Platinum Jewellery: The Ultimate In Sophistication, Glamour & Prestige

Platinum has long been the metal of choice for the world’s most stylish and sophisticated wedding jewellery. From iconic couples such as Elvis & Priscilla Presley and Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier III, to modern day glamour couples such as Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise, Katherine Heigl & Josh Kelly and Salma Hayek & François-Henri Pinault, platinum remains the epitome of elegance and romance.

Is platinum only for the rich and famous?

Not anymore. The combination of status, reliability and exceptional beauty has led to a surge in the popularity of platinum jewellery.

Enamored with the classic tradition and timeless elegance of platinum, and drawn to its superior quality and longevity, now more than ever, brides in particular prefer platinum over gold.  According to Conde Nast, publishers of Bride’s, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and Vogue magazines, 81 percent of American brides desire platinum for their bridal jewellery.

But it isn’t just brides who are captivated by this precious pure white metal…

Platinum has become the most fashionable jewellery choice for style-seekers today, both men and women alike.

Why are so many people eschewing gold in favour of platinum jewellery settings?

The short answer is that the style, sophistication and quality of platinum jewellery shines brightly above its competitors. But let’s take a more detailed look at the most compelling reasons you should consider opting for a platinum setting for your precious jewellery.

Platinum - Rare & Desirable

Platinum is not only a stunning metal, it is also the world’s most desirable material. Platinum is only mined in a few locations around the world and ten tons of ore are required to produce one ounce of pure platinum.

Platinum is 35 times rarer than gold. The amount of known gold on this earth would fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools; the amount of known platinum would fill only one of the same sized pools – knee high.

When you opt for a platinum setting, your engagement ring, wedding band or unique jewellery creation will be made out of the most precious metal on the planet.

Platinum - Destined To Last A Lifetime

Platinum is the most durable of all precious metals with an incredible amount of inherent strength. It is a hard-wearing, long-lasting metal that wears much better than gold.

In contrast to the eroding characteristic of gold, platinum will never shed any metal. It's much like chalk versus clay. With clay, if you run your finger through it, you don't lose the clay, it simply displaces and can be moulded back into place. Gold is more like chalk in that if you scratch it, you lose the chalk forever.

If worn daily, your platinum jewellery requires just a little care to help maintain its integrity, whereas gold jewellery would eventually need repair and replenishment of the gold.

Platinum’s incredible durability means that patterns and engravings will last longer, and your platinum jewellery will last well beyond your lifetime to become a beautiful family heirloom.

Platinum & Diamonds, Perfect Partners

Your diamond is unquestionably the most important feature of your jewellery, so it’s crucial for it to be optimally showcased. I’m sure you don’t want a frame that is going to overwhelm the picture. Rather, you would prefer a frame that is going to bring out the absolute best in your diamond. That’s precisely what platinum does.

What platinum does for diamonds, no other metal on the planet can do: it will make your diamond shine brighter and increase its sparkle. Why? Because platinum is a naturally white metal.

When gold is mined from the ground its natural color is a warm yellow. The appearance of whiteness is created by mixing other “whitening” metals with the gold to camouflage the yellow appearance. To further enhance the whiter look, white gold is often rhodium plated.

The problem is that over time the rhodium wears off and your piece will start to display its less than white appearance. So to keep your white gold extremely white, over time you will often need to have it re-plated with rhodium.

Unlike white gold that’s never truly white, platinum will enhance the sparkle and brilliance of your diamond like no other metal can.

When cut, diamonds act like prisms reflecting and refracting the light and colours that come into them. Being a naturally white metal, platinum won’t cast an unflattering yellow colour into your diamond. Pure white, bright and precious platinum is hands down the metal that a diamond looks best against.

One of the major benefits I see in using platinum for diamond settings is that I can achieve a mirror like polish on platinum which reflects the light back into the diamond. What this means for you is that your diamond will sparkle with enhanced Fire and Brilliance.

There is little more beautiful and brilliant than a flawless white diamond set in platinum. The luminosity of your platinum set diamond is guaranteed to take people’s breath away each and every time you show it off.

Platinum – Unrivalled Purity

Platinum is a 95% pure metal which means it retains a higher value throughout its lifetime.

Because of its purity, platinum is a dense metal that feels heavier than gold. If we took two identical rings, one made of 18ct gold, it will weigh 10 grams; the same size ring in platinum would weigh 16-18 grams.

And because of its weight and density, platinum allows for very intricate workmanship. However, it is a challenging metal to work with, so only the most skilled jewellers can create beautiful, intricate pieces in platinum.

Platinum’s purity also means it is less likely to cause irritation on sensitive skin, so you will comfortably be able to wear your platinum jewellery every day instead of leaving it linger in your jewellery box.

Platinum - Set For Life

As platinum is both strong and pliable, it makes for the perfect metal to craft diamond or gemstone settings. Even if your design includes setting your diamonds or gemstones in fine platinum prongs, your stones will be held securely and beautifully in place for a very long time.

Platinum will hold your diamond more securely than any other metal, offering maximum protection against your diamond coming loose and getting lost.

That’s why the world’s most important and most valuable diamonds are set into platinum.

It’s no surprise to me that more and more people are choosing to have me create their jewellery from the most precious metal in the world. Platinum delivers the premium, long-lasting qualities that both men and women are looking for today in jewellery that they plan to wear for a lifetime.

Platinum is durable, solid and strong. Being pure white with a lustrous satin finish it is the most beautiful metal to enhance the sparkle and colour of your stones, and it won’t change colour on you. And your stones, once set in place are supremely secure. Platinum is undeniably sophisticated, elegant and timeless.

Given its premium quality and rarity, platinum is, of course, a more expensive option than gold. While I would be pleased to craft for you an entire piece in platinum, if you find the cost of platinum a little bit restrictive, I would suggest incorporating a combination of gold and platinum into your jewellery design; ideally with the settings crafted in platinum and the band in gold (yellow or white).

But at the end of the day, it all comes down to your personal choice…

Whether you desire classic gold or stylish platinum for your jewellery setting, I'd love to hear your ideas, explore some design possibilities with you and create for you a stunning, one-of-a-kind piece of gold or platinum jewellery that is perfectly and uniquely you - a true original.

Sam Kritsotakis

Celebrity Platinum Engagement Rings

Katherine Heigl: stunning 4-carat pear shaped diamond flanked by pave diamonds.	Eva Longoria-Parker: square center diamond set into a platinum micro-pave setting.	Christina Aguilera: five-carat diamond-and-platinum sparkler.
Beyonce: 18-carat flawless diamond set in platinum partnering micro-pave work on the sides.	Salma Hayek: six-carat oval-cut diamond with trillions set in platinum.	Jennifer Love-Hewitt: 1.5 carat round solitaire diamond with floral diamond accents set in platinum.

Celebrities Sparkle In Platinum Jewellery At The 82nd Academy Awards

For the past 60 years, platinum has held firm its position as the metal of choice for stylish celebrities who want to put on the best display at red carpet events.

Sandra Bullock wearing platinum and diamond earrings and a platinum and diamond bracelet. StarTracksPhoto.com	Demi Moore wearing a Platinum and diamond bracelet, platinum and diamond bracelet with crystals, platinum and diamond ring with a pearl, and a platinum and diamond hair clip. StarTracksPhoto.com
Kate Winslet wearing Platinum and yellow diamond pendant, platinum and yellow diamond drop earrings and three platinum and yellow diamond bracelets. GettyImages.	Helen Mirren wearing Platinum and diamond necklace, platinum and diamond earrings and a platinum and diamond cuff. GettyImages.