|
Shopping Online for Platinum JewelryFirst used during the days of ancient Egypt, platinum still remains a very popular metal for the construction for jewelry. It did not really blow up on the scene until royal figures, such as the Queen of England, started wearing them during the 1800s. In fact, the world’s greatest diamonds ever, both the Hope Diamond and the Star of Europe, are both encased in platinum. Nowadays, platinum is once again extremely popular and is being used to house the highest quality gems. Most people that enjoy good quality jewelry would love to get their hands on platinum if they could just afford it. If you want to really impress your loved one, get him or her some platinum jewelry. Markings Before you go shopping for platinum, do some research so that you know what the jeweler is talking about. That will save you from being ripped off. For instance, take a careful look at the piece and look for markings such as the following: 950 Plat, Pt950, 950Pt, 900Pt, Pt900, or 900Plat. Every piece of platinum is required by American law to have a stamp on it detailing how much per 1000 of the jewelry is composed of platinum. A marking of 900 Platinum would mean that 900 out of 1000 parts are pure platinum and 100 out of 1000 are other metals. Keep in mind that platinum containing at least 95% pure platinum can simply be marked platinum alone without listing the exact amount.
Fake Be wary of jewelers trying to sell you platinum that is not pure. Palladium is a form of platinum that can easily be made to look like pure platinum. In fact, jewelers will oftentimes try to steer you towards a product that contains white gold instead of platinum. They are like automobile salesmen in that they want to make a good sale. If they feel that you won’t be able to pay as much as they would like, they will try to sell you pieces that look the same but just are not up to the quality level of true platinum. Price If you want real platinum, do not be afraid to spend. Platinum is quite heavy and a couple small pieces of it can add up to big bucks very quickly. On the same token, do not allow yourself to pay more than a piece is really worth. Take the chance to hold the platinum and feel it in your hand. It should feel both heavy and strong. It should have a natural luster to it and appear silvery white. Keep an eye out for scratches, dents, or any other flaws that the jeweler might not want you to see. Reputation Before purchasing from a jeweler, try to perform a quick background check. Ask other jewelers in the area about what they know about this individual. Furthermore, check local records to see if they have ever been involved in any scams or rip-offs. If they check out on everything, then go ahead and take a look at their wares. Jewelry Articles |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||