By Janice Wee
Is platinum a new metal?
After all, in the past, one would associate diamonds with gold.Nowadays, the most expensive fine jewelry designs set diamondsin platinum.
The truth is, platinum has been on this earth for billions ofyears. This brilliant metal really came from the skies.Meteorites contain platinum and meteorites have been landing onearth for billions of years already.
Kind of romantic if you think about it.
That pure white platinum jewelry could once have been part of astar. Part of a meteorite that travelled through space before itlanded in our world.
Ironically, there was a time when platinum was thought to be aninferior metal by people searching for gold. Platinum looks likesilver, so in 1590, when the Spanish discovered platinum, theynamed it platina, which means little silver. The newlyrediscovered platinum was thrown back into the river, its valuetotally misunderstood at that time.
2 centuries later, King Louis XVI of France declared platinum tobe the only metal fit for kings. Thus began the love of platinumby the royals. In fact, the late Queen Mother, Queen Elisabeth'scrown was made of platinum. Owning a piece of platinum jewelrytoday gives you something in common with the royals. Both youand the royals wear platinum.
Even Hollywood Royalty appreciates the value of platinum. TheKing, Elvis Presley exchanged platinum wedding rings with hiswife Priscilla. Joe Dimaggio gave Marilyn Monroe 3 caratsolitaire diamond platinum engagement ring. Movie legends wouldset their diamonds in platinum. In fact,
Platinum is a special metal. It does not fade or tarnish. Itdoes not corrode. In fact, it is so lasting, platinum was usedto make the standard kilogram weight. Platinum is eternal.Diamonds are eternal. That is one of the reasons why diamondsand platinum are the perfect match.
Another reason why diamonds an platinum go together is the colorof platinum. Platinum is a brilliant white. Diamonds are gradedon their color among other factors. The whiter the diamond, thehigher its value. When a
Platinum is extremely pliable. It can be drawn into a very finewire very easily. Yet it is so strong. That means jewellers cancreate very intricate jewelry pieces with platinum. Jewellerscan create fine prongs with platinum with which to hold thediamond, yet these thin prongs are so strong they hold thediamond securely.
Diamonds aside, platinum is the metal of choice for anyone whohas sensitive skin. Jewelry rash can occur even with goldjewelry. The impurities in most other metals, including gold,can cause a rash. The rash could even happen years later, afterwearing the jewelry daily for long periods of time.
Platinum wearers don't have to worry about jewelry rash.Platinum is 95% pure. Platinum is hypoallergenic, so the bestway to deal with a jewelry rash is to switch to platinum.
The problem with platinum is that it is so rare. It is 35 timesrarer than gold. There is so little platinum on earth, yet itsuses are so wide. Because platinum is compatible with the humanbody, platinum is used in medicine, to make pace makers, forexample. Platinum is also a catalyst and is essential in manychemical processes. Platinum is such a precious metal thatduring World War II, U.S. banned platinum from being used forany non-military purpose. That is why, for so many years,platinum was not used in jewelry making.
Due to its rarity, platinum is an excellent precious metal toinvest in. Anything that is so rare and has so many uses wouldappreciate in price, with time, which makes platinum jewelry awise investment
Article Source: www.ArticlesBase.com
