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SOME TECHNICAL BASICS
 Weight: 21.45 grams per cubic centimeter
Melting Point: 3,223ºF (1,786ºC)
Refining: It takes eight weeks to make an ingot from the ore
Production: Each year approximately 88 tons of platinum are made into jewelry
Properties: Catalyst, hypoallergenic, resistant to heat and acids
Platinum group metals: Ruthenium, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Osmium
Measuring perfection: 1,000 parts = 100% platinum
| Purity levels and marks |
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| China |
900, 950 |
Pt |
| Germany |
850,950, 999 |
Pt950, pt999 |
| India |
950 |
Pt950 (by an assay office) |
| Italy |
950 up (but EEC is 850, 900, 950 and up) |
Pt950 and sometimes the word platinum (no assay office, done by manufacturer) |
| Japan |
850, 900, 950, 999. 1000 |
Pt then purity level |
|
US |
850, 900, 950+ are the most common purity levels |
Platinum, pt, plat (no standard) |
| Platinum alloys for jewelry |
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| Platinum - Copper |
Pt - Cu |
Medium hard for general purpose |
| Platinum - Palladium |
Pt - Pd |
Easier to use for delicate settings |
| Platinum - Cobalt |
Pt - Co |
For casting, wedding bands and fine wire |
| Platinum - Tungsten |
Pt - W |
Extra hard, for safety catches, pins, springs, watch backs |
| Platinum - Palladium - Copper |
Pt - Pd - Cu |
Copper for chain making and general purpose |
| Platinum - Ruthenium |
Pt - Ru |
Casting, Machining and Fabricating |
| Platinum - Iridium |
Pt - Ir |
Fabricating, Casting (950 Pt - Ir too soft for casting )
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