Platinum and Palladium

While silver may be a good long–term buy, there are other, and perhaps even more fundamentally sound, precious metals to choose from. Only a tiny percentage of investors purchase platinum and palladium — both of which have seen their prices rise over the past two years — as a U.S.–dollar alternative. Instead, the price is driven almost exclusively by industrial demand. The main use for both metals is to create catalytic converters, a device in cars that reduces the toxicity of emissions. As the auto sector recovers, and emerging–market demand for vehicles increases, more converters will have to be made.

For these metals, demand is already outpacing supply. For years, Russia, one of the main producers of palladium, stockpiled the commodity to keep prices stable. But that supply is nearly tapped, so Russia is no longer able to keep a cap on prices. "They've sold off the majority of their reserves," says Brahm Spilfogel, a vice–president and portfolio manager at RBC Asset Management. "You've lifted one negative element to palladium." The metal is primarily mined in South Africa, which, says Darren Lekkerkerker, manager of the Fidelity Investments Global Natural Resources Fund, doesn't have enough power to facilitate a supply increase. The mines are deep and costly to run, and many companies can't generate positive cash flow. All of this has pushed palladium prices through the roof. Since January 2009, the metal has jumped from about $200 to $800 per ounce.

Platinum is in high demand too. Its price has been on a steady increase for the past two years, climbing from around $800 an ounce in early 2009 to $1,800 today. The platinum–to–gold ratio is currently low — at one time, platinum was double the price of gold, but now it's about 1.35 times, meaning its price has room to grow. That makes palladium and platinum a better bet for more value–oriented investors.

Happy New Year

With the dawn of 2011, we are all looking forward to new beginnings. At the Platinum Ring Company we are no exception. We have recently created a new website that is easier to use and has a larger selection of premium platinum rings for you to choose from. We are, as ever, working to create more amazing lines of platinum products for our clients. The economic climate for the current year may seem bleak at the offset; however investing in precious metals may be a good way to secure a financial future. The value of platinum may waiver fractionally over the years, but it maintains a solidly high base level of value.

In 2011, we may have to tighten our belts in many areas but one area that will not be quenched is that of love. The countdown to Valentine’s Day has already begun, with people beginning to save up in order to buy their prospective partners a ring. It would appear that the economic down turn has not affected the rates of couples deciding to tie the knot. Many of whom are opting for platinum engagement rings to show a real sense of dedication and passion for their partners. Platinum is the perfect material for both engagement and wedding rings, as it is a hard wearing metal that won’t tarnish like many other popular metals. Fashion jewellery is increasingly focused on high sheen materials; platinum offers an excellent alternative to silver when buying prime pieces of jewellery.

The Platinum Ring Company offers a large selection of wedding rings. These pieces are created to the highest standards and all feature the necessary hallmarks and certificates. They have a beautiful range of two coloured wedding rings, made of quality platinum transposed with 18ct gold. This creates a striking contrast of colour, making your wedding ring a statement piece that will last a lifetime.

The Platinum Ring Company would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a joyous 2011, filled with love and prosperity.

Beware of Fake Platinum Jewellery This Christmas

Experts are urging consumers to brush up on their knowledge of UK hallmarks before they make jewellery purchases this Christmas to avoid buying fakes.

Figures from the British Hallmarking Council’s Annual Report and Accounts for year ended December 31, 2009, revealed that Trading Standards Departments had reported over 3,000 unhallmarked articles described as gold, silver and platinum. As a result, the Birmingham Assay Office and experts have warned consumers that they must be vigilant when buying platinum jewellery this festive season.

Marion Wilson, sales and marketing director at the Birmingham Assay Office, said: “Buying an engagement ring is an extremely romantic experience but for many consumers it will be one of the more expensive purchases they make and possibly their first experience of buying jewellery.”
She added: “Just as you wouldn’t purchase a car without research, shoppers should make sure they know what they are looking for when choosing the perfect engagement ring. Don’t be afraid to talk to your jeweller and ask questions, they will be pleased to share their expertise.”

The Birmingham Assay Office is running a Christmas Hallmarking campaign, and advises the follow tips when buying a platinum engagement ring:

1. Check the hallmarks on the ring to confirm it is a precious metal - there must be at least three different marks to be a full legal UK hallmark
2. If buying a diamond the four C’s, clarity, colour, cut and its size (carat weight) are the key factors that influence its value
3. Don’t be afraid to design your own - often the same price as purchasing one already on sale if purchased from a specialist jeweller such as the platinum ring company.
4. Try not to be influenced by fashions but the ring will be with the bride for life, so make sure it is something she can feel comfortable with for years to come
5. Make sure you get the engagement ring added to your household insurance - it can prove a costly item to replace if not documented. Your jeweller should provide you with a valuation certificate.

We accredit www.retail-jeweller.com for inspiration for this article.

Kate Middleton Receives Diana’s Ring

This month sees Prince William proposing to his long term girlfriend Kate Middleton. The couple have been together for several years now and William felt that it was time to tie the knot. He proposed during a private holiday in Kenya last month. He made the proposal using the same engagement ring that his father gave to Diana back in 1981. He said that it was so that his mother could be involved in some way with this special occasion.

The ring itself is a large sapphire surrounded by 14 rounds of diamonds set into 18k of white gold. Since it original outing, there has been numerous copies made in several material including platinum. However, with the news of the recent royal engagement sales of similar rings have soared. One similarly styled platinum ring at QVC, has received an overnight sales increase of more than 800%. Among the benefits of these rings, is the use of platinum over white gold. While white gold is prone to tarnishing, platinum does not suffer from the same flaw.

The ring itself is of an antique style, which tends to be frillier than the modern styles. Kate’s ring features a central stone surrounded by several smaller stones, creating a striking but bulky piece. Modern designs tend to be more elegant and designed to accentuate rather than draw attention. There have been several innovations that made it possible for platinum rings to be created with ever more detail in the actual body of the piece. With many designs utilising a etched design with gems set into the band, which creates a cleaner line on the hand.

The Platinum Ring Company offers a range of platinum engagement rings in a variety of styles, for your very own princess to choose from.

Planning and budgeting that special purchase

A piece of platinum jewellery is an investment that can be passed from generation to generation.

Your platinum engagement and wedding rings will evoke memories of the most important day of your life forever – remember to leave enough time to plan their purchase.

When budgeting for engagement rings, a rule of thumb is two months’ salary, but it comes down to what you are comfortable with. Bare in mind that most men do end up spending a little more than they originally intended.

Although both will be equally as precious, the man’s platinum wedding band often has a higher value than her wedding band. This is simply because his ring will tend to be larger and require more platinum.

We recommend leaving at least four months to plan for your wedding rings, allowing sufficient time and budget for any personalisation or adjustments to create your perfect rings.

Platinum rings and the Cost of a Modern Wedding

Two of my best friends recently got engaged, so for the past few weeks all we have heard about is about wedding venues, hire cars and churches. She has even started looking longingly into every wedding dress shop that we pass, despite the big day being more than two years away. Yet when I asked her about wedding rings, she didn’t have a clue. This seems an odd paradox to me, as we spend so much time and money on the frivolous aspects of the wedding day when the enduring symbol of the day is treat as an afterthought. Platinum rings offer an amazing investment both in terms of retaining financial value and because it will remind you of your love every day that you wear it. The longevity of platinum jewellery is one of its most prominent benefits, as when the ring is scratched the metal is simply displaced unlike gold where a scratch means a reduction in content. This means that you can wear your platinum ring every day without fear of spoiling it.
The cost of weddings is rising every year, with the average UK wedding costing around £15,000. With wedding dresses alone costing on average £900.00, it does make you wonder about the implications of investing so much in an outfit that you will only wear once. The platinum ring company offer a wide range of platinum wedding rings starting from as low as £225. Your ring will last you a lifetime, as platinum retains its gleam with only the minimum of care. It is often easy to forget, amongst the throngs of bridesmaids, caterers, photographers and elderly relatives that your wedding day is meant to be about you. That special moment when the bride and groom stand at the alter and his hand shakes as he places the ring on her finger. This moment symbolises for me the true union of the couple, as they embrace their new life together. As such the choice of rings is a pivotal choice in the wedding arrangements. There are many styles of ring available including varieties of shape, settings and weights. There is a growing trend among many young couples to purchase tailor made rings that have a common theme intrinsically link the pair. Platinum is the current on trend metal to make jewellery out of, as it has a reputation for quality. While being more expensive than gold, platinum creates a classic impression and works especially well with diamonds. With the bright sheen of the metal complimenting the light displaced by the jewel.
Visit the Platinum Ring Company for an exquisite collection of platinum wedding rings.

Platinum Jewellery Presence at the MTV Awards 2010.

Platinum jewellery was once again prevalent among the celebrities attending the MTV music awards this year. While Lady Gaga’s bizarre “meat” dress, may be the most talked about aspect of the event for a long time to come. The event also exemplified several new trends in the jewellery industry, such as oversized earrings and stacked bracelets. However, the most notable trend is blackened metals and diamonds. Combing blackened diamonds with classic platinum, creates a visually stunning piece of on trend jewellery. Blackened platinum is created by using a femtosecond laser to blast Nano scale features into the surface of the metal. As this alters the surface of the metal, the changes are permanent. This treatment can be used on most metals and create a vast array of colour. These blackened metals were all the rage at the MTV awards, being worn by several A list celebrities.
The comedian Chelsea Handler hosted the event and managed to fit in at least five changes of outfit. One of her many outfits was paired with a glorious platinum cuff bracelet set with a black diamond. She wore matching platinum earrings encasing an arrangement of colourless and black diamonds, creating an extra layer of definition to the jewellery.
Actress Sofia Vergara was also on trend by wearing a platinum blackened cuff with matching earrings. The platinum jewellery was set with a combination of clear and blackened diamonds. To further accentuate her outfit, Sofia opted to wear a glamorous diamond dome platinum ring.
Black, or Carbonado diamonds (Carbonado means "burned" in Portuguese) are among the world's rarest diamonds. The term was coined in the mid-1700s in the regions of the Central African Republic and Brazil, where they are usually discovered. The diamonds are not really black, but instead contain dark inclusions that lend themselves to the black look of the gem. These diamonds are extremely rare, adding extra glamour to their usage.

Twilight actress Ashley Greene attended the awards to help collect the plethora of awards received by the twilight movie franchise. Competing in the fashion stakes with her glamorous co-stars , Ashley wore Lorraine Schwartz platinum earrings set with exquisite black diamonds. She also wore a platinum bracelet with black diamonds and sapphires, to add another layer of colour.

Visit the Platinum Ring Company for more information about Platinum Jewellery.