Platinum is one of the most expensive metals in modern world. It is actively used in the chemical industry, medicine, technology, and in the manufacture jewelry. In China, for example, 20 tons of platinum jewelry are produced annually. What causes such a demand for this metal? Why is platinum more expensive than gold on the stock market? What makes this metal special?
How is platinum different from gold?
Platinum has a grayish White color, similar to silver. Because of its color, in the 16th century, when this valuable metal was supposedly discovered by Spanish conquistadors in Mexico, it was called “platinum,” that is, “rotten silver.”
It is heavier than gold because it has greater density. Along with this, it is distinguished by a number of other properties:
- more resistant to chemical attack and oxidation when heated;
- has pronounced anti-corrosion properties;
- stronger than gold (platinum products are almost impossible to scratch, while gold, especially low-grade gold, is at risk of this);
- high degree of fire resistance and refractoriness - platinum melts only at a temperature of 1768°C;
- higher electrical conductivity than gold;
- The purity of the metal does not cause any allergies.
Thus, thanks to unique properties Platinum is often valued more than gold, along with metals such as iridium, osmium, palladium and ruthenium. They are often found as associated compounds in the mining of platinum-containing ore.
The most common sample used in industry and jewelry making- 950. An alloy of platinum and gold is the most durable and expensive. Only very wealthy people can afford products made from it.
Where is platinum used?
Why is this metal so popular? Unique chemical and physical properties allow it to be used in various industries. And the limited amount of this valuable raw material on Earth stimulates demand and encourages people to purchase metal not only for everyday needs, but also for future use. It should be noted that the demand for platinum on the market today exceeds supply many times over.
So, it is actively used:
- in electronics and technology (for example, for coating mirrors in lasers);
- as a catalyst for a huge number of chemical reactions associated mainly with the production of fuel;
- in medicine (in dentistry and oncology for the treatment of cancer);
- in jewelry;
- for minting coins and insignia (including orders and medals).
Due to its increased thermal conductivity (many times greater than that of gold), platinum has gained particular popularity in electronics. The production of not a single modern microprocessor is complete without the use of valuable metals - from sputtering to semiconductors.
Alloys of platinum with various metals are used in jewelry. Particularly expensive products are made from alloys and pure raw materials.
Leading jewelers prefer to use white gold when creating settings for diamonds. It better emphasizes the cut of diamonds and does not change the color of the gemstone (gold turns the product a little yellow). Another advantage of platinum over gold: the frame made from it is stronger, the stones are guaranteed not to fall out of the frame under strong physical impact.
History of white gold
Andean civilizations have been mining platinum since ancient times. After the conquistador invasion, the main exports of metal from South America went to Spain and Portugal. The state initially banned the import of platinum, as counterfeiters took advantage of the similarity of platinum to silver. But subsequently the royal mint refocused on minting money from this metal, which was useless at that time.
European alchemists, who considered gold to be the heaviest substance, perceived platinum as a demonic metal - it turned out to be heavier and stronger. Until the beginning of the 20th century, platinum did not find much practical use. It was used mainly for minting coins or making standards in national Accounting Chambers - meters, kilograms, and so on.
In Russia, platinum has become known since 1819, when a deposit of these ores was discovered in the Urals. At that time, the valuable metal was used in best case scenario for the needs of the mint, at worst - as a fraction. A lot of platinum was exported. For example, in 1867, the Russian government sold more than 16 tons of ore to England, and Great Britain for many years became a monopoly on the sale of products made from this metal, without having a single ore deposit on its territory.
With the development of the chemical industry, scientists found platinum practical use. Gradually, methods were developed for purifying metal from impurities and casting them in the form of products and ingots.
From the 18th century until the First World War, Russia was the main exporter of platinum (about 95% of world production). Then the palm was transferred to Colombia and the Republic of South Africa. In the USSR, data on the extraction of valuable minerals was classified, so there is no information on its extraction. Modern Russia contains the largest deposits of platinum, but produces little more than 5% of total world production.
Currently, the most valuable minerals are mined in South Africa (more than 80%), the remaining share comes from Russia, the USA, Colombia, Canada, Zimbabwe and a number of other countries rich in mineral resources.
Platinum is one of the most actively bought and sold precious metals on the stock market after gold and silver.
Platinum is one of the most expensive metals on the planet. It was first discovered by the Spaniards in Colombia in the sixteenth century during gold mining. They found unknown impurities in it, which they could not melt then. Then this noble metal was mistaken for bad silver and so called (platinum - translated from Spanish as “bad silver”). The king was afraid to spoil the reputation of Spain, which was famous for the excellent quality of gold products, and for this purpose he ordered the destruction of all collected platinum. Thus, for almost fifty years, one of the most expensive metals was dumped into rivers due to the lack of the possibility of processing it. At present, there is active debate about what is more expensive: platinum or gold.
Platinum is the most precious metal on earth.
Platinum Basics
Platinum is a malleable metal with a density of 21.4 grams per cubic centimeter and a melting point of 1773.5 degrees Celsius. In nature, platinum is found in the form of nuggets and in ore deposits. It is almost twice as dense as gold and stronger than all known metals on earth. Platinum is a great competitor to gold, having very high corrosion resistance. Therefore, a discussion often arises: what more expensive than platinum or gold.
At the end of the 18th century, the world discovered the amazing properties of a previously unknown metal. Platinum has become a symbol of reliability and immutability. She was admired by the greatest people of civilization.
Jewelers fell in love with this beautiful white metal for its high strength and noble color, emphasizing the purity of diamonds. While a yellow gold setting gives a subtle tint to the stone, a platinum setting emphasizes all the advantages of the noble mineral. For using platinum in a setting precious stones There are also more practical reasons: due to its strength, it acts as a more reliable element of the frame than soft gold.
Platinum mining in Russia
In Russia, the development of deposits of “unprofitable silver” has also begun. At the beginning of the 19th century, rich deposits of platinum were found in the Urals, near the Upper Neiva. Russia has become the leader in the extraction of this precious metal. Platenniks or Ural chervonets appeared - platinum coins weighing 10.3 grams, which were valued at three rubles. Why platinum is more expensive than gold now is a fairly common question. History knows periods when “white” metal was more expensive than its “yellow” counterpart.
The Urals contain some of the world's largest platinum deposits.
In the twenties of the nineteenth century V.V. Lyubarsky conducted a series of studies, during which it turned out that white, shiny particles of platinum are not soluble in any acids. He made the following conclusion: “Siberian metal belongs to a special kind of raw platinum, containing a significant amount of iridium and osmium.”
A little later, huge deposits of platinum were found in the Urals, which brought Russia to first place in gold mining.
Research on platinum led to the discovery of other metals close to it, which are also quite highly valued and have similar chemical and physical properties. They were named: palladium, rhodium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium.
Metals immediately found application in industry. In medicine, platinum-iridium electrodes support the cardiac activity of patients with angina pectoris. In oncology, a platinum complex can reduce a patient’s tumor. Platinum is pure, it does not contain impurities that can irritate the skin, therefore it is widely used in medicine.
Parts of medical instruments made of platinum.
Today, platinum is one of the most expensive metals, the demand for which prevails over the supply. Many companies work with this metal; many newlyweds prefer to seal their union with rings made of this particular metal. Louis 16 once declared that platinum is the only metal worthy of kings.
Why is platinum so expensive?
Why is platinum more expensive than gold on the world market? There are several reasons for this price difference. Platinum is heavier than gold. This means that a platinum ring weighing 16 grams will be heavier than a gold ring made in the same volume by 6 grams. That is, with the same processing and complexity, a product made of platinum simply outweighs products made of gold. Platinum jewelry contains 95% pure metal. While gold jewelry never contains pure gold, it is simply impractical. Platinum jewelry contains only 5% impurities of other metals. Thus, platinum jewelry is the purest and most durable in the jewelry world.
Products made from platinum are elegant and especially durable.
Processing platinum is much more difficult than processing gold. This implies an increase in labor costs and an increase in prices. The demand for gold is higher, so the production volumes of platinum jewelry are lower, which allows manufacturers to slightly inflate prices for this metal.
What is more valuable: white or yellow gold?
There is no clear answer to the question “which gold is more expensive”. It all depends on the alloy ligature. Yellow contains copper and silver, white contains palladium or platinum. All that remains is to calculate which of these metals is more expensive. The composition of white gold determines its high price. Therefore, it is impossible to confidently say what is more expensive: rare white gold or common yellow gold.
Yellow gold is more common, but .999 pure gold alloys are very rarely used for jewelry.
This is explained physical properties gold, which make the metal impractical for everyday wear. Therefore, in order to give gold strength, copper and silver are added to it. Depending on the amount of copper, the shade of gold changes. White gold alloys are platinum, palladium, and nickel. White gold with platinum is an elite metal that costs more than white gold with palladium and yellow gold. Platinum will give the alloy hardness and wear resistance. It imparts its shine and impeccable color to the alloy. White gold with palladium has a subtle yellow tint, and white gold with nickel is banned in many countries due to the allergic effect of nickel on the skin. But you should not make hasty conclusions about what is more expensive, the malleable metal gold or palladium, which belongs to the class of platinum metals.
The cost of gold does not depend on the color, but on the composition of the alloy.
In many ways, the price of the alloy depends on the complexity of processing. Because of the high melting point of the platinum metals added to white gold, it is much more difficult to machine than the easy-to-work yellow metal. Which gold will cost more to the jewelry buyer, white or yellow, remains for the consumer to judge.
Properties of platinum
Platinum is a malleable white metal. Platinum is capable of absorbing some gases, including hydrogen and oxygen, on the surface. Enters into full-fledged chemical reaction only with hot aqua regia.
There is no clear answer to the question of what is more expensive: dazzling platinum or white gold - these are precious metals, the cost of which is too dependent on external factors.
Metal nanoparticles can painlessly penetrate body cells and affect vital processes. One of the main characteristics of platinum is its ability to destroy free radicals, which contribute to aging. Platinum is also used to treat cancer.
Therefore, the answer to the question of which gold is more expensive: white, containing platinum or yellow, can be simply answered - the one that contains a minimum of impurities.
Pure platinum is practically not found in nature, therefore, it is mainly found in various ores: cuproplatinum, polyxene, nickel platinum, platinum compounds with arsenic, sulfur, antimony.
Open pit platinum mining in Zimbabwe.
Ore is mined using both open and closed methods. For most placer and some primary deposits, an open method is available; for primary deposits, only a closed method is used. After wet enrichment, raw concentrate is obtained - a concentrate with a high percentage of metal minerals. Subsequently, it is sent for refining.
Application of platinum
Over the past couple of decades, demand for platinum has outstripped supply. Perhaps this, to some extent, can explain why platinum is more expensive than gold. If before the Second World War half of the platinum was used by jewelers, now almost all of the mined platinum goes to the development of science and industry. She played a big role Chemical properties: acid resistance, heat resistance and stability when ignited. Platinum is used to make: crucibles, cups, glasses, spoons, spatulas, spatulas, tips, filters, electrodes. The largest consumers of platinum were the chemical and oil refining industries. Platinum is one of the best catalysts for the oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen oxide NO in the main process of nitric acid production. Platinum catalysts accelerate many other practically important reactions.
The automotive industry uses the catalytic properties of platinum, which helps neutralize exhaust gases. In addition, platinum is used in the manufacture of:
- Insoluble anodes in electroplating;
- Galvanic coatings;
- Heating elements of resistance furnaces;
- Permanent magnets;
- Electrodes for the production of perchlorates, perborates, percarbonates, peroxodusulfuric acid.
In medicine, platinum is used to make surgical instruments that cannot oxidize when sterilized with an alcohol burner. Medicines containing platinum are used in chemotherapy and successfully shrink tumors.
08.09.2014
A list of the 18 most expensive substances in the world, which may be very useful to you. Suddenly, a pack of graphene falls out of someone’s pocket, and you won’t even know what it is. And the main thing is how much it costs.
Let's start, strange as it may sound, with the cheapest substance on this list - gold.
18. Gold - $56 per gram.
Gold has long been considered the most expensive thing on Earth. But its main value was that it could serve as a universal currency, liquid almost throughout the world.
In addition to its traditional use in the jewelry industry, gold can be used as an electrical conductor and to prevent corrosion. Gold is very heavy metal: The density of pure gold is 19,621 kg/m? (a ball of pure gold with a diameter of 46 mm has a mass of 1 kg).
Among metals it ranks sixth in density: after osmium, iridium, rhenium, platinum and plutonium. The high density of gold makes it easier to mine. The simplest technological processes, such as, for example, flushing at locks, can provide very high degree extracting gold from washed rock.
17. Rhodium - about $58 per gram.
Rhodium is used primarily in catalytic converters to reduce vehicle carbon emissions. This metal does not play any biological role.
Rhodium compounds are quite rare in Everyday life and their effects on the human body have not been fully studied. Despite this, they are highly toxic and carcinogenic substances. Rhodium salts can strongly stain human skin.
16. Platinum - about $60 per gram.
Platinum and its alloys are widely used in the production of jewelry. Every year the global jewelry industry consumes about 50 tons of platinum. Currently, about 10 million platinum products with a total weight of about 25 tons are sold annually in China.
Russian demand for jewelry platinum is 0.1% of the world level. Platinum, gold and silver are the main metals that perform a monetary function. However, platinum began to be used for making coins several thousand years later than gold and silver.
The world's first platinum coins were issued and circulated in the Russian Empire from 1828 to 1845. The largest platinum nugget currently existing is the “Ural Giant” weighing 7 kg 860.5 g. It was discovered in 1904 at the Isovsky mine. Nowadays it is kept in the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin.
15. Methamphetamine - $100 per gram.
Methamphetamine hydrochloride was produced in the USSR until the 1970s in the form of 3 mg tablets called Pervitin.
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant with an extremely high additive potential, and therefore has become widely used as a drug.
There are known cases of smoking crystals of methamphetamine hydrochloride (“ice”, “ice”, “glass”), which for this purpose are sometimes specially prepared in the form of large crystals (rather than fine powder). This is the most additive application method.
When properly individualized, methamphetamine reduces feelings of fatigue, induces energy, increases mental and physical performance, reduces the need for sleep (allowing for round-the-clock work, which is often used by low-wage workers in Asia) and suppresses appetite.
14. Rhino horn - $110 per gram.
The horn is prized in Vietnam for its supposed ability to cure cancer. Its medicinal uses also include the treatment of fevers and other illnesses.
If a rhinoceros's horn is cut off or damaged, the animal will most likely not survive, but in young animals it can grow back. No one knows what its real function is, although females whose horns have been removed for some reason completely stop looking after their offspring.
Rhinos are endangered, primarily due to the huge demand for their horns. African rhinoceros horn is also highly prized in the Middle East, especially Yemen, both for medicinal reasons and for making the handles of traditional daggers. Since 1970, 67,050 kg of rhinoceros horn have been imported into Yemen. With an average weight of 3kg per horn, this means that 22,350 rhinos were killed.
13. Heroin – $131 per gram
High-quality heroin can cost up to $130 per gram. This opiate is injected intravenously, snorted and smoked to alter consciousness.
According to data presented in a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at the end of 2009, Russia ranked first in the world in the amount of heroin consumed. On average, about 80 tons of the drug are consumed in the country per year, which is 20% of the amount of heroin consumed in the world. Physicochemical characteristics: Pure substance - white crystalline powder. The unrefined product is a bitterish, grayish-brown powder in the form of small crystals with an unpleasant odor.
12. Cocaine – $215 per gram
Cocaine is a methyl ester of benzoylecgonine, a tropane alkaloid, which has a local anesthetic and narcotic effect.
Along with other alkaloids, it is found in plants of the genus Erythroxylum, in particular: Cocaine bush (Erythroxylum coca), Erythroxylum laetevirens, etc. Cocaine is the second, after opiates, “problem drug”, a narcotic substance, the abuse of which represents a significant socio-economic problem .
Currently, cocaine is the most widely used drug.
The popularity of this narcotic substance is due to its stimulating effect, improving mood and increasing performance. Cocaine itself does not have a distinct taste or smell; its organoleptic properties are provided by the impurities present in the mixture.
Worldwide cocaine consumption is estimated by experts at approximately 750 tons per year, with approximately a third of this volume occurring in the United States, which is the largest consumer of this drug.
11. LSD – $3,000 gram
In crystalline form it costs about $3,000 per gram. A psychoactive substance in Russia is legally classified as a drug.
Like most similar surfactants, LSD does not cause physical dependence. LSD is sensitive to oxygen, ultraviolet light and chlorine (if in solution), but can be stored in darkness, low humidity and low temperature for many years.
IN pure form LSD is colorless, odorless and slightly bitter in taste. It is usually consumed orally, for example, using a small piece of paper (“stamp”) soaked in a solution of the substance, or a piece of sugar, or in the form of gelatin.
In liquid form, LSD can be taken in the form of drops (hence the English expression “drop the acid”) or administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection.
10. Plutonium – $4,000
Plutonium is a heavy basic chemical element that owes its origin to the “Big Bang” of the Universe.
A heavy, brittle radioactive metal of a silvery-white color. In the periodic table it is located in the actinide family. Widely used in the production of nuclear weapons, nuclear fuel for civil and research nuclear reactors, and as a source of energy for spacecraft.
Plutonium was very often used in nuclear bombs. Historical fact is the dropping of a nuclear bomb on Nagasaki in 1945 by the United States. The bomb dropped on this city contained 6.2 kg of plutonium. The power of the explosion was 21 kilotons.
9. Painite – $9,000
Painite is a representative of rare minerals. For many years, only three of its crystals existed.
Until 2005, about 25 crystals had been found, most of the rocks were discovered in Burma. Initially, many of the known painite crystals were in private collections, and the remainder were divided between the British Museum of Natural History, the Hemological Institute of America, the California Institute of Technology and the Gem Research Laboratory in Lucerne (Switzerland). Listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most rare mineral in the world.
8. Taffeite – $20,000
This mineral exists in several colors - from gray-violet to lilac; colorless specimens have even been found. It is a million times less often found than diamonds. That's why little has been heard about him.
7. Tritium – $30,000
Industrial tritium is obtained by irradiating lithium-6 with neutrons in nuclear reactors according to the following reaction: It is used in military and civilian devices (illuminated compasses, lenses for reading maps in the dark), sighting devices, watches, key fobs, emergency inscriptions such as “exit”.
6. Diamonds – $55,000 per gram
Diamonds are the third most expensive substance in the world. Diamonds require specific conditions to form, so on earth they can be found in the lithosphere and on meteorites that fall to the ground. Despite the abundance of diamonds, people continue to value it as a rare and expensive mineral.
5. California 252 – 60 thousand dollars per gram
It was obtained artificially in 1950 by Seaborg's group at the University of California at Berkeley. The first solid compounds of californium - 249Cf2O3 and 249CfOCl - were obtained in 1958. The isotope 252Cf found the greatest use. It is used as a powerful source of neutrons in neutron activation analysis and in tumor radiation therapy. In addition, the 252Cf isotope is used in experiments to study spontaneous nuclear fission.
4. Americium - $140,000 per gram
Another transplutonium metal, with a very long half-life, which can reach up to 8,000 years.
Don't be afraid, americium-241 is most often used in production. It takes 450 years to decay, although we understand that this does not make it any easier for you. But this metal is extremely useful - equipment with americium-241 is also used to remove electrostatic charges from plastics, synthetic films and paper. It is also found inside some smoke detectors (~0.26 micrograms per detector).
3. Regolith (lunar soil) - $442,500 (for 0.6 g)
Regolith is what covers the surface of not only the Moon, but also all atmosphereless planets.
Let's say, the same Mars. But the Moon is the closest planet to us, to which, theoretically, we can fly, and we can send lunar rovers there every week. What does regolith consist of? Nothing remarkable: Ilmenite, Olivine, Anorthite, Pyroxene - all this can be found on Earth.
However, in 1993, at Sotheby’s auction, three “moon pebbles” with a total weight of 0.6 grams, brought to our planet by a Soviet research shuttle, were sold for $442,500. Why so expensive? So from the moon!
2. Graphene - $100 million (per sq. cm)
So you have to measure in centimeters. What it is? Two-dimensional allotropic modification of carbon, millions of times thinner than the thinnest human hair, so it's hard to look at her.
Why the hell is it needed? They say that a ballistic transistor can be assembled based on graphene, used in supercapacitors to obtain rechargeable current sources and in the production of LEDs. Novoselov recently told and showed in pictures how you can get graphene at home, so if you want to get rich quickly, look for instructions on the Internet.
1. Antimatter – $62.5 trillion per gram
The most expensive substance, worth $62.5 trillion, is antimatter or antimatter. In fact, its price is incalculable. When it encounters ordinary matter, it explodes, turning into light, so it is practically impossible to preserve it in anything.
However, during the experiment, scientists created antiprotons at the CERN accelerator and locked them in a vacuum chamber. At the same time, positrons were created using radioactive material and placed in another chamber. By combining them, antihydrogen was created.
1 ton of antimatter per year would cover the energy needs of the entire planet. One gram of antihydrogen produced using today's methods costs $62.5 trillion.
, .How many women, when trying on another piece of jewelry on their finger, know that the dull shimmer of platinum that attracts them is news from outer space? What journey did you take before winning the hearts of lovers of beauty and luxury? Let's talk about the history and properties of amazing platinum, which became a source of inspiration for such legendary jewelers as Cartier, Tiffany and Faberge.
Noble or precious metals
It is known that there are different types of metals. Most often we hear about blacks, coloreds and nobles. The latter include only eight elements - gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium. They do not oxidize, are resistant to environmental influences, have plasticity and easily form alloys. But not all of them are safe for humans.
Only gold, silver, palladium and platinum, which is the most expensive of these four, are used to make jewelry. But these metals are rarely used in their pure form. You can find out their concentration in your favorite product by looking at the sample. Let's figure out what platinum with the 950° mark is. This means that for 1 kg of jewelry alloy there are 950 grams of precious metal, the rest is alloying components. Platinum is the most durable jewelry metal. However, without alloying alloys, even it will not be highly wear-resistant.
Platinum or white gold?
Quite often you can hear that platinum is white gold. This is wrong. Their composition and properties are different. Let us answer the question of what platinum and white gold are. To do this, let's look at the periodic table. At number 078 there is a Pt element. Now it is clear what platinum is - a metal in its pure form. And white gold is a jewelry trick, when by adding silver, nickel or other impurities it is leveled yellow. His highest quality - 750.
Thanks to the popularity of white gold, platinum products have found their fans and are back in fashion. And although they are much more expensive, the strength of this metal makes it indispensable for wedding rings, as well as jewelry with stones, the durability of which depends on the reliability of the frame. By the way, another advantage of platinum is that it does not cause allergies, as often happens with white gold due to additional components.
All of the above, of course, affects the cost, but the main thing is the extraction method.
History of the Earth and precious metals
Several years ago, German scientists, having discovered Pt (078) in meteorites, began to think about what platinum is and how it appeared on Earth. According to researchers from the University of Mainz, there were no natural conditions for the formation of metals on our planet. If their homeland is Earth, then they should be in the molten core, and not in the upper crust.
Physicist Gerhardt Schmidt believes that metals were brought to us about 4 billion years ago, when the Earth was attacked by meteorites consisting of iron. The most ancient celestial messenger rich in platinum has been recorded, which fell to Earth about 2 million years ago. According to scientists, it took an average of 160 cosmic bodies with a diameter of about 20 km to form metals on the planet in the existing quantities.
We can conclude that the resource is quite limited. It is because of this that the price only increases every year.
Platinum deposits and mining
Platinum ore deposits are determined by accompanying rocks. It is found both in pure form and in compounds, for example, with nickel or gold. Ore formations can be either bedrock or alluvial. The latter are especially difficult to obtain. In Russia, at the time of the discovery of metal, work on placers was considered hellish, although the first machine installations were invented quite quickly.
Although geological mining techniques have become simpler today, platinum remains expensive to produce. To get it (this is about 31 grams), it is necessary to process more than 10 tons of raw ore.
The main country in which large deposits of platinum have been discovered is South Africa. About 151 tons of metal are mined here annually. Russia is in second place, producing approximately 26 tons of platinum. This is followed by Zimbabwe, the USA and Canada, producing from 9 to 5 tons per year. Platinum is also found in the lands of Japan, Australia and Colombia. By and large, it is found in almost every country, but it makes no sense to extract it on an industrial scale.
Interestingly, the Urals are the cradle of the two largest platinum nuggets in the world. Their weight is 5918.4 and 7860.5 g. Now we have roughly figured out what platinum is. Photos of products made from this metal can be seen in the article.
Ancient civilizations and the use of platinum
Modern scientists find the first gold objects with traces of platinum in Egyptian burials dating back to about 1200 BC. e. Documentary tablets made entirely of this precious metal appear around 700 BC. e. In the South American Inca civilization, ceremonial artifacts were made from both yellow and white metals.
An unlucky find - neither gold nor silver
Europeans became acquainted with refractory metal in 1590 in South America. What is platinum at that time? Just “rotten gold.” The Spanish conquistadors were so disappointed with the find that they nicknamed it “silver.” Having discovered grayish plates in gold placers, they considered that platinum was an impurity that spoiled the shine of the mine and was absolutely unsuitable due to the complexity of processing and dullness. So they nicknamed her - Plata, which means “silver”, with the diminutive and dismissive ending ina. When platinum fell into the hands of the conquerors of new lands, they simply threw it into the sea.
Conquest of Europe
In 1700, the silver element was discovered off the coast of Europe. It became the object of study by alchemists who wanted to figure out what platinum was. They did experiments, trying to determine its properties and turn it into gold. In 1751, Swedish scientist Theophil Scheffer identified platinum as a magnificent metal. And in 1780, King Louis XVI of France declared it as intended only for crowned heads.
His jeweler Mark Etienne Janety created several unsurpassed luxury items from platinum, including a beautiful sugar bowl with intricate designs. In 1788, Francisco Alonso commissioned the Spanish King Carlos III to create a 30 cm high candlestick intended as a gift to the Pope. This became possible thanks to the discoveries in platinum forging by Pierre François Chabolais and Joseph Louis Proust. Thus the French ushered in a new age of luxury in Spain. Its pinnacle is the Platinum Room in Arganese, the doors of which are open to everyone today.
But the most indisputable fact of the conquest of Europe by gray metal is its use in creating measurement system standards. In 1799, Marc Etienne Jeannetti, who left Paris after the French Revolution, was invited to create the platinum meter and kilogram. To this day they are kept in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.
Platinum wealth of Russia
The discovery of expensive ore in Russia, in the Urals, occurred much later - at the beginning of the 19th century. By that time, platinum had already conquered Europe and was considered the “royal” metal. Its deposits ended up in lands belonging to the Demidov family, who, thanks to their wealth, were already considered the secret masters of the Empire. The “discoverers” of the deposit were serfs Efim Kopylov and Emelyan Rostigaev.
Placers of large metal grains were only slightly covered with a plant layer. Later a short time Already thousands of Demidov serfs worked on the “podderniks”, processing almost 40 tons of platinum rocks almost by hand. It is said that the largest nugget mined weighed about 9 kg, but there is no reliable evidence for this.
Platinum in the hands of jewelers
So, by the end of the 19th century, platinum was a metal for the elite, climbing to Olympus because of its rarity and resistance to mechanical stress. It attracts lovers of brilliance and chic also due to its purity of use - today it is 950th sample.
The main popularizer of platinum in the jewelry world is considered to be Louis-François Cartier, founder of the well-known Cartier company. He considered it an indispensable material with limitless possibilities thanks to its flexibility and reliability. The famous image of the panther, inspired by his love for Jeanne Toussaint, is made of platinum with sapphires and diamonds.
However, he is not the only one who appreciated the merits of the silver material. His main competitor at that time was who also used platinum in designer products. By the way, many flower arrangements and animal motifs were borrowed by Louis Cartier from Faberge.
Interest in platinum grew, reaching a peak at the beginning of the 20th century, and did not subside until the Second World War. Royalty and Hollywood “stars” contributed a lot to this success.
"Platinum" disease from platinum blondes
In America in the 1930s for ordinary people cinema became a remedy for the anxieties and disappointments caused by the Great Depression. Hundreds of films about carefree rich men and their companions have appeared on screens. The icon of that time was Jean Harlow, who starred in Frank Capra's film Platinum Blonde. A bright beauty, luxurious and funny, she attracted both men and women with her easy approach to life. like other Hollywood actresses, shapes a new style chic. Diamonds set in platinum become his constant accessory. And the finishing touch to the image - fashionable color hair. Which? Of course, platinum.
More than a hundred years have passed, and we are seeing a return of love for this precious metal. The world needs beauty, sophistication and strength. Now we know everything about what platinum is. The pictures in the article clearly demonstrate the luxury and attractive appearance of this precious metal.
Many people have wondered: what is more expensive, platinum or gold? The answer to this question should be sought in several components. History attributes the discovery of platinum to the Spanish conquistadors.
When mining gold, it contained inclusions of a grayish color, which were difficult to separate from the main fraction due to its high refractoriness. At first, the material was thrown into the river as unnecessary. Only after a while was this admixture appreciated.
Translated, the word platinum means silver. This is due to the external similarity of both metals. Another name for platinum is bad silver. Incredibly, it was also called rotten gold, because it was believed that it was a second-rate unnecessary impurity.
Mining and use of platinum
The largest deposits of this unique metal are located in Russia. It owns 95% of the world's precious metal production. Platinum does not occur in nature in its pure form. Production is carried out by processing ore, which contains compounds of platinum with other elements. During technological operations, the rock is divided into fractions. And in this way they obtain pure material.
The first developments began in the Urals. Today, industrial mining of the precious mineral continues, which, thanks to its unique properties, has found wide application in various sectors of human activity. The properties of the metal - high refractoriness, endurance, hypoallergenicity, strength - have made platinum the most sought-after precious metal in technology and medicine.
It gained the greatest popularity in electronics. This is due to the high thermal conductivity of this element. The extensive use of rotten gold has found application in industries such as:
- technique;
- medicine (for the treatment of oncological diseases, in dental prosthetics);
- in the production of fuel as a catalyst for chemical reactions;
- in the jewelry sector;
- in the banking business.
The high cost of the material is determined by a number of factors:
To the listed properties it is worth adding that pure metal does not cause allergic reaction. These qualities distinguish platinum from gold.
Small resources discovered by geologists force the purchase of platinum in order to create reserves. Russia initiated the use of this metal in banking operations.
Small deposits in nature and high cost have generated demand that significantly exceeds supply. Today, investing in bank platinum (or jewelry) is considered one of the most successful in the world.
However, habit and the fact that most world currencies are directly related to the value of gold, and not platinum, has led to a situation where gold is considered the main means of savings in the world. Most countries create and accumulate their gold and foreign exchange reserves. The latter is also supported by the low demand in industrial production. To be fair, it is worth noting that on the world market platinum is almost 2 times more expensive than gold. The latter holds only 3rd place in the price ranking, after palladium and platinum.
Jewelry sphere
Pure platinum has become a good raw material for making jewelry. This is 950 standard, which means only 5% impurity in the product. But in the jewelry industry they often use an alloy of two components - platinum and gold. This connection is characterized by increased strength. Pure metal has a more saturated gray shade. The alloy is much lighter, its color can be called almost white. Experts call this metal white gold - it is the most expensive jewelry material.
This is what is used when working with diamonds. The beautiful noble white color with a metallic sheen sets off the exquisite beauty of the facets of precious stones, which is important for anyone jewelry. This is a significant advantage of platinum over gold, which yellow slightly obscures the beauty of the diamond itself. In addition to the aesthetic side, a practical factor is also taken into account - strength. This setting securely holds the diamond, preventing it from falling out even with strong intervention, and it is impossible to scratch the product.
The jewelry business actively sells jewelry made of white and yellow gold. Before making a choice – white or yellow gold, you should realistically assess your financial capabilities.
The high cost explains the low popularity of platinum jewelry. Only very wealthy people can afford jewelry made from this “silver.” And the combination of white and yellow metal makes the jewelry more expensive than usual.
Why are products made from “bad silver” so expensive:
The modern consumer is well versed in the intricacies of the jewelry business. The fact that white gold is more expensive has long been known. True, few people knew the reason for this state of affairs. Information about the formation of prices for precious metals, as well as an understanding of what white and yellow gold is, will help you navigate this area even better and understand which gold is best to purchase.
