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.

Platinum wedding rings are a great alternative to gold.

Platinum jewellery is probably one of the most romantic gifts that you can recieve on your wedding day. Platinum jewellery is generally recognised as a symbol of eternal and perpetual love, a love that will survive the ravages of time.

Platinum wedding jewellery is currently on trend as the metal of choice for wedding rings. As exemplified by Actress Megan fox having both a platinum engagement ring and a platinum wedding ring. There is now a wealth of new technology, that allows the metal to be crafted into evermore-intricate designs more efficiently. This efficiency saving can be passed down to the consumer in terms of pricing.

Platinum wedding rings provide both elegant and modern aesthetics to the pieces, that traditional gold often fails to achieve. Well-polished platinum has a vibrant lustre, which many regard as outshining its golden counterparts. Platinum is an incredibly durable material, which makes it the ideal choice for a wedding ring. It can easily withstand a standard household routine. Even if you constantly wear your ring 20 years after your wedding day, it will look the same as when you first wear it. One of the amazing properties of platinum is that if you directly damage the piece, the metal content won’t be affected; this is because it simply displaces across within the piece. Another advantage is that platinum is a naturally hypoallergenic metal.

Platinum is more expensive than gold, this is because platinum is much harder to obtain and manufacture. In mining terms, it takes ten tonnes of ore to be able to produce an ounce of platinum. Gold in comparison only needs four tonnes of ore to make the same amount of metal. This problem is further exacerbated by the smaller amount of platinum mines as compared to gold mines.

For more information about the benefits of platinum visit the Platinum Ring Company

Platinum wedding rings are the choice for modern couples.

In the last year there has been a global trend for couples to opt for platinum wedding rings, as opposed to the more traditional gold alternative. This is a return to dominance from the seventies, when platinum was also the precious metal of choice for wedding rings. One theory to explain this is that the current generation grew up buying each other silver love tokens, as they were the cheapest option for hard up teenagers. This practice has instilled in them a preference for lighter metals when choosing jewellery. Platinum wedding rings then become the natural choice, as they possess a beautiful shine but they also represent quality and endurance.
However, this trend is not a random peak in the industry, with more than 30 % of all wedding rings being bought in the decade being made from either white gold or platinum. This is reflected in the bridal industry, where most companies use Platinum jewellery on their models. Making it the metal of choice for wedding jewellery in fashion conscience circles, for example both Madonna and Christina Aguilera both opted for platinum wedding jewellery.
In terms of budget, you need to take into account the entire cost of your wedding event and your finances and see how best you can allocate funds to your ring. Although it is a tradition that the budget should be twice your monthly salary, it may not always be practical. Especially in the current daunting economic climate, as household finances are continuously stretched. However, a solid investment in a quality piece of jewellery could be a wise choice. While choosing platinum wedding rings it is important that you place the highest importance to quality and purity as this jewellery will be a lifelong piece. In this regard it is also important that the ring fits you so that the ring is worn comfortably. A wedding band is a symbol of unity and will be cherished for a lifetime. You need to give yourself adequate time to make your selection as there will be several decisions to be made while finalizing your perfect wedding ring.
It is potentially a problematic situation, when someone wants to buy their partner a ring without their prior knowledge and therefore, do not want them to come to the shop with them. However, there are other ways to ascertain the correct ring size. The buyer can covertly get a ring that their partner wears on the ring finger and take it to a jeweller for sizing. However, in many cases this ring will probably be an important piece. So making an imprint of one of their partner’s rings by pressing it into a piece of clay or other malleable substance will make an impression of it. This impression can then be taken to a jeweller to obtain an accurate measurement.
The Platinum Ring Company offers a wide selection of platinum wedding jewellery.

8 tips when buying platinum rings

Platinum is generally regarded as the most prestigious of metals, it has a special allure because of its rarity, purity and longevity. However, not all platinum is equal and not all platinum craftsmanship is the same. This article provides some useful tips on how to choose the perfect platinum ring for your needs.

1. Know the purity content of your platinum ring. As with all precious metals, platinum must be alloyed with other metals in order to achieve the hardness required for jewellery. A ring that is alloyed with 80% Platinum and 20% other metals is worth a lot less than a ring that is 95% pure platinum. The Platinum Ring Company products are 95% platinum across the range.

2. Check the hallmark on the inside of the ring. Regulations require all platinum bands to bear a stamp or "hallmark" on the inside of the band. In Britain, the mandatory hallmark consists of the makers mark, the purity mark and the assay office mark. There may be additional optional marks, for example a date mark or commemorative mark. The purity mark is the three number code (in a box with a pointed top), this shows the precious metal content. For example, if it says 950, this would reflect a 95% purity rate.

3. Ask your jeweler about the alloy used in your platinum ring. If you are buying a pure platinum ring (95% platinum), then it should be alloyed with either Cobalt or Ruthenium. These alloys produce harder platinum that can hold a mirror bright polish and resist years of daily wear. Many .95 pure platinum rings are alloyed with the less expensive metal Iridium, but these rings are softer and will become scratched and dull within a year of daily wear. The platinum ring company uses a 5% cobalt alloy in all their rings. As Cobalt helps to make the hard platinum metal workable in jewellery manufacture.

4. Seek a master platinum smith. Find an ultra-specialist focused on designing and handcrafting jewellery in platinum. Working in platinum is very difficult. The metal doesn’t melt until it reaches 3223º, unlike gold that melts at a mere 1700º. The tools needed to work in platinum are completely different as well. Given these challenges, there are but a few talented master platinum smiths who have the expertise to make high-quality platinum rings. The Platinum ring company has been in the retail jewellery business for over a decade and has accumulated a vast knowledge of rings and has a trusted relationship with their manufacturers. The products they offer have been chosen as they represent classic examples of beautifully crafted, high quality rings, manufactured by the best, award winning, British manufacturers.

5. Look for quality handcrafting in the engraving, filigree, pavé or other fine details. Platinum rings today come in thousands of designs with differing details to suit personal tastes. These details may include engraving, or deep cuts in the platinum that form a design. Some jewellery manufacturers choose to imitate hand engraving by imbedding a design into the ring’s casting. This prefabricated engraving will eventually wear off and lose its luster. Therefore, look for deep and intricate hand engraving, which typically lasts for generations. Filigree is another design element reminiscent of the Art Deco period. Again, to save costs, many jewelers prefabricate filigree in the casting process. The result is chunky filigree that lacks elegance and finesse. True artistry from the Art Deco period calls for filigree that is created from hand-drawn wires and sculpted then soldered into a piece. For the best quality, ensure that any filigree in the platinum ring is handcrafted. Bezel set with pavé is another extremely popular platinum ring option. Bezel set refers to a border of metal, often set with small diamonds that accent the center stone – and can make it appear larger. Bezel setting with pavé in platinum requires very specific expertise. Proper setting ensures that the focus is on the sparkle of the diamonds, not the platinum prongs holding in the stones. Noticing these fine points today will ensure the right choice for years to come.

6. Match your ring to your lifestyle. If high style and glamour are priorities in your life, go for a showstopper that’s loaded with exquisite hand artistry and a large center stone. If mountain climbing on Mount Kilimanjaro is your priority, forgo the delicate pavé work and opt for a platinum design with a low silhouette, that is, one that doesn’t elevate the center stone so that it won’t get banged around on rocks. Or, look at substantial platinum bands with unique engraving that look fashionable, yet are very practical. While most women fall somewhere in the middle, the point is that your ring needs to fit into your life. Some may feel more comfortable in a beautiful platinum band with an intricate floral design while others will gravitate toward a classic piece with a single center stone and filigree or the popular three-stone look with engraving. Nevertheless, since this purchase will likely be worn for ages to come, avoid the trendy, ultra-modern designs that promise to look dated in a few years.

7. Choose a style that looks best on your hand. Now that you’ve eliminated certain designs based on your lifestyle, figure out what looks best on your hand. a) Match the size of your ring to the size of your hand. If you are large-framed with large, angular hands, don’t choose a dainty piece that fades away. Rather look at bolder designs with a thicker platinum band or consider stacking several rings. If you are petite, choose more delicate pieces and plenty of details. b) Don’t be obsessed with the size of the center stone. It’s irrelevant that your best friend has a three carat. If it was set in white gold or poor-grade platinum, lacks style and its diamond has visible flaws, this is not a ring to covet. Think quality and substance in the design, the workmanship, the platinum alloy and the precious gems you select.

8. Select the right stone. While there are many options of gem to be set into your new piece of jewellery, perhaps, the most timeless is the Diamond. One of the many positive attributes of platinum is its ability to compliment the diamond that it holds, with its clean polished finish. Choosing the correct diamond is of key importance, due to the longevity of a piece of platinum jewellery. At the Platinum Ring Company all their diamond products come with a GIA/IGI diamond certificate, in order to show you are getting the quality of diamond you have paid for.

The Hollywood Appeal of Platinum Jewellery.

If you are looking good barometer of jewellery fashions, one of the best places to look is to the stars of Hollywood. 2010 is proving to be the year of platinum among the A listers, as exemplified by the Oscars ceremony. The stars choose platinum as its natural white color maximizes the brilliance of diamonds and colored gemstones, making them sparkle brighter. Platinum is a premier metal and is renowned for representing everlasting commitments due to the longevity of the metal.
At the 82nd Annual Academy Awards earlier this year, a host of stars choose to wear platinum jewellery, to accentuate the gowns on one of the key nights of the Hollywood calendar.
Miley Cyrus wore a stunning platinum and ruby ring with complementing diamond and ruby earrings made with platinum. Other stars wearing platinum jewellery included Sarah Jessica Parker, Demi Moore, Jennifer Lopez and Faith Hill. However, the platinum trend was not just confined to the ladies, with Robert Downey Jr wearing a platinum timepiece.

If you are looking for Hollywood style platinum ring visit the Platinum Ring Company, for a wide range of exquisite platinum pieces.

However, this trend of actresses flaunting their platinum is not a new one. In the iconic 1942 film “Now Voyager” Bette Davis wore an elegant cluster ring of five oval shaped sapphires set in Platinum to form the shape of a flower. Marlene Dietrich was one of the highest paid actresses in the pre-war period. When travelling to Morocco she chose to wear a stunning 5ct clear cut emerald, surrounded by four pear shaped CZs and four baguette CZs set in to a platinum ring. Perhaps the most poignant example of a Hollywood platinum ring is the one given to Marilyn Monroe by Joe Di Maggio. The ring comprised of 24 rectangle cut diamonds set in platinum and sold for $770,000 at Christies in 1999. Platinum is the obvious choice for long term gestures, such as engagements and eternity promises. As the metal is used in its pure form (unlike gold), when you scratch a platinum product the metal is merely displaced. So, even though wearing your platinum ring each and every day may leave an impression on the surface, it remains what it was - a symbol for all things eternal.
Even though Di Maggio and Monroe didn’t last as a couple, they remained close friends. When Marilyn died prematurely, Joe placed a dozen roses twice weekly on her grave for the rest of his life.
For a gesture of longevity, a platinum ring is the choice of the Hollywood elite and could be for you.

Fashion Jewellery

Platinum is a truly beautiful white-silvery metal, which is considered to be one of the most precious; along with gold, silver and bronze. It is quite rare and possesses unique properties, making it exclusive and perfect for creating the most sophisticated and luxurious jewellery items. In this article we will tell you about the history, properties of this metal and products made of platinum, including platinum jewellery.

History of Platinum

Natural platinum and platinum alloys have been known for many centuries. This metal was successfully used from the times of pre-Columbian America. As for Europe, platinum was first mentioned in 1557 in the notes of the famous Italian humanist July Cesar Skaliger, who described the metal found in Central American mines between Panama and Mexico as mysterious.

The biggest deposits of platinum were found in South Africa, which produces over 80% of the total amount of crop in the world. Russia and Canada are also among the leaders. These global giants are the largest in the production of platinum form its’ original source to other products, such as platinum wedding rings or other types of jewellery.

Properties of Platinum

Platinum is a very rare metal; which is why it’s often associated with wealth and luxury. The most important property of this material is its durability – throughout the processing any metal wears out, in other words, reducing its volume. As for platinum, its volume is permanent. White and yellow gold jewellery pieces get worn out and you need to repair them by replacing the worn out part with new metal. However, thins are very different with platinum – it doesn’t wear out and it could be described as timeless.

Platinum Jewellery

Exclusiveness, rarity, amazing shine and durability make this noble metal perfect for the production of luxurious jewellery items. Platinum jewellery has been well-known for many years; however it became widespread only after platinum deposits were found in Kimberly in South Africa. Cartier and Tiffany jewellery manufacturers were the first to introduce platinum-rimmed diamonds to the public, and they have experienced exceptional growth ever since this. Since then, the combination of precious stone and noble metal has become the most favourite one. This combination is the primary one in the production of platinum engagement rings and wedding rings.

Fashion designers worldwide say there’s nothing more attractive for a woman than platinum jewellery with diamonds. As modern consumers search for a beautiful alternative to gold and silver, platinum sales are only going to rise and this will increase the demand for platinum wedding rings and platinum engagement rings.

South Africa firm targets Zimbabwe platinum

SOUTH Africa-based diversified mining group African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) says it is looking at investing in Zimbabwe’s platinum sector as part of an ongoing regional expansion drive. Zimbabwe is increasingly becoming the next frontier for acquisitive mining companies who have been encouraged by a positive domestic operational environment as well as complementary world metal and mineral prices.

The latest to indicate interest in the country’s recovering mining industry is ARM which is owned by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe. ARM produces platinum, gold, nickel, iron ore, chrome and coal says it is considering entering Zimbabwe’s largely undeveloped but rich platinum sector. “We are looking specifically at platinum in Zimbabwe to see what we can achieve there,” company Chief Executive Andre Wilkens said.

Zimbabwe, which has large undeveloped platinum reserves, is moving to boost investments in its mining sector which is recovering from years of decline prompted by political instability and near-economic collapse. An increase in platinum mine investment could would make more of the precious metal available to the jewellery industry, and they in turn could satisfy the ever-growing demand for platinum jewellery.

The country’s platinum sector is dominated by Impala Platinum which owns the Zimplats operation in Selous in addition to a 50 percent interest in the Zvishavane-based Mimosa platinum mine. Rival Anglo platinum is also developing the Unki platinum mine in the Midlands province town of Shurugwi.

Investors have largely welcomed the policy changes announced by the country’s coalition government saying that it will help to improve the country’s economy, especially through platinum sales to the jewellery industry.

Worldwide demand for platinum jewellery spikes in 2009

Global demand for platinum jewellery rose by almost 80% in 2009, reaching 76.2 tonnes, according to the Johnson Matthey’s “Platinum 2009 Interim Review”. The review stated that China’s net demand for platinum reached a record high of 54.5 tonnes in 2009. Beijing currently accounts for a staggering 75% of global platinum jewellery demand, and is the biggest platinum jewellery market in the world due to the recent Chinese consensus that gold is out of date and fashion.

According to the Platinum Guild International (PGI), platinum prices are expected to remain stable in 2010, making market growth a likely possibility, thanks to both the bridal market – where people are increasingly choosing the clean modern look of platinum over more traditional precious metals; and the increasing numbers of younger platinum jewellery consumers.

Platinum Wedding Bands

Platinum can be considered the premium metal for wedding bands, engagement rings and jewellery in general. Platinum is strong and durable, so a diamond set in platinum is secure; it really is a great way to protect your diamond investment. You may have to pay a little more for platinum now, but you literally get a piece of jewellery that can last a lifetime.

Platinum jewellery is becoming more and more popular, pushing out more traditional precious metals such as gold and silver. Platinum wedding rings now frequently appear in fashion magazines and other publications, confirming their position as the new in vogue metal.

There is an increasing belief that platinum is the superior metal choice for both men's and women's wedding bands. Yet for each individual, the same metal can also be symbolic of very different things. For her, platinum represents the pure expression of love shared. It is precious, rare and eternal. For him, platinum is a magnificent, distinguished and resilient mineral that separates the man wearing it from those that do not. No other precious metal offers the same level of excellence.

It is not just the look of the metal that should be considered when buying platinum wedding rings, but the durability and potential life of the jewellery. With the inflated costs of nearly everything associated with throwing a proper wedding (the cake, music, cuisine, etc.), platinum is one of the few items that may actually increase in value as time passes. Your platinum wedding band can potentially become an heirloom, so you can pass it down to future generations, making it not only valuable in monetary terms, but giving it sentimental value too.