In recent years the jewelry market has seen a remarkable surge in the production and sales of jewelry made from platinum. Platinum was a popular metal for jewelry around the first part of the 20th century and was used in many Victorian styles designs. Platinum has the look of white gold or highly polished sterling silve,r but its price tag is a little more inflated. Platinum is a precious metal that seems to be a little more precious than others.
The first reference to platinum among Europeans was in 1557. It was written about by Julius Ceasar Scaliger as a mysterious metal that had been found in mines in Central America. It was grayish white in appearance and was given the name platinum after the Spanish word platina, which means little silver. Russia is where there were large deposits of platinum found in 1819 and it is from there that 90% of the platinum in the world came from through the first part of the 20th century.
The rarity of platinum is the biggest reason for it costing considerably more than gold or silver. Platinum is also highly durable and non corrosive like titanium. Platinum is used as a component in many other products besides just jewelry. It can be used in photography in certain processes. It is used as a catalyst in the catalytic converter which is a component in some gasoline fuel systems. Recently it is being used in some forms of cancer drugs.
The jewelry that was made from platinum at the turn of the 20th century often had diamonds included in the designs. It was during this time that diamonds were available on a broader scale and more affluent people would combine diamonds and platinum as a symbol of their wealth as well as the beauty this jewelry had. The pieces from that era are highly collectable today.
The new modern styles of platinum jewelry are still being worn by the very rich. Many of the top movie and music stars of today can be seen wearing everything platinum from some delicate small pieces of jewelry to elaborate bold creations dripping with precious gem stones of all kinds, not just the diamond.
Wedding rings are also one of the most popular items in platinum jewelry today as well. Platinum jewelry is reaching a broader market now with purchases even by the less than wealthy in our culture simply because everyone wants it!
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