The modern engagement ring is made from a number of different precious metals, and one of most interesting of these metals is the precious metal platinum. Platinum is now a popular metal for use in the engagement ring industry, but it was not always this way. While platinum is more expensive than gold, and is far stronger and more durable than gold, it has not always enjoyed the great popularity for use as the metal for an engagement ring that it enjoys today.
Platinum had been used for centuries by Native Americans, but it is quite unlikely that it was used for the purpose of creating an engagement ring for a loved one. The engagement ring was a jewelry item that Europeans introduced, and until they discovered platinum in the 1550s, the engagement ring was primarily made from gold or silver. The odd thing about the discovery of platinum, however, is that while the Native Americans understood its value as a strong metal, the Europeans considered it to be a nuisance mineral, interfering with their quest for gold. The very name “platinum” comes from “platina”, a Spanish word meaning “little silver”. By 1741, platinum had been isolated as a metal, and its long road toward being used as a metal for jewelry items, such as the engagement ring, began.
Platinum was recognized as a metal that could be highly polished and would be long lasting as well as extremely strong, making it a good metal for the symbolic nature of the engagement ring. However, the metallurgic technology that would allow the regular working and use of platinum for the purpose of jewelry such as the engagement ring would not come about until the late 19th century. This meant that platinum was far too difficult to work with, and far too expensive as well, for almost three and a half centuries after its “discovery” by Europeans. As a consequence, few but the wealthiest were able to have jewelry, such as the engagement ring, made out of platinum. In fact, France’s 18th century king, Louis XV, declared that only royalty could utilize the metal platinum.
With the dawning of the 20th century, new technology allowed for the far easier working and fashioning of platinum. This allowed many people to choose the incredibly strong metal for use in the engagement ring. Platinum’s great strength also helped to usher in a new era in engagement ring design, as platinum settings could safely hold incredibly large gems, as well as holding great numbers of gems. Platinum also allowed engagement ring designs in which thin metal strands flowed across one another, creating delicate but strong jewelry.
Today, the popularity of platinum continues to grow, whether for use in an engagement ring or some other form of jewelry. The allure of the white-grey metal continues to intrigue anybody who looks at it. The great strength, lasting durability and rich beauty of platinum continue to make it the ideal metal for an engagement ring in the minds of many people. Despite having a greater expense and weight than other metals, its ability to retain its look without tarnish or damage, and its hypoallergenic quality makes platinum a certain choice for more and more people in regards to the engagement ring for years to come.
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