Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

Yes, I Do Platinum!

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Platinum wedding band

Categories: Products; Jewelry

Word count/read time: 590 words; 3 minutes

Sometimes it's not enough to say you (can) do something. People want tangible proof instead of nebulous claims. There's a dedicated page to alleviate any doubts. Just about anything I make in silver or gold is possible in platinum.

While not as "desirable" as gold in most people's eyes, I consider it the precious metal king. It is at least 15x rarer based on the amount mined each year. When it comes to jewelry, tick another magnitude of rarity - platinum is a newbie with nary two centuries under its belt.

Platinum alloys are purer in general, the two most common being 0.900 and 0.950. In karats, that'd be 21.6k and 22.8k, respectively. I use the latter unless it is a special request or design. Platinum, like gold, is hypoallergenic. When they are alloyed, the constituent metals are the evildoers. Gold is worse, lower karats especially. Platinum contains different metals which shouldn't annoy sensitive skin (copper and cobalt mixtures beware).

As for durability, platinum is better than just about any precious metal alloy, white gold sometimes an exception (palladium is harder but not as good for many applications). Also, it doesn't lose material if scratched - the metal moves instead of being carved away. Up to 40% denser than 18k gold, some find its weight intimidating.

Why choose platinum over white gold? Non-palladium white gold is plated with rhodium for a silvery shine as most dislike its normal dull gray color. It has to be replated constantly. That's a hassle, a glorified plastic surgery refresher every few years. Wasted money for no added benefit.

There are several factors affecting platinum jewelry prices besides market fluctuations:

Its high density means more weight at any given size
The alloys are higher purity (unlike 10k or 14k gold)
It requires specialized tools and equipment to withstand high temperatures and avoid cross-contamination
More difficult to work with than silver or gold
Alloying metals aside from copper, cobalt, and tungsten are more expensive: iridium $8000/ozt, ruthenium $1800/ozt, palladium $1500/ozt

Still, it can be a less costly alternative to high-karat golds. Mainstream platinum alloys don't have much color variance across the spectrum unlike the kaleidoscope of gold alloys. Unless you absolutely must have a gold color, choose platinum.

Enough of the babbling. What can I make for you? Start with wedding bands and engagement rings (gemstone settings possible for some designs). Other items will be added quickly, including stacker rings, interlocked stacker rings, stacker bangles, interlocked stacker bangles, and more. As a chain afficionado, expect a doozy soon.

For a dash of it, pick a ring inlay. It really pops on blackened tantalum or zirconium. It's personal preference so I'm open to ideas.

I don't stock examples of everything for a few reasons. Inventory and cost: it would require several thousand rings and ~$250K to have one example of every size, wire diameter, and configuration for stackers and interlocked stackers alone, most of which would never sell. Plus, buyers want the perfect piece which is seldom an off-the-shelf example. I do custom orders so no worries getting exactly what you want.

I have the equipment to refine platinum though the magic happens with the alloying agents as they increase hardness and durability markedly. They would have to be purchased from specialty metal suppliers. Thus, I usually acquire pre-made platinum alloys and 100% handmake my products from there. It's standard industry practice though a departure from how I process silver and gold. Items will be welded if possible as that is the strongest and least detectable method.

Posted by M: July 30, 2026

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