Platinum is often advertised as extremely durable, and perhaps that’s the reason a lot of people think that it cannot be damaged or even scratched. But is this really true?
Durable but Not Scratch Resistant
Platinum is extremely durable, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot be scratched. In fact, there is no metal that is scratch resistant, and platinum is no exception.
Platinum is extremely durable, but this doesn’t mean that it cannot be scratched.
But how is it possible that this metal is so strong and can be dented at the same time?
Well, durability means that platinum is very hard to break or even bend, but you can still scratch it if you use the right material.
Nevertheless, the high durability of platinum means that scratching it will cause it to lose far less metal than less durable materials.
For that reason, platinum wears down much more slowly than gold, for example.
And because it is very strong, platinum is a great choice for rings – prongs made of it are very hard to bend or break.
Platinum Is Not That Hard
Although platinum does not bend easily, it is not among the hardest substances on earth.
On the Mohs scale of hardness, platinum is 4-4.5 (diamond, in comparison, is 10). Thus, anything that is harder than it can scratch it.
Gold and silver are softer than platinum and cannot do any damage to it, but metals such as tungsten, titanium and hardened steel are harder and can make a dent in its surface.
Things That Can Scratch Platinum
As already mentioned, platinum can be scratched by substances that are harder than it, which includes materials that perhaps you didn’t think could harm your platinum jewelry.
For example, glass is harder than platinum and can scratch it. The same goes for many metals and alloys that cutlery is made of, so be aware that forks, spoons and knives may be harder than your platinum pieces.
Platinum can also be scratched by diamonds as well as by rubies, emeralds, sapphires and every other gemstone with hardness higher than 4.5 on the Mohs scale. Click here to take a look at a selection of the newest and most popular platinum jewelry models.
Can Scratches in Platinum Be Polished Out?
Even though platinum lasts longer than gold or silver and wears down slowly, it still does wear. It can always get scratched, and with time, it will develop a patina, which will make it look grayish and dull.
If you want, you can always take your platinum piece to a jeweler and ask to have it polished. The process will remove the scratches, and your jewelry will look like new.
Protecting Your Platinum
So, we learned that despite being durable, platinum can still be scratched, and that’s why you need to protect it. How should you care for your platinum jewelry?
First of all, take off your platinum rings when doing housework. As we already saw, there are metals and alloys harder than platinum, meaning that cutlery or gardening tools can scratch your jewelry.
Don’t store your platinum pieces along with other jewelry. There are lots of gemstones that are harder than platinum and can scratch it, especially diamonds.
And don’t forget that your platinum jewelry can in turn scratch your other pieces made of softer metals such as gold or silver. That’s why it’s best to store your jewelry in a jewelry box that has a lot of compartments — this way, each individual item can be better protected from scratches.
Click here to check out the latest and most popular jewelry box models.
