Platinum was first used by the Egyptians over three thousand years ago in small funerary amulets. Considered much rarer and more difficult to produce than gold, platinum was not widely used for jewelry adornment until the late 1700’s. Popularized by the 19th century Russian jeweler Carl Faberge, platinum became the metal of choice for many of Europe’s royal families. By the 1900’s, platinum had become the most popular metal used for diamond settings.
At the start of WW II the U.S. government declared platinum a strategic metal and banned its use for any nonmilitary application.
More expensive than gold, platinum and its alloys have recently made a dramatic resurgence as one of the premier metals for contemporary jewelry designs. Aside from it’s decorative appeal, platinum is used extensively in the electronics industry and is the primary metal in automotive catalytic exhaust systems.
For decorative applications, objects electroplated with platinum have exceptional resistance to scratching and discoloration from tarnish. Used extensively for watch and high wear jewelry items, platinum plated finishes are utilized to create a bold and dramatic surface appearance. If you are looking for an alternative to rhodium plating, platinum is worth considering.
We also offer platinum electroplating for low volume engineering applications. Thicknesses up to 3 microns are available for most specialty applications when corrosion resistance and surface hardness is a priority.
Platinum Data Sheet
|From the Spanish word "platina" (little silver) was discovered in 1735 by Julious Scaliger. Palladium is used extensively in the jewelry industry as a premium white metal for diamond settings. It is also used as an alloy metal for medical instruments, electronics and as a catalyst for anti-pollution equipment. Platinum is obtained primarily from the mining of platinum ores and as a byproduct of nickel mining. It remains bright and is resistant to oxidation under extreme conditions.|
|Finish Appearance||Warm bright light gray|
|Typical Plating Thickness||0.25 microns - 2.5 microns|
|Medium hard - resists incidental abrasions|
|Corrosion Resistance||Very high|
|Cost per Troy oz.||Ranges from $1,400–$1,550|
For additional Information…For additional information regarding electroplating and metal refinishing, be sure to visit our faqs section located on this site. If we can assist you in your custom plating and metal refinishing needs, please contact us.
Metal Arts Specialties
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