Precious Metals

In the United States, 14-karat gold is 14/24 or 58.33% parts pure gold, is the most common degree of fineness.

10-kt gold is 10/24 or 41.66% pure gold. Nothing less than 10 karats can legally be marked or sold as gold jewelry in the U.S.

18-karat gold is 18/24 or 75% pure gold, and wedding bands of this fineness are marked 18k or 750.

Always look for the karat mark or "k" that appears on the back of the piece. By U.S. law, if a karat mark appears you should also see the manufacturer's trademark to assure you that the karat marking is accurate. The country of origin should also appear. In addition to the karat mark, every wedding ring should be stamped with a hallmark or trademark of its maker, and sometimes its country of origin. These designations assure you that you are buying genuine karat gold wedding ring. Heavier wedding rings contain more gold.

Gold is durable, sturdy, dependable, and makes an ideal setting for your precious diamond wedding bands jewelry.  However, to get a lifetime of enjoyment from your wedding ring jewelry, be sure to keep it clean and safe.

Do not wear wedding ring during rough work or when handling harsh chemicals.  Store it in a box away from other pieces to preserve it from being scratched.

Finally, check the diamond settings periodically for any damage to the gold prongs or bezels.

If you see a loose prong, or if the setting looks out of line, bring it to a professional jeweler for repair at once.

Platinum

Platinum was held in high esteem during early Egyptian times. Native people in South and Central America worked it as early as 100 B.C.

Spanish conquistadors discovered platinum artifacts among the gold they were seeking when they came to the new world. They named the curious metal "platina," or "little silver." They also considered it worthless, and discarded it.

Platinum didn't reach Europe until the 18th century, but then it caught on in a big way. King Louis XVI elevated it by terming it "the metal of kings."

For centuries, the only large amounts of platinum outside of South America were found in Russian mines. Russia used platinum coins in the 19th century. In Spain, some gold coins were faked by gold-plating platinum coins.

Nowadays, platinum is far more valuable than gold. Platinum's initial uses were probably limited by its hardness and its very high melting point. The early forging and casting techniques made it quite a difficult metal to work with.

During the latter part of the 19th century, and the first half of the 20th, platinum was the premier metal for all-important jewelry. Platinum dominated the world of jewelry design during the Edwardian era, and the Art Deco period well into the 1930s.

It all came to an abrupt end in World War II, when platinum was declared a strategic metal and its use banned for all non-military purposes.

Platinum has many industrial applications, which made it invaluable to the military during the war.

Platinum is vital to the automotive industry as well as to electrical engineering, electronics and petrochemicals. The medical and dental fields also use it to a great degree.

Every car in the United States has platinum in its catalytic converter, which reduces emissions.

Only about one-third of the platinum mined today is used in jewelry, where it consistently commands higher prices than the purest gold. Because of its many uses, almost all platinum mined and refined is immediately committed to use.

An interesting note: There are no stockpiles or "reserves" of platinum in any government or banking storage. The appeal of platinum is in its appearance. Its white luster is unique.

It is also the strongest precious metal used in jewelry, and is almost twice as heavy as 14-karat gold. This weight is one of platinum's strongest selling points, because it gives "heft" to fine jewelry, which people naturally equate with value.

In recent years platinum has rapidly grown in popularity. It's become the new choice for many diamond engagement rings because its luster brings out the brilliance of diamonds far better than gold.

Many fashion consultants agree that platinum (and white gold) is more compatible with fairer skin tones.

The Japanese seem to be listening -- almost 85% of platinum jewelry produced every year is purchased by Japanese consumers! Despite its growing popularity, platinum remains one of the world's rare metals.

The annual worldwide production of platinum amounts to some 160 tons, compared to about 1,500 tons of gold.

It can be found in just a handful of regions of the world. The mining and refining processes are both arduous and time-consuming.

For example, in order to extract a single ounce of platinum, about 10 tons of ore need to be mined. After that, the refining process takes a full five months.

Platinum in wedding bands jewelry is actually an alloyed group of six heavy metals, including platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. These other metals are so similar to platinum in weight and chemistry that most were not even distinguished from each other until early in the nineteenth century.

Today, it is often alloyed with copper and titanium. It's the only precious metal used in fine jewelry that is 90% to 95% pure, largely hypoallergenic, and tarnish-resistant. Look for platinum wedding rings marked 900Pt, 950 Plat, or Plat. One final word about precious metals: Like gold, platinum is durable, sturdy and dependable, making it an ideal setting for your precious diamond jewelry. However, to get a lifetime of enjoyment from your jewelry, be sure to keep it clean and safe.