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PLATINUM, Silver and Gold is measured in many ways but for some reason this precious metal is weighed in a system of measurements called "Troy Measurements" which is used internationally.
Troy measurements are such that one pound (lb) is divided up into 12 Troy Ounces
and each Troy Ounce is divided up into 20 units called Pennyweight (dwt).
Click HERE to get All the Info on "Troy Measurements"
Get the complete breakdown and FACTS: Troy Pound, Troy Ounce, Conversion Formulas, pennyweight (dwt), Grams, Gram-Calorie (mean), Grains, Dram or Drachm, Momme, Imperial System, GO HERE to get All the Info!
One of the most useful ways to calculate your Platinum's value is to use the precious metals Silver Calculator that is available on Gold Calculator web site. It calculates the value using the current price of PLATINUM, or the metal you are interested in.
The oldest record of platinum use is as an inlay in ancient Egypt. However, the Egyptians though it was a variation of electrum, (a natural blend of gold and silver.) Native Americans used it for centuries in small decorative objects. Platinum was unknown to Europeans until Spanish discovered it in Columbia. The Spanish called it platina, meaning little silver. It was not identified as a new metal until the 1700’s.
Platinum is one of the rarest and purest precious metals in the world. The perfect jewelry material for these fortuitous times, Platinum is regarded by many as a "new" metal. In actuality, Platinum was discovered long before the concept of "modern" came into vogue. Dating back to 700 BC, when the ancient Egyptians mastered the techniques of processing Platinum, and to 100 BC when South American Indians combined Platinum with Gold, Platinum has been held in high regard as a symbol of wealth and nobility. Though widely utilized since then, the true worth of Platinum was underappreciated until the eighteenth century, when the Europeans began to recognize Platinum's beauty.
Very few countries have platinum supplies, with South Africa (80%) and Russia (11%) accounting for approximately 90% of the world's supply. The yearly production from these mines is only 150 tons, which is 1/25 of the yearly production of gold. Moreover, the amount of platinum that can be produced from raw ore is relatively small. To make a single small ring of approximately 3 grams requires approximately 1 ton of raw ore.
The original name of Platinum was "Platina," being a Spanish word meaning "like silver" (Plata being Spanish for silver). The metal was introduced into Europe from South America in the middle of the eighteenth century. It is always found in association with other metals, chiefly Rhodium, Osmium, Iridium, Palladium.
Platinum was first discovered in the alluvial (riverside) deposits of the Río Pinto, Colombia. The Spaniards called the new metal Platina del Pinto for its resemblance to silver. The world's most important deposits occur in the Transvaal of South Africa. Other deposits are found in Russia, Finland, Ireland, Borneo, New South Wales, New Zealand, Brazil, Peru and Madagascar.
The Ancient Egyptians and South American Incas prized platinum. As a matter of fact, France's Louis XVI proclaimed it the only metal fit for royalty. Legendary jewelers such as Cartier, Faberge and Tiffany created their timeless designs in platinum. The world's famous diamonds, including the Hope and Koh-l-Noor, are secured permanently in platinum.
Platinum reached its peak of popularity in the early 1900s, when it was the preferred metal for all fine jewelry in America. It dominated the world of jewelry design during the Edwardian era, the Art Deco period and well into the 1930s. At the onset of World War II, however, the U.S. government declared platinum a 'strategic' metal and its use in non-military applications, including jewelry, was banned.
Today, platinum is much more valuable than gold. Although it is used in many industrial applications, including the automotive industry, platinum jewelry consistently commands higher prices than even pure gold because of its rarity.
Also, no reserves of platinum are maintained, as in the case of the federal gold reserve in Fort Knox, TN. The annual worldwide production of platinum amounts to some 160 tons, compared to about 1,500 tons of gold. In fact, in order to produce just one ounce of platinum, about ten tons of ore must be mined.
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Periodic Table and Technical information:
Chemical formula: Pt Atomic Mass: 195.08
Atomic Number: 78
Color: Tin-white to silver-gray
Composition: Platinum, but always containing small amounts of other elements
Hardness: 4 - 4 1/2 (pure= 4.3)
Specific Gravity: 14 - 19 (depending on purity - Example: 100% pure Pt = 21.4)
Tenacity: Ductile & Malleable
Luster: Metallic
Melting Point: 1773 degrees centigrade
Composition: Molecular Weight = 195.08 gm
Locality: Most notably from the Urals, Russia and Brazil.
Name Origin: Spanish, platina = "silver."
Year Discovered: 1750
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Properties of Platinum:
The platinum family actually comprises six metals: platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, rhodium and ruthenium. The six metals are generally found together in nature, with platinum and palladium being the most abundant, and the other four being more rare.
PLATINUM IS A NATURAL WHITE METAL Platinum is a natural white metal. When Platinum comes out of the ground, it is white. When gold comes out of the ground, it is yellow and has to be bleached or dyed white by mixing it with other metals to create white gold. Usually this process still does not make the metal white enough and is often plated with Rhodium. Rhodium is a member of the Platinum family and makes the gold look more like Platinum.
Called the "King of Metals", platinum is a very heavy (nearly twice the weight of gold), silver-white metal that is very ductile. Although it is a soft metal, platinum is not easily scratched and is very strong and durable. In fact, as the strongest precious metal used in jewelry, platinum also has a high melting point and good resistance to corrosion and chemical attack. Small amounts of iridium and ruthenium are commonly added to it, to give it a harder, stronger alloy that retains the advantages of pure platinum.
Silvery-white metal, lustrous, malleable, ductile. Unaffected by oxygen and water, only dissolves in aqua-regia and fused alkalis. Used in jewelry, drugs, catalysts, etc.
The most common alloys include 90% platinum and 10% iridium, or 95% platinum and 5% ruthenium. Ruthenium makes for the harder and stronger alloy.
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PLATINUM ALLOYS:
Platinum is not a single metal, but a group of similar materials. The group includes platinum, iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, and osmium. Platinum is the most abundant. Rhodium is popular as a non-tarnishing plating for white gold, silver, and other platinum metals. All but osmium are used for jewelry.
The most common alloys include 90% platinum and 10% iridium, or 95% platinum and 5% ruthenium. Ruthenium makes for the harder and stronger alloy.
The amount of platinum in a product is expressed in parts per thousand. "Pt1000" means that the product is 100% pure platinum. "Pt850" means that it is 85% pure platinum and 15% platinum alloy.
When judging the value of platinum jewelry, always ensure that the material is indeed platinum (and not another metal, such as white gold) by checking for the amount of platinum content on the back of the piece.
Platinum content is usually marked as "950Pt", "950 Plat", or "Plat". In the United States, in order to be marked "Platinum" or "Plat", a piece of jewelry must contain at least 50% platinum.
Au Gold, Ag Silver, Cu Copper, Zn Zinc, Ni Nickel, Ti Titanium, Pd Palladium, Fe Iron, Si Silicon, B Boron and Co Cobalt
Platinum contains the energies of illumination; it is penetrating and focused, pristine and light. It will reflect negative energies back to their source. It exposes the hidden and untrue, so it is a good ‘witness’ energy to use in dowsing and kinesiology.
It is good to use in times of stress and stressful situations. It has also been used to bring alignment to the chakra system and facilitate Divine alignment. Its energy is incorruptible, which is why it has terrific potential for cleansing and protecting not only the human energy field but also the environment.
Platinum works on the endocrine system. Platinum supports the life force within all the bodies, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, etc. and the surrounding auric field, allowing for a greater abundance of vital energy. It gives a feeling of total well-being.
Platinum is used in the treatment of cancer and as a base in some of the chemotherapeutic treatments in conventional hospitals, although not in the proper (natural) form.
In the early 1970's, platinum was used in the dye in x-rays of women's breasts. Breast lumps reportedly began shrinking and even disappearing after use of the dye. Many believed the platinum in the dye caused the shrinking and disappearance. Since then, platinum dye has been replaced with radioactive dyes. Platinum may be effective in killing disease- causing bacteria, fungus, viruses, and help boost the immune system.
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Gems and Minerals names only Info:
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Troy Ounce Info:
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Diamond Info:
Here you will find a wealth of info regarding Diamonds including the Four C's
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Gem & Jewelry Professional Business Management SoftwarePrecisionally designed with Your needs in mind! A must for All Jewelry Professionals!
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Overview Features More Info Screen Shots
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