|
 |
Precious Metals |
 |
Platinum is pure, rare, eternal - discover the qualities that make this precious metal so special and uncover the fascinating past of this ancient, beguiling treasure.
Pure
Platinum is pure, an expression of integrity, a reflection of inner truth. Platinum's purity endows it with a brilliant white lustre. This helps to reflect the true radiance of diamonds. Because it is generally 95% pure (18 karat gold is 75% pure), platinum jewellery does not fade or tarnish and keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum's purity makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Rare
Platinum is rare, the coveted treasure of discerning individuals. There is very little platinum on this earth and it is found in very few places around the world. This exquisite metal is 30 times rarer than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the platinum in the world were poured into one Olympic swimming pool it would be scarcely deep enough to cover your ankles. Gold would fill more than three pools. Platinum's rarity makes it exclusive and distinctive - a celebration of your individuality. |
 |
 |
|
A nugget of pure platinum |
Eternal
Platinum jewellery is the perfect choice for a lifetime of everyday wear. Its density and weight make it more durable than other jewellery metals. Platinum does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly and securely. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, the scratch on a platinum piece is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost. So, even though wearing it each and every day may leave an impression on the surface, it remains what it was - a symbol for all things eternal.
In addition to its strength and density, platinum has another remarkable quality - pliability. Platinum is so pliable, that just one gram of the metal can be drawn to produce a fine wire over one mile (almost 2 km) long. This quality has enabled jewellers to create some amazing versatile platinum mesh accessories, which could not be fashioned from other precious metals. Platinum is also in demand in other fields - it is used in industry, most notably in catalytic converters. Platinum also plays an important role in medicine. It is not affected by the oxidizing reaction of blood, has excellent conductivity, and is compatible with living tissue. Because of these properties, platinum is used for pacemakers. At present, more than 50,000 people are living healthily on pacemakers. Platinum is a life-saving metal for these people.
 |
Gold & Gold Alloys
For thousands of years, man has dug gold out of the ground and revered it as precious, desirable, valuable, and even holy. Gold has always delivered a wide variety of benefits to the world: financial, social, cultural, industrial and medical.
Because gold in it's purest form (24ct) is a very soft metal it is normally mixed with other metals to create gold alloys that are harder and therefore more suitable for creating jewellery that will stand the test of time. The proportion of gold by weight contained in each alloy is described in terms of carats and the common UK standards are illustrated below. All jewellery sold by Rings By Design is hallmarked in line with UK legislation.
Whilst pure gold is a rich yellow colour gold alloys of different colours (e.g. White, Red etc) can be created depending on what other metals are added to the recipe.
Each alloy possesses different characteristics but in our view for jewellery that will be worn everyday for years to come e.g. Wedding Rings, Engagement Rings etc, 18ct offers the ideal mix between hardness/durability and appearance/consistency.
|
|
|
