Platinum Metal Guide

Have you ever wondered why platinum is such a popular choice for jewellery? In this guide we’ll be exploring what makes platinum such a favoured choice for rings such as engagement and wedding rings, along with delving into how it's created and the symbolism behind it.

Platinum is one of the rarest and most valuable metals in the world. It's known for its natural bright white colour and is often used in fine jewellery due to its luxurious appearance and durability. Platinum is part of a group of metals called ‘platinum group metals’, also referred to as PGM. In addition to platinum, the PGM also includes metals such as rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. A platinum percentage of 95% is the most common in jewellery, with the other 5% being made up of other precious metals like the ones in PGM! 

Platinum is a naturally occurring white metal, meaning it often holds symbolism of purity and its extreme durability makes it a perfect emblem for endurance and strength. Due to the fact that platinum is one of the most expensive metals in the world it also acts as a signifier for wealth and luxury, so it's a great choice if you want a piece of jewellery that makes a statement!

Thought to have been used for over three thousand years, platinum has a very long and rich history as one of the worlds most precious metals. However, it wasn't until the start of the 1900s when platinum was able to be used in luxury items such as jewellery. This is because as a material, platinum is so strong that there hadn’t been a powerful enough jewellery torch created to be able to craft the metal into jewellery!

Platinum is the perfect material for jewellery that you plan on wearing every day due to its durability and beautiful appearance. But have you ever wondered where it comes from and how platinum jewellery is made? Let's explore how platinum is mined and transformed into jewellery:

Platinum is found deep within the earth and is among the rarest metals on the planet. It’s found across the world in countries such as Australia, Canada and Russia. Once a mine has been erected to extract the metal, miners will dig up any rocks which contain platinum ore, the rocks are then crushed and the platinum is separated from other minerals using chemical treatments and melting the ore at extremely high temperatures.

Any remaining impurities are then removed from the remaining platinum by melting the metal and treating it with chemicals to ensure its purity. Once the platinum is pure, it’s then cast into solid bars called ingots which make it a lot easier to transport the platinum.

Once the platinum has been extracted and its purity is ensured, it is then often mixed with a small amount of other metals which makes it more durable for using it in jewellery. This is called an alloy. At Jessica Flinn, we use 95% platinum which provides the ideal amount of durability whilst also maintaining the appearance and desirability of platinum. Once this process is completed, the alloyed platinum is ready to be used in jewellery crafting!

Once the platinum has been alloyed and is ready for production, it is melted again at an extremely high temperature. This liquid platinum is then poured into a mould which creates the basic shape of the jewellery

Once there is a rough shape of the piece of jewellery, it can be filed and shaped to refine the design. For rings, it will be at this step that the jeweller will attach the more detailed pieces such as the setting which holds the gemstone. Once it’s been moulded to the desired shape, it will be polished to achieve a shiny, smooth finish and given a hallmark to indicate the purity of the platinum and the maker's mark. Once the jewellery has been quality checked, the jewellery is ready to be sold and cherished by its new owner!

The price of platinum rings varies depending on different factors. Elements such as the style of the ring, the type of platinum used and the jeweller which you choose to buy your platinum ring from all affect the overall price of a platinum ring. In terms of simple, plain platinum bands, our price starts at £930 for a 2mm wide platinum court shaped polished band and goes up to £1,940 for a 6mm wide court shaped polished band. This price doesn’t take into account any personalisations, gemstones or patterns you might want in your platinum ring.

If you’re not sure whether to opt for platinum or silver for your jewellery, there’s a few factors that are important to keep in mind when making this decision. It firstly depends on what kind of jewellery you’re looking to buy as some types of jewellery are more suited to platinum than others. 

For example, if you’re looking for an engagement or wedding ring, we always advise to opt for platinum as it is far more durable and suited to everyday wear. Due to its softness we don’t work with silver as it is liable to tarnish, scratch or break and we are dedicated to ensuring that you have a ring that is made with only the finest and sturdiest materials.

Platinum is undoubtedly one of the best choices for wedding and engagement jewellery, with its extreme durability and bright, silver toned appearance, it not only has the possibility of lasting a lifetime but it's also a beautiful and versatile choice for jewellery that you will wear every day.

While platinum is one of the sturdiest materials you can choose for your jewellery, it's still important to ensure that you provide it with the proper care so it can last a lifetime. This means you should regularly inspect your piece of jewellery to make sure it doesn’t have any loose settings (if your piece contains a gemstone) and look out for scratches or chips which might need professional attention.

Once you’ve made sure that everything is structurally sound, you can focus on giving it a good clean to freshen it up! This is a simple process, all you’ll need is some warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush (a baby toothbrush works well!). Give the piece a gentle scrub with the toothbrush and soapy water and pat dry. Once it's dry, if it looks like it needs a bit of a polish you can purchase one of our polishing cloths to help maintain its shine. Read our ‘do’s and don’ts’ of ring wearing to find out when you should and shouldn't wear your ring.