Jewelry Tips: Platinum jewelry costs more than gold jewelry for good reasons: Compared to the common gold alloys, 22k gold or 18k gold, buyers get more precious metal with platinum jewelry. It could also be called “the new and improved white gold”–it is naturally white and stays that way (gold does not). Platinum jewelry does develop a patina that many think gives it a vintage jewelry feel and makes a great background for diamonds or other gems. Denser than gold, platinum is heavier and more durable; it holds gemstones more securely and is hypoallergenic. More rare than gold, it is something few people will ever own. Perhaps most important, platinum will not wear away; the bracelet, earrings, necklace or ring you buy today will be the same on your golden jubilee. (Perhaps we should change that to the platinum anniversary!)

[tubepress mode='tag', tagValue='Careers in Jewelry ']

Jewelry Tips: Platinum that is at least 950 fine or 950Pt (95 percent) is considered pure and may be sold as platinum. Anything lower must be marked and described as platinum alloy; anything less than 850Pt cannot be sold legally in the US as platinum.

[tubepress mode='tag', tagValue='Jewelry Careers ']

Jewelry Tips: Precious metal jewelry buying tips

[tubepress mode='tag', tagValue='Schools Jewelry']

Jewelry Tips: Precious metals are all about the setting. What about the gem? Overstock.com has a variety of loose diamonds available at very reasonable prices. These stones can be set in any jewelry you already own.

[tubepress mode='tag', tagValue='Craft Schools Non Degree Programs Jewelry']

Jewelry Tips: Precious metals are gold, silver or any of what are now called the PGM or “platinum group metals” (platinum, iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium); all others are “base” or ”industrial” metals. “Precious” refers only to their use in jewelry; many “base” metals are extremely valuable to industry. For example, copper is a monetary metal, used in coins for millennia, and rhenium’s value is nearly ten times that of gold, but it’s so rare the entire output is committed to industrial use. Likewise, precious metals have industrial applications. Only two-thirds of gold mined and less that forty percent of silver becomes jewelry or coins. The rest goes to electronics, photography, medicine or elsewhere.

[tubepress mode='tag', tagValue='Industry Certification Programs Jewelry']

Jewelry Tips: Purity is always an important question when buying precious metal. Purity is generally described in “fineness” or parts per thousand. The standard is 999 fine or 99.9 percent pure.

[tubepress mode='tag', tagValue='Degree Programs–Jewelry Careers ']