THE METALS - PLATINUM

Let's start with;

PLATINUM

A brief overview of PLATINUM...

• The rarest and most durable precious metal

• The rich, white luster enhances brilliance and will maintain its shine forever, unlike other white metals, which tarnish and turn yellow.

• Belongs to the noble and precious metal family.

• One of the strongest and most enduring metals.

• One of the heaviest, weighing 60% more than gold.

• Hypoallergenic, ideal for those with sensitive skin.

• In the PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS:

Symbol : Pt

Atomic Number : 78

• Top country producers of platinum: South Africa, Russia, Zimbabwe, Canada

A brief history of PLATINUM...

Italian-French physician Julius Caesar Scaliger discovered Platinum in 1557. In 1590, Spanish Conquistadors discovered a white metal in the rivers of Equador. Not realizing its superb qualities, they named it contemptuously platina, meaning little silver, and threw it back into the river to ripen into silver.

In 1751, platinum was the seventh element known to exist up until that time. The Swedish assayer - an examiner of metal - named Scheffer is the first to successfully melt the platinum. The said metal has a high melting point.

Caring for your PLATINUM...

• Store in a fabric-lined box.

• Should be polished once in a while.

• Store separately from other metals.

• Do not allow pieces to touch each other because they can be scratched. Signs of wear - scratches - do appear, although platinum is durable, there is usually little metal loss from the scratch.

• Do not wear while handling strong acids.

• Usually plated with rhodium to give it a bright finish.

DID YOU KNOW?

Some of the world's greatest treasures are set in platinum.

One that caught our attention is the:

HOPE DIAMOND

A famous 45.52 carat, fancy deep grayish-blue diamond renowned for its size, clarity, rarity, and legendary "curse."

As displayed at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Weight in carats : 45.52 carats

Weight in grams : 9.104 grams

Color : Fancy Dark Greyish Blue

Cut : Antique cushion

Country of origin : India

Mine of origin : Kollur Mine

Discovered by : Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

Current owner : Smithsonian Institution Estimated value : 200-350 million US dollars