Gold:
-General info
Gold is the classic rich, warm color that has been used for centuries to create
pieces of value. Gold can be made in yellow, white, or rose and is suitable for
most fine jewelry applications. Gold is also formulated in different karat weights.
The higher the karat weight, the higher the gold content, the more yellow the gold
is, the heavier the gold is, and the more soft and malleable the gold is. 14k gold
provides the “best of all worlds” in that it is more than half gold
content, durable, and is more affordable than the higher karat golds. Gold is a
good choice for designs that are all but the most structurally delicate, and designs
with engraving, milgrain, and filigree; however, over the lifetime of a ring, gold
will microscopically flake off as it comes in contact with hard surfaces, causing
the ring to lose metal weight and show wear in some areas. Repairs to shank, prongs,
engraving & milgrain details can be expected--how soon or how often depends
on the wearer’s lifestyle. Also, certain alloys in gold have been known to
cause some skin allergies. If allergies are a consideration, gold can be plated
with Rhodium.
-Technical
A malleable precious metal, yellowish in tone, noted as Au on the periodic table.
Pure gold is very soft and must be alloyed with other metals, such as copper, silver,
zinc, silicon, and nickel, to gain workable strength and achieve various colors.
24k gold is 99.9% pure gold throughout, 18k gold is 75% gold throughout, and 14k
gold is 58% gold throughout. 14k gold is the most durable for jewelry making. Gold
does not react with most chemicals, but it is affected by chlorine, fluorine, aqua
regia and cyanide.
Platinum:
-General info
Platinum is greyish white, heavy, and very durable. Unlike gold, platinum will not
lose metal weight over time, though some repairs to platinum can be expected over
time, just due to normal wear. Platinum will take dings and scratches and wear to
a dull finish over time. Platinum is the recommended metal for filigree and detail
work that requires strength. It is very rare for platinum to cause skin allergies.
-Technical
Platinum is the most commonly used of the Platinum group of metals. (Ruthenium,
Rhodium, Palladium, Osmium & Iridium & Platinum)
Platinum (Pt) is a grayish-white metal. It has a high fusion point, is malleable
& ductile, expands slightly upon heating and has high electrical resistance.
It is a chemically inert metal and resists attack by air, water, single acids and
ordinary reagents. Platinum melts at about 1772 °C (about 3222oF), boils at
about 3827 °C (6921 °F) and has a specific gravity of about 21.45. Platinums' atomic weight
is 195.09 giving it high density.
The properties of platinum group metals are ideal for jewelry (although, like
gold and silver, pure platinum is too soft to be used by itself). In its pure form,
platinum is harder than pure gold or silver. Because platinum is usually alloyed
with other platinum group metals, it retains its density and it's resistance to
corrosion. It has little or no "memory", which means that, if it is bent,
it doesn't spring back to its original position. This makes platinum ideal for prong
settings and other delicate work.
Platinum is a little less malleable than gold and silver, and feels a bit “gummy”
when filing and drilling. This makes working platinum, and to a lesser extent Palladium-
(drilling, sawing, polishing)-more difficult.
Platinum has to be annealed often when it is worked. Cold working distorts
the metal's crystal structure, and the crystals become elongated and compressed.
Annealing (heating the metal until it's just below its melting point and holding
the temp for a short time) reverses that process and the crystals realign themselves.
Platinum's low heat conductivity keeps the heat from the torch from spreading.
Platinum's higher melting temperature makes it a bit more challenging to cast
too, because tends to “freeze up” quickly. The larger the piece, the
Harder it is to cast, so designs that can be assembled from several small castings,
rather than one or two large often work out better. Working in platinum requires
different skills than the basic goldsmith learns in school. Making and repairing
platinum jewelry is more complicated, more difficult and more expensive than working
in silver or gold. There are, however, some intrinsic savings, as Platinum prongs
rarely need retipping or replacing.
950 Palladium:
-General info
Palladium is taupe-grey in tone. Palladium is a very rare metal, and gives a similar
look to platinum, at about 20% of the cost to make the same piece in platinum. Palladium
is reputed to wear similarly to platinum, though it is slightly more malleable and
not recommended for the most delicate or structurally difficult designs. It is very
rare for palladium to cause skin allergies.
-Technical
A malleable precious metal, grayish white in tone, noted as Pd on the periodic table.
Palladium is a cousin to platinum with very similar chemical properties.
LINKS:
Platinum:
www.preciousplatinum.com/
www.platinumguild.org/
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com/pdf/shine.pdf
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Pt/key.html
Palladium:
http://www.luxurypalladium.com/
http://www.stillwaterpalladium.com/index.html
http://www.stillwaterpalladium.com/history.html
www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Pd/key.html
Gold:
http://www.gold.org/
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Au/key.html
Tungsten:
http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2004/oct04/1004mn1.html
http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2004/oct04/1004mp.html
Titanium:
http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/articles/2004/oct04/1004mn1.html