To the untrained eye, two of the most popular precious metals – platinum and silver – can appear to be the same. At first glance, they’re both shiny, metallic, and have a gray hue. But the commonalities between platinum and silver stop there, as a jeweler can differentiate easily. After reading this, you’ll be more confident with these two precious metals.
Why differentiate in the first place?
While platinum and silver share many properties, there are also differences that stand out. If you are selling platinum or silver or attempting to, being educated on these differences will make it easier to sell, know who to sell it to, and how much you should be getting for it.
Knowing the difference between these two will put you ahead of the general public and make it possible for you to turn around and sell items, making yourself a high profit.
The differences in the two
The differences go beyond what they look like on the outside. It has a lot to do with the properties in which they are made. Gold is rarer than silver, and platinum is rarer than gold and silver – so rare, in fact, that all of the platinum ever mined could fit in a living room. So platinum will always be more valuable than silver because there is much less of it and the demand will always be high.
Silver and platinum both have been a part of many civilizations and cultures. Silver has been a standard of currency with most countries, providing a solid foundation for economies, while platinum always has been seen at as a symbol of high status. Two metals could not be more polar opposite with the way they are used: silver being used for coins while platinum is used to make crowns for royalty. An easier way to put is that silver is the “working class” of precious metals while platinum is the “elite class.”
Platinum has a high melting point, giving it max durability and top-notch quality. Since this is the case, platinum is used to connect rare stones such as the Hope Diamond.
Although they look related by just to the eye , that is where similarities stop.
The differences in appearance
Mentioned above, looking at them makes it hard to distinguish the two. Here is how to tell the two apart.
Since the Native Americans roamed North America, platinum has been used as a white alloy with gold because platinum has a much whiter color than silver. This is a difference that many jewelers will spot out.
The added “whiteness” that platinum boasts gives it a bright shine that silver lacks. Silver normally is not as pure and shiny as platinum, and after practice, the difference will become more evident.
Now that you know the ins and outs of platinum and silver, you can put your knowledge to work. While dealing with jewelers, whether you are buying or selling, you’ll be more confident while pondering the sale of your treasures.
