Unlike other metals used to create fine jewelry, platinum will not fade, tarnish or turn color; however, it does take on a distinctive patina with age.
Platinum wedding rings
Like all precious metals used in the manufacture of jewelry, platinum does scratch with wear.
How to Care for Platinum Jewelry
- Remove platinum jewelry before using harsh chemicals such as bleach or abrasives, which may cause scratching or damage to gemstones.
- Avoid gardening and heavy labor while wearing platinum jewelry.
- Store your platinum in a separate compartment from other jewelry to avoid scratching.
- Have platinum jewelry checked by a professional bi-annually or after being subjected to hard impact. This precaution ensures that any gemstones will remain secure in their setting.
- When size alterations or repairs are necessary, make sure that your jeweler uses platinum stock to perform the work. Many bench technicians use white gold, which can cause dark markings along solder points.
Cleaning Platinum Jewelry
- Clean regularly with jewelry cleaner specially formulated for gold and platinum jewelry or a solution of mild soap and warm water. See here a jewelry cleaner that can be used on platinum.
- Using a soft toothbrush, scrub the metal gently.
- Rinse thoroughly under warm water, avoiding the sink drain.
- Dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.
- Do not soak or brush delicate gemstones that are mounted in your platinum jewelry such as opal, tanzanite, emerald or topaz. Check with your preferred jeweler for detailed gemstone care information.
Does Platinum Wear Down?
The attraction of platinum, aside from its sheer beauty, is that because of the metal’s dense molecular structure, very little volume is lost when platinum is scratched. Practically, platinum does not wear down.
Put in perspective, a platinum band fashioned twenty years ago and worn daily weighs virtually the same as it did when it was first made.
Can Platinum Jewelry Be Scratched?
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.
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 from Scratches
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.
Platinum and Patina
After time, the bright, highly polished shine of platinum jewelry takes on a soft aged patina.
The color does not actually change, but the jewelry may appear darker than when originally purchased. This effect is due to the way light interacts with fine scratches within the metal.
Many people consider this natural aging process one of the many fine attributes of platinum, adding beauty and character. If you prefer a more brilliant finish, two options are available:
Buffing
A qualified jeweler can buff the fine scratches from platinum to bring out its original white luster.
Typically, restored platinum jewelry will maintain luster for six to twelve months, depending on your wear habits.
Be aware that most jewelry stores do not have the equipment necessary to perform this procedure in-house.
Rhodium Plating
Many jewelers offer a rhodium plating service for platinum jewelry.
Rhodium is an intensely white metal closely related to platinum, with higher reflective characteristics, producing a mirror-like sheen.
Rhodium, like all plating material, eventually wears off. Expect to have to re-apply this finish every six months, depending on wear.
Platinum Characteristics Factsheet:
- Hypoallergenic
- 30 times rarer than gold
- 60% denser than gold
- Usually 95% pure
- Exceptionally malleable
- Outstanding tensile strength
- A thoroughly white metal
- Doesn’t oxidize
