How Well Do You Know Your Platinum Jewellery |
Posted: July 25, 2016 |
Platinum has been the most sought metal because of its versatility, exclusivity and rarity. It is very important to know that not all platinum is equal and not all platinum craftsmanship is the same. It is also important to know the purity content of your platinum. As with all precious metals, platinum must be alloyed with other metals in order to achieve the hardness required for jewellery. Platinum was already popular in the high-end customer segment, but now even retail buyers are buying engagement bands and pendants because of its attractive pricing and consumers are now even Buying Platinum Jewellery online. There are few things to know about the metal which will highlight your knowledge about your favourite jewellery. Steps for Taking Care
Platinum in Ceremonies and Metro Cities First, it was gold, then came diamond, and now it is the turn of platinum. These days, platinum bands, pendants and solitaires set in platinum are increasingly getting associated with engagements and weddings in India. The grey-white metal, popular in Japan, the US and China for expensive jewellery, has made its way into Indian weddings - especially in the urban areas and the metros. Platinum has come a long way from being a metal affordable only by the elite, being accessible even to middle class patrons. Both industry experts and jewellery retailers are slowly changing their opinion about the exclusivity of platinum jewellery; especially because the trend is spreading from the metros to other parts of the country as well Certification is Important when buying online The purity and type of the metal is defined by a hallmark. Platinum hallmarks are displayed differently in different countries. For instance, platinum jewellery in India is stamped with a Pt950 mark, which denotes 95% purity. A pure platinum ring should be alloyed with either Cobalt or Ruthenium. These alloys produce a harder platinum that can hold a mirror bright polish and resist years of daily wear. Filigree Designs on Platinum Working on platinum is very difficult. The metal doesn’t melt until it reaches 3223º, unlike gold that melts at a mere 1700º. Platinum today come in thousands of designs with differing details to suit personal tastes. These details may include engraving, or deep cuts in the platinum that form a design. Filigree is a design element reminiscent of the Art Deco period which is created from hand-drawn wires and sculpted then soldered into a piece. For the best quality, ensure that any filigree in the platinum jewellery is handcrafted. In case of a custom platinum ring, you can ask your jeweller for a wax mould of your ring to ensure that the design meets your expectations before it is cast into platinum. Today, the best shops use computer-aided design (CAD) to create a three-dimensional image of your jewellery. The reason behind Making Charges It is the amount you would need to pay for the labour involved in making a piece of jewellery. Usually, labour charges are a percentage of the current platinum price. The reason for its higher price: 1.) Platinum, being a hard metal, requires a high melting point for detailed carving and milling and this can only be done in factories with expensive manufacturing facilities and skilled craftsmen and 2.) Platinum is imported from South Africa as India does not have reserves. Platinum Guild International (PGI), an industry body supported by South African platinum producers and refiners, has stated that the demand for platinum jewellery is poised to grow more every year.
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