Platinum is one of the four precious metals (gold, silver, and palladium). It is rarer and more expensive than gold, and also, its production process is a lot more specific than the processes involved in the extraction and carving of the other precious metals. With that in mind, buying a ring made of platinum might be the biggest investment you make in terms of jewelry.
And with platinum now one of the precious metals preferred by the elite, and also industry experts changing their opinions and placing platinum on a pedestal, it means that you have to be very careful and cautious when buying platinum rings.
A lot goes into the decision to buy platinum jewelry, though. For example, while it feels like a great investment, that is not always the case because the consumption of platinum is considerably low in comparison to that of gold, and there’s also the fact there are few investment options out of jewelry – gold, in comparison, can be invested in as bars, jewelry, biscuits, bars, etc.
So, unless you find a ready market for platinum jewelry, only buy the jewelry if you are looking to hold it just as jewelry.
That said, here are some of the things you need to consider when shopping for platinum rings.
Qualities of Platinum
First, you need to know exactly what you are buying into. Platinum might be one of the most expensive and also a rare metal, but there’s more to platinum beyond its rarity and high price tag.
We are talking about things like the simple fact that platinum will never fade. This might sound unbelievable, but it’s true, and platinum comes with a natural white luster, that’s a lot like white gold only that white gold has a yellow undertone and it must be rhodium-coated for that white in white gold, and this coat will wear out with time, hence the need for re-plating after some time.
However, platinum never loses its natural, lustrous shine regardless of what you expose it to. Therefore, a platinum ring will look as good as new 100 years later, and it can be passed down from one generation to the next, and it will always look bright and new.
Platinum is also the most durable of metals used to make jewelry, and you won’t have to worry about the platinum ring rubbing off after some time. Platinum is dense and durable, and it makes the perfect everyday wear kind of jewelry. Along with its durability comes its high strength, which makes platinum the ideal metal to set diamonds on.
It’s hypoallergenic in its pure form, and it’s the perfect fit for people with sensitive skin.
So, if the jewelry being sold to you as platinum jewelry doesn’t have all these features, you will know that you have been duped.
Certification
The first thing you should check when buying platinum jewelry is the mark that certifies its purity, as well as the type of metal.
This certification or mark is called a hallmark, and it is what differentiates genuine platinum jewelry from imitations. To know if the jewelry you are considering is genuine or not, or to know the percentage of purity, look for the hallmark sign. Platinum’s hallmark sign is Pt or PLAT, along with a number that denotes the metal’s percentage purity.
Some of the most common hallmarks include Pt950, which means that the jewelry is made of 95% genuine platinum. Pt 850 means purity of 85% while Pt800 means that the jewelry has 80% platinum and 20% palladium,
You also need to keep an eye out for the tamper-proof cards for quality assurance, as well as the jewelry’s Unique Identification Number stamped on the jewelry. All expensive jewelry comes with this identification number.
You also need to know that the hallmarking process for Platinum and gold differ because the testing subjected to the two metals also differ.
Purity
Besides looking at the hallmark to certify whether the jewelry is made of platinum or not, you also need to know that only the purest form of platinum is used to make jewelry. The reason for this is that platinum is one of the hardest precious metals, and jewelers don’t need to mix it with other metals for it to be carved into jewelry.
Generally, if you are buying platinum jewelry, then you are not buying an alloy of some sort, as is the case with gold jewelry.
With that in mind, the purest platinum rings are the most expensive, and if you come across cheap platinum rings, it means that you will are looking at an impure piece of platinum jewelry that has less than half its weight in pure platinum.
So, before you shop, you must compare prices and talk to platinum experts.
Opt for handcrafted platinum
Whether you are planning to engrave the ring or to have gemstones set on it, you need to choose the handcrafted version rather than the machine-cut.
While the platinum ring will be gorgeous, even without engravings, getting it engraved in an intricate pattern makes the platinum ring look and feel even better. Also, handcrafting is deep, and the engraving/ inscription will not wear off any time soon.
Does it look good on you?
And does it match your personality? In as much as platinum rings are durable, pure, hypoallergenic, and breathtaking, first, make sure that the ring will look good on you.
You don’t want to be one of those people who look like they don’t know what to do with their money because of their bad sense of style.
So, in as much as platinum is the most expensive option for jewelry, it might not be the right metal for you, and if that is the case, look for other options.
But first, reconsider the size of the ring before you put off the idea of a platinum ring altogether. You should also try different styles before you settle on one.
Conclusion
Platinum rings are some of the best rings on the market today, but you might want to find reputable sellers before you put in your money.
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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.