, make sure that you are buying platinum jewelry from a respected and experienced jeweler. Since this precious metal is so expensive, some shops sell white gold as platinum. Most people only find out that their platinum ring is fake when the rhodium plating wears off and reveals the yellow color of the gold underneath. Genuine platinum rings, especially those with a purity of 90-95% platinum, will always have a hallmark with a symbol, letters, or numbers.
Second, choose a design that best suits your style and preference. You will probably wear the platinum ring for a lifetime, so it is best to pick something you really love.
Third, select a width you like, preferably one that will look good on your finger. For delicate hands, it is better to buy a narrower band, but on a larger hand, a 2-4mm ring may look even thinner than it actually is.
- How can you tell if platinum is real?
All platinum jewelry has a hallmark that indicates its authenticity and/or purity. If your platinum jewelry doesn’t have a mark with letters and/or numbers (for example PLAT 950 would indicate a 95% platinum purity) you can take your ring to a jeweler who can perform an acid test.
At home, you can immerse platinum jewelry in hydrogen peroxide. Platinum immediately reacts to hydrogen peroxide and creates bubbles, but the metal itself is not affected or damaged by this. If your ring doesn’t produce any bubbles, it is not a platinum ring.
Another method to test the authenticity of platinum is the density test. First, weigh the ring and note down the number in grams. Fill a graduated jug or cylinder with water and mark down the water level. Drop your ring inside the container and mark down the elevated water level. Measure the difference between the original water level and the second water level to find the water displacement number. To know what density your ring is, divide the mass of the ring to the volume of water it displaced in milliliters. If the number is close to platinum’s density of 21.45 g/cm3, you have a real platinum ring.
- Can platinum rings be resized?
Yes, platinum rings can be resized, although the process of altering a platinum ring will be more time-consuming, more complex, and more expensive compared to yellow gold and silver rings. This is because platinum is denser and has a higher melting point. Rings with prong settings and precious stones are even more difficult to resize, though not impossible.
- What are 3 interesting facts about platinum?
The oldest use of platinum dates back to ancient Egypt, 1200 BC, as archaeologists have found gold objects with traces of platinum from that era. In 600 BC in South America, platinum was used in an alloy with gold to make artifacts.
From 1889 to 2019, a cylinder of platinum-iridium was used to measure the standard unit of a kilogram.
Currently, platinum is used in industrial applications more than in jewelry manufacturing. Among all industrial uses that range from electronics to magnet manufacturing, the most common use for platinum is in the production of catalytic converters in the automotive industry.
- Is platinum a silver?
No, platinum and silver are two different precious metals. They look similar as they both have a silvery gray hue, but platinum is slightly brighter than white gold. Holding a platinum and a silver ring will instantly help you tell the difference: platinum is denser and heavier than silver.
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