Mystical Metal

Although it can be tracked back to ancient Egyptians, platinum is a thoroughly modern metal. Platinum didn’t come into common use in jewelry until the early 1900s. That’s when the tools necessary to work with the metal came into being, making it viable to fashion platinum into the intricate and detailed jewelry found in the Edwardian era. Known for its incredible durability and strength, platinum scratches, but does not wear away with time like other metals and it holds diamonds and gems firmly in place. It has its own unique neutral color that does not shift the color of stones that are set in it. Platinum also has a personality all its own — it’s tough, but soft; strong yet malleable and according to designer/bench jewelers, it is both challenging and rewarding to work with this mystical metal.