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Precious Metals: A Jewelry Care, Cleaning and Purchasing Guide
Precious Metal Jewelry
Precious Metals have played an integral role in jewelry, the arts, currencies and trade since before the beginning of recorded history. Precious metal jewelry has maintained a significant symbolic value, in addition to high economic value, for thousands of years.
Distinctive in use and interpretation to each culture and society, precious metals in jewelry are representative of a wide array of symbolic significance. Rings, Pendants and coins derived from precious metals have been worn as jewelry, symbolizing life-long promises, social status and wealth.
Cleaning, Storage and Proper Precious Metal Jewelry Care
It is the rare metallic and transitional components of precious metals which make it possible for jewelers to create the transcendent treasures of the jewelry seen today. As research of natural elements and metals continues, new discoveries in industrial, alternative and noble metals fuel a constantly evolving world of jewelry design.
If you are curious about the appropriate cleaning, care and storage of your precious metal, please visit the Cleaning and Care outlined below. Alternatively, should you be interested in a new purchase of precious metal jewelry, it is important to familiarize yourself with the separate characteristics of each.
Through proper cleaning, care and elemental exposure, precious metal jewelry can be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
The most widely recognized precious metals are the coinage metals, Gold (Au) and Silver (Ag). The platinum group of precious metals (PGMs) includes Palladium (Pd), Platinum (Pt), Rhodium (Rh), Rutheium (Ru), Osmium (Os) and Iridium (Ir).
Gold (Au)
An indestructible material, gold is not only impervious in pure form to any tarnishing, but also has the unique ability to be simultaneously dense, soft, shiny, and malleable. Gold, in fact, is the most malleable and ductile of all metals.
To create various colors in gold metal jewelry, it is alloyed to proportion with other metals to yield the desired result. For example, ‘white gold’ is an alloy of gold and nickel.
The purity of gold is expressed in karats (kt), on a scale of 24, or in fineness, on a scale of 1,000. Pure gold is 24 karat, or 1,000 fine. An alloy containing 75 percent gold would be defined as 18 karat gold, etc.
Reference Guide to Gold in Karats:
10k = 10/24 = 41.67% pure gold
14k = 14/24 = 58.33% pure gold
18k = 18/24 = 75.00% pure gold
Gold is the most highly regarded of the precious metals. With a distinct yellow color, gold also has the unique and impressive ability to maintain its luster. This precious metal is also resistant to oxidation in the air, water, or by solid chemical elements.
This is a highly sought after combination in precious metals, yet remains distinctive only to gold, helping to further solidify its eternal symbolic, currency, commodity and economic value.
Gold (Au) Cleaning and Care
- Gold responds well to a simple buffering with a soft cloth, giving gold a renewed shine easily.
- Most gold jewelry is completely safe to clean in a warm soapy water solution, able to be intricately cleaned with the bristles of a toothbrush without any visible harm.
- Many experts advise that gold purities of 18 karats or higher avoid any signs of discoloration or tarnishing through contact with household chemicals.
- Bleach, on the other hand, will definitely damage lower karat gold purities, and should be avoided completely with the care of any precious metal.
Silver (Ag)
Silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals. The brilliant white metallic luster of pure silver is one of the many reasons it is commonly used in jewelry. Being more affordable than gold, with strong ductile and malleable properties, silver is a popular choice in precious metal jewelry.
The recognition of possibilities for this precious metal with brilliant luster dates back to 3000 B.C, Historic notations observe, and acknowledge the common practice of separating silver from lead in Asia Minor and on the islands of the Aegean Sea.
While silver remains stable in pure air and water, it does possess the lowest resistance to contact with various other elements. Silver is easily susceptible to tarnishing when exposed to sulphur, hydrogen sulphide and various naturally occurring elements of the ozone.
Pure silver has the ability to maintain a vibrant luster for long periods of time when properly stored, cleaned and cared for. Silver jewelry is commonly used as a budget-friendly alternative to gold or platinum in diamond ring settings. The distinctive bright luster is a complementary metal to enhance the diamond of an engagement ring.
Silver (Ag) Cleaning and Care
- To maintain the brilliant luster distinctive to pure silver, avoid unnecessary exposure to moisture, peroxide and household solvents.
- The most effective approach to removing mild tarnishing, and brighten up your silver is by buffing the metal with a soft, dry cloth.
- If silver jewelry is severely tarnished, it is recommended that the item be taken for a professional cleaning by a reputable jeweler. If you are familiar with the process, using a silver cleaning solution at home can also remove stubborn tarnishing on silver jewelry.
Platinum Group Metals (PGMs)
Platinum in jewelry is actually an alloyed group of six other metals. Referred to as the platinum group of precious metals (PGMs), these include Palladium (Pd), Platinum (Pt), Rhodium (Rh), Rutheium (Ru), Osmium (Os) and Iridium (Ir).
Platinum (Pt)
The distinct whitish-gray color of transitional precious metal, platinum is vibrant, dense and malleable. Platinum also remains one of the rarest elements found within the Earth’s crust.
Not only is Platinum elegant in appearance, but also resistant to corrosion by air, water or oxidation. With the added benefit of hypo-allergenic elements, Platinum is a favored choice when it comes to choice of precious metal in jewelry.
Platinum is quickly becoming the preeminent metal for fine jewelry, having seen a rapid growth in popularity over the recent years. It is a metal more rare, and as a result, more expensive than even gold.
Platinum is the strongest precious metal found in jewelry. Commonly used in bridal and engagement ring settings, platinum is often attributed to bringing out the brilliance of diamonds through its unique shimmery luster.
Platinum (Pt) Cleaning and Care
- While platinum is extremely dense and strong, this precious metal is susceptible to scratching. It is recommended that you store platinum jewelry separately, in a velvet pouch if possible.
- Avoid the use of heavy cleaning solutions, and be sure to remove platinum jewelry prior to manual labor.
- With platinum jewelry, an occasional professional cleaning by a reputable jeweler, whom you know is experienced in the handling of platinum, is strongly recommended.
- How often this is necessary to maintain the shine and integrity of your platinum jewelry is dependent on how frequently you may wear it, whether there are diamonds or gemstones present, and how often you properly store your platinum jewelry.
Palladium (Pd)
Palladium resembles the vibrant coloring of silvery grayed Platinum. However, there are strong differences between the two chemically.
Palladium exhibits strong ductile and malleable qualities, yet it is the least dense and has the lowest melting point of all the precious metals. Palladium is among the top three most commonly used metals in manufacturing white gold alloys.
Ruthenium (Ru)
Ruthenium is only used in very small trace amounts, used in the manufacturing of Platinum precious metal jewelry.
A distinct element of Ruthenium is that this precious metal is unusually high in water resistance.
Rhodium (Rh)
Rhodium is one of the rarest of precious metals. It is also among the most expensive. Considered a noble metal, Rhodium is resistant to corrosion, which is in large part the reason it is utilized as an alloy in Platinum jewelry.
Osmium (Os)
Osmium is the densest natural element. Osmium is twice as dense as lead. Because of this quality, Osmium is often used to create the tips of fountain pens and other electrical contacts requiring of a high degree of durability.
Iridium (Ir)
A very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum family, iridium is the second-densest element (after osmium) and is the most corrosion-resistant metal.
Iridium was discovered in 1803 amongst insoluble impurities found within natural platinum. The Smithsonian Tennant responsible for the discovery named the metal Iridium, in honor of the Goddess of Greek Mythology, who was personified with a rainbow as a messenger of the Gods.
Fun Fact: The word ‘iridescence’ is derived from the discovery of Iridium, as the only naturally occurring isotope exhibits a vibrant contrast of colors within its salts.