FACTS ABOUT PLATINUM

Platinum is a rare precious metal that's used to create fine jewellery. Its heavy weight and durability make platinum a metal that will not wear away with constant use. Platinum holds fine gemstones firmly in place for the life of the jewellery when used as prongs and other setting components.

Platinum's natural white lustre provides a rich backdrop for diamonds, but it's a metal that's just as elegant when used all by itself to create a piece of jewellery, either a simple polished item or a design with engraved motifs. Platinum looks stunning when combined with contrasting touches of 18K yellow gold.

There are lots of reasons to choose platinum for your fine jewellery

The Platinum Group of Metals

Six related metals belong to the Platinum Group of Metals, or PGM:

• Platinum
• Iridium
• Palladium
• Ruthenium
• Rhodium
• Osmium

Platinum Marks

•  Jewellery that contains at least 950 parts per thousand of pure platinum may be marked or described as "Platinum"

FACTS ABOUT GOLD

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONFUSED BY THE TERMS YELLOW GOLD, WHITE GOLD, PINK AND ROSE GOLD?   

All real gold is yellow, isn't it, so how do other colours fit in—are they imitations? They aren't imitations at at all-they are alloys, new metals that are created by combining two or more different metals.

Gold Alloys

Coloured gold alloys are just as "real" as their golden coloured counterparts. Pure gold is generally too soft to be used for jewellery, so other metals are nearly always added to it, no matter which colour of gold is being prepped for jewellery making. Chances are the ring on your finger is marked 18ct or 9ct to indicate how much pure gold is present in the mix.

Gold Carat Markings

• 24ct gold is pure gold. 
• 18ct gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of another metal(s), making it 75% gold.  

Even 18ct gold, with its 6 parts of another metal, gives jewellers the opportunity to play around with colour.

White Gold Alloys

Nickel can be mixed with gold to create a white (or grey) colour; it can cause dermatitis in people who are sensitive to nickel.  Palladium is another metal used to create white gold alloys. Related to platinum, it is more expensive than nickel, but is less likely to cause allergic reactions than nickel.

Rose & Pink Gold Alloys

Copper is added to make gold coloured alloys, but additional copper creates pink and rose tones -- the more copper, the deeper the effect.

It looks like platinum, it's part of the platinum family of metals and is a great alternative to platinum.    Facts about Palladium

Palladium is a silvery-white, rare and lustrous precious metal, one of the platinum group metals which are typically found together in ore deposits. Palladium is naturally white from the earth so it will never change colour. The richest known palladium deposit in the world is located in southern Montana in the USA.

THE COST OF PALLADIUM Palladium is currently priced between a quarter and a half the cost of platinum, a fact that customers have deeply appreciated and has helped palladium rise in popularity over the higher priced platinum and white gold. Unlike white gold, palladium does not need to be rhodium coated and will keep its natural white colour. More than a fifth of the worlds palladium supply now goes into jewellery production.

FACTS ABOUT SILVER

Silver has been used to make jewellery since ancient times, but the exploration of continents in the western hemisphere uncovered productive silver mines that greatly increased the supply of this precious metal. The result -- more silver has been mined and used since the late 1700's than in all prior centuries combined.

What is Sterling Silver?

Pure silver is soft, too soft to create durable jewellery, so it's mixed with other metals to enhance performance. One popular silver mixture (an alloy) is known as sterling silver.

Copper in Sterling Silver  

Copper is the metal most commonly used to make up the remaining 7.5 percent content of a sterling silver mix. Copper makes the silver harder, but gives it a tendency to tarnish, a darkening that occurs when sterling silver reacts with gases in the air or with other substances that it comes in contact with.

Caring for Sterling Silver

Jewellery Store your sterling silver jewellery in tarnish prevention cloths or bags. The treated cloth slows down the tarnishing process and keeps the jewellery from rubbing against harder jewellery that might scratch it. Try to to keep your sterling silver jewellery in a cool, dry place.

Cleaning Your Sterling Silver Jewellery

Polishing cloths are an excellent choice for cleaning your sterling silver jewellery. You might read recommendations to use toothpaste to clean sterling silver, but avoid doing that -- toothpaste is abrasive and can leave scratches.

Sterling Silver Patina

Sterling silver jewellery that is worn continually often develops a lovely patina, a kind of glow combined with darkened areas. If you like the look, leave it alone. If you prefer a bright and shiny look for your sterling silver, use a polish cloth to restore the jewellery to its original appearance.

Sterling Silver Affordability

Sterling silver jewellery is beautiful... and affordable. Sterling silver jewellery and components are within reach of nearly any budget, ours and the pocketbooks of artisans who create the sterling silver jewellery we love so much