Platinum is often compared to white gold, although the two metals are very different. Platinum is a naturally white metal. White gold is, actually, yellow gold which has been alloyed (mixed) with other metals. White gold contains silver or nickel and very little or no copper. Standard yellow gold has about an even mix of silver, nickel and copper. White gold is plated with rhodium in order to keep its platinum-like luster. This plating tends to disappear with time and wear, causing the gold's natural color to appear. How long will it take? There is no simple answer. It depends on the thickness of the plating and the precise conditions under which it was applied.

Pure gold, 24k, is too soft for reasonable jewelry use. A pure gold ring would bend and become dented very quickly. When we speak of 18k and 14k gold, there are standards for the amount of pure gold used for each. In the case of 18k the gold purity is 75 percent fine; with 14k gold the purity is 58.3 percent fine. The alloys are used strengthen and provide the desired color gold for the jewelry.

Some persons can not wear gold jewelry. Skin discoloration is caused by skin secretions or perspiration containing chlorides. When these come in contact with the copper and silver alloys, they produce dark colored salts; copper sulfate or silver chloride. Since 18k gold possesses 75 percent fineness, it is not affected as easily as lower karat gold. Changing to white gold or platinum should eliminate this problem.

Platinum is the only precious metal used in fine jewelry that is 90% to 95% pure, largely hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant. Platinum jewelry will be marked 900/950Pt, 900/950Plat. or Plat. The most used metal representing the remaining ten percent or five percent of the alloy is iridium.

Platinum is the most valued of the precious metals. Its value normally exceeds that of gold. Its beautiful silver-white color will not tarnish. It is unaffected by common household chemicals and, unlike gold does not get damaged by chlorine, bleach, or detergents. It is tougher than all precious jewelry metals, but, it still must be alloyed with stronger metals to prevent it from bending. We use iridium because of its toughness and durability.

It takes very special skills and tools to work in platinum. Furnaces producing approximately 3250 degrees Fahrenheit are required. Whereas , the melting point of gold is1550 degrees Fahrenheit. And, methods differ from those employed in working with gold.

The cost of platinum jewelry is generally higher than gold because of the rarity of the metal, its purity and the intricate  process of working with it. But, the beauty and enchantment it exudes from jewelry, in addition to its properties, make it one of earth's finest treasures.