Is Platinum Good for Engagement or Wedding rings?
Finding the right metal for your engagement or wedding ring is just as essential as choosing the gemstone or diamond it will have.
Platinum is one of the most used materials to make engagement and wedding rings. Let us find out why.
When looking for an ideal engagement or wedding ring, there are a variety of factors you have to consider.
Often, you will come across platinum rings since platinum has been popular even before the 20th century when the military retracted it from the market for military purposes during wartime.
Not only does platinum offer unique, versatile, and exquisite designs, but it also durable and hypoallergenic, making it perfect for people with sensitive skin.
As such, many people prefer purchasing platinum rings as it is the most precious metal of all the jewelry metals.
Let us quickly delve into the reasons why people prefer platinum rings.
Guys, if you are interested in this wedding ring topic, you should this post here: Top 10 Hypoallergenic Metals for Engagement Rings. You will learn more about other metals that can be used as wedding rings.
Is platinum good for engagement &wedding rings?
Yes. Platinum is good for making engaging and wedding rings. It is hard enough for crafting purposes that it does not need to combine with other metals to increase its malleability. Similarly, the gleaming and silvery-white sheen of platinum beautifully blends with gemstones and diamonds when used in making rings.
Platinum is a naturally occurring white metal and is rarer than gold. It is also much harder and heavier than gold, making it more durable, with the ability to secure gemstones more firmly. The metal is usually 95% pure and 5% other pure alloys, making it naturally hypoallergenic. Renowned for its incredible durability and strength, platinum is a popular choice for engagement and wedding rings.
What are the platinum wedding rings?
As a popular alternative to traditional jewelry metals, like gold and silver, most platinum rings consist of 95% platinum and 5% other pure metal alloys, like ruthenium. Platinum wedding rings are expensive but last for a long time. They are also rust and tarnish-resistant. When you scratch the ring, the metal gets displaced, giving it its scratch-proof features. Simply polish the scratch out to restore its original appearance.
Platinum Properties and usage
With the chemical symbol Pt and atomic number 78, platinum is one of the six metals in the platinum group of metals. It has an elegant sheen that gives it its attractive appearance, especially when combined with diamonds and other gemstones. You do not need to re-plate a platinum ring as it does not rust, lose its color, or corrode.
The precious metal is also hard and durable, which allows manufacturers to engrave it with attractive designs. As a result, the different designs and elegant sheen of platinum combine to catch the glitter and light brightly without losing any crispiness or definition over time through general wear and tear. It has a high melting point and is ductile and highly malleable.
Platinum metal is also resistant to corrosion and oxidation, meaning you do not have to clean and maintain it as regularly as you would other metals. Even when exposed to common acids or high temperatures, platinum remains unaffected. It is also one of the highly recommended hypoallergenic metals for people with sensitive skin or skin allergies.
Other than its prominent use in the jewelry industry, platinum has several applications, like:
- A catalyst in various chemical reactions, like in vehicles, where it serves as a catalytic converter that facilitates the complete combustion of unburned hydrocarbons passing through the exhaust pipe
- Manufactures decorations and used in various dental procedures
- Used in making fine resistance wires and laboratory/medical equipment
- The alloy of platinum and cobalt produces reliable and permanent magnets
- Used in electrical contracts to make electrodes sealed in glass
History of platinum
Originally from the Spanish word ‘Platina,’ meaning little silver, the use of platinum metal dates back to artifacts from 700BC and ancient Egyptian tombs in 1200BC. The gold used in the tombs had traces of platinum, but it is unclear whether the Egyptians knew there was platinum in their gold. The first written reference of platinum metal is in the writings of Julius Caesar Scaliger in 1557. He described platinum as an unknown metal element that no Spanish artifice or fire was able to melt it.
The precious metal was discovered by the people of South America, who used it in making various artifacts from a white gold-platinum alloy. Most Spanish people viewed platinum as an impurity to white gold, and in turn, disposed of it. In the 18th century, there are various accounts made about the discovery and production of platinum.
In 1741, Briton Charles Wood had begun studies on some metal samples in Jamaica smuggled from Cartagena de Indias. At around the same time, Antonio de Ulloa started to study platinum in a mineralogy lab in Spain scientifically. Soon after, Henrik Scheffer published a scientific report on platinum in 1752, referring to it as ‘white gold.’ In his report, he wrote that platinum had the same resistance to corrosion as gold. In 1783, Francois Chabaneaus, a French chemist, found a way to produce workable platinum and patented it. However, the resulting product from the process still had several impurities of some undiscovered metals.
In the early 19th century, William H. Wollaston, an English chemist, developed a commercial process of producing pure platinum. He also discovered the metals palladium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium in the platinum ores. In 1980, Japan began using platinum in the making of jewelry, bringing awareness to the metal globally. Today, most of the platinum comes from the river beds of South Africa, but it is also found in Canada and Russia.
Pros of platinum as a wedding ring
- Hypoallergenic metal
- Excellent durability as it does not rust, corrode, tarnish, oxidize, or change color
- Available in different styles and increases the sparkle and shine of diamonds and other gemstones
- It does not require re-plating after a while of use
- A popular choice for men’s and women’s engagement and wedding rings
Cons of platinum as a wedding ring
- It is a rare precious metal
- It is an expensive option for engagement and wedding rings
Conclusion
Marriage and engagements are some of the most thrilling events in anyone’s life. As such, it is crucial to choose the perfect ring while taking the first step in your journey with your partner and laying a solid foundation of love with them. Platinum wedding rings are an excellent option for such occasions.
It is ideal for people who enjoy active lifestyles as well as those who enjoy following modern trends in the fashion and jewelry industry.
Want to read more wedding ring related questions? Please visit our wedding ring page for more.
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.