Where can you find platinum? How to test platinum at home

Platinum is a precious metal that is used to create jewelry. It became known back in the 18th century, but platinum has only now received a wide range of applications. Platinum is now used to make small jewelry such as rings, earrings and chains. Only small jewelry is popular because of its high final cost, which not everyone can afford. In the era of the Internet, it is very easy to buy jewelry, but there is one drawback - until you receive the item you cannot see and evaluate it, that is, you can easily buy a fake on the Internet. You can be safe from this by purchasing a platinum item in a special store, but even here you cannot be completely confident in the integrity of the sellers. The question arises - how to determine platinum, or rather its authenticity, and even at home?

Determine the weight and density of the decoration

Platinum is quite heavy and can only be compared with the metals of its group: iridium, osmium, uranium and rhenium. All other metals are much lighter. On top of that, when producing jewelry, the weight of platinum will be from 85% to 95% of the total mass. In other words, platinum jewelry is made almost entirely of base metal. And therefore, how to distinguish platinum from possibly similar other metals is a very important question.

For example, gold and silver products have less precious metal in their mass, which affects its cost and overall value. In such a mixture, it is not advisable to use iridium, osmium or rhenium for weighting, since they, in addition to the same price as platinum, are also rarely found in the natural environment. To understand whether the jewelry is made from real raw materials, you need to select a sample that needs checking and compare it with one of similar size. Such a ring will be much heavier than the opponent, but if the ring is the size of a grape, you will have to use precise scales to determine the platinum.

If you have a measuring cup or other vessel for measuring volume, you can use it to measure the density of the decoration. To do this, weigh the product and lower it into a vessel with water, after which we look at the volume of water squeezed out in cubic centimeters (should be about 21.45).

IF ABOUT 21.45 CUBIC CENTIMETERS OF WATER HAVE BEEN DISPLACED, THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE JEWELRY.

Chemistry will help

Science can teach you how to determine platinum at home; there are many videos in which experienced jewelers teach this testing method. For example, you can use a product that is in every first aid kit - iodine. Its drop on a product made from original raw materials should be dark, this will be an indicator of authenticity. The darker the iodine, the higher the purity of the metal, and after wiping, there should be no streaks left on the product.

Ammonia is also a good way to test the precious metal. If platinum is exposed to it, then it will not react in any way to its influence, all other metals will turn black and this will be a good method to check the authenticity of jewelry.

It's unlikely, but you may have nitric and hydrochloric acid at your disposal at the same time. These chemical liquids must be mixed in a ratio of 1 to 3 to obtain the so-called “royal vodka”. When heated, the mixture will gradually dissolve the platinum, but when cold, nothing should happen.

Distinguishable from silver

Silver has a much lower price than platinum, which is why unscrupulous manufacturers often pass off silver as a more expensive metal. To identify silver, look at the color of the item. The counterfeit metal is lighter, while silver has a certain gray tint. Also remember that large jewelry is not made from platinum due to its high cost, so if you are offered a large chain at a low price, then it is most likely a scam.

You can test platinum at home “by the tooth”, platinum will withstand being bitten, and silver will receive a small mark from the tooth. Platinum is harder and therefore resistant to physical impact. At home, you can also take a rotten egg on which you can put both decorations. Silver will turn black due to hydrogen sulfide, but platinum will retain its fresh appearance as before, which will help determine the authenticity of the product.

Heating

Platinum is very refractory, so it cannot be melted using a lighter flame. It will also not succumb to a gas stove or even a burner. This material does not change color when heated, since it is impossible to quickly change its temperature. That is why, when the platinum ring is briefly heated, you can put it on your finger without fear, because the jewelry inside will not have time to warm up. But based on this experiment, it is impossible to draw unambiguous conclusions, which means you must either use other verification methods or contact a specialist who knows exactly how to check the authenticity of the platinum product you purchased.

It is a specialist who will be able to help if you do not know how to test platinum. And only then can you be completely sure that you are wearing a real noble metal.

Platinum is a precious metal that is used to create jewelry. It became known back in the 18th century, but platinum has only now received a wide range of applications. Platinum is now used to make small jewelry such as rings, earrings and chains. Only small jewelry is popular because of its high final cost, which not everyone can afford. In the era of the Internet, it is very easy to buy jewelry, but there is one drawback - until you receive the item you cannot see and evaluate it, that is, you can easily buy a fake on the Internet. You can be safe from this by purchasing a platinum item in a special store, but even here you cannot be completely confident in the integrity of the sellers. The question arises - how to determine platinum, or rather its authenticity, and even at home?

Determine the weight and density of the decoration

Platinum is quite heavy and can only be compared with the metals of its group: iridium, osmium, uranium and rhenium. All other metals are much lighter. On top of that, when producing jewelry, the weight of platinum will be from 85% to 95% of the total mass. In other words, platinum jewelry is made almost entirely of base metal. And therefore, how to distinguish platinum from possibly similar other metals is a very important question.

For example, gold and silver products have less precious metal in their mass, which affects its cost and overall value. In such a mixture, it is not advisable to use iridium, osmium or rhenium for weighting, since they, in addition to the same price as platinum, are also rarely found in the natural environment. To understand whether the jewelry is made from real raw materials, you need to select a sample that needs checking and compare it with one of similar size. Such a ring will be much heavier than the opponent, but if the ring is the size of a grape, you will have to use precise scales to determine the platinum.

If you have a measuring cup or other vessel for measuring volume, you can use it to measure the density of the decoration. To do this, weigh the product and lower it into a vessel with water, after which we look at the volume of water squeezed out in cubic centimeters (should be about 21.45).

If approximately 21.45 cubic centimeters of water have been removed, then we can talk about the authenticity of the decoration.

Chemistry will help

Science can teach you how to determine platinum at home; there are many videos in which experienced jewelers teach this testing method. For example, you can use a product that is in every first aid kit - iodine. Its drop on a product made from original raw materials should be dark, this will be an indicator of authenticity. The darker the iodine, the higher the purity of the metal, and after wiping, there should be no streaks left on the product.

Ammonia is also a good way to test the precious metal. If platinum is exposed to it, then it will not react in any way to its influence, all other metals will turn black and this will be a good method to check the authenticity of jewelry.

It's unlikely, but you may have nitric and hydrochloric acid at your disposal at the same time. These chemical liquids must be mixed in a ratio of 1 to 3 to obtain the so-called “royal vodka”. When heated, the mixture will gradually dissolve the platinum, but when cold, nothing should happen.

Distinguishable from silver

Silver has a much lower price than platinum, which is why unscrupulous manufacturers often pass off silver as a more expensive metal. To identify silver, look at the color of the item. The counterfeit metal is lighter, while silver has a certain gray tint. Also remember that large jewelry is not made from platinum due to its high cost, so if you are offered a large chain at a low price, then it is most likely a scam.

From left to right: silver, platinum and white gold.

You can test platinum at home “by the tooth”, platinum will withstand being bitten, and silver will receive a small mark from the tooth. Platinum is harder and therefore resistant to physical impact. At home, you can also take a rotten egg on which you can put both decorations. Silver will turn black due to hydrogen sulfide, but platinum will retain its fresh appearance as before, which will help determine the authenticity of the product.

Heating

Platinum is very refractory, so it cannot be melted using a lighter flame. It will also not succumb to a gas stove or even a burner. This material does not change color when heated, since it is impossible to quickly change its temperature. That is why, when the platinum ring is briefly heated, you can put it on your finger without fear, because the jewelry inside will not have time to warm up. But based on this experiment, it is impossible to draw unambiguous conclusions, which means you must either use other verification methods or contact a specialist who knows exactly how to check the authenticity of the platinum product you purchased.

It is a specialist who will be able to help if you do not know how to test platinum. And only then can you be completely sure that you are wearing a real noble metal.

At first glance to an inexperienced person, platinum and silver are very similar. However, with just a little practice, you will be able to tell them apart easily!

Steps

Visual inspection

Look for any identifying marks on the jewelry. Such signs can be etched directly onto the metal. If the jewelry has a clasp, look for the writing on the back of it. Additionally, there may be a small metal tag at the end of the jewelry with a description. Finally, inspect the largest parts of the decoration.

• If there are no marks on the jewelry at all, it is probably not made of precious metal.

1. Look for marks that indicate the jewelry is made of silver. Some coins and jewelry are stamped with "999". This indicates that the jewelry is made of pure silver. If you find the inscription “925” with the letter “S” before or after the numbers, then the product is made of coin silver. In this case, the jewelry consists of 92.5% silver, the rest being other metal impurities, usually copper.

   Look for inscriptions that would indicate that this is platinum. Platinum is a very rare and expensive metal, so genuine jewelry made from it is marked accordingly. Look for “Platinum,” “PLAT,” or “PT” labels with “950” or “999” in front or behind them. These numbers indicate the purity of the platinum, with the purest metal being 999.

   • For example, genuine platinum jewelry may be marked “PLAT999.”

2. Place a magnet near the decoration. Most precious metals are not ferromagnetic, meaning they are not attracted to a magnet. However, don't panic if your platinum jewelry reacts to the presence of a magnet. Pure platinum is a soft metal, so it is strengthened with other additives. Cobalt is often used as a strengthening alloying element. Cobalt is ferromagnetic, so some platinum jewelry may be attracted to a magnet.

   Using an Acid Scratch Test Kit

   1. If the jewelry is difficult to test otherwise, use an acid kit. If you are unable to find any writing on a piece of jewelry and are unsure about its origin, use a test kit to determine what it is made of. Purchase a test kit from a jewelry store or order it online. This kit includes a grinding stone and several vials of different acids.

      • Purchase a kit that is suitable for determining silver and platinum. It should include vials of acids to detect these metals.
      • If the set does not include rubber gloves, purchase them separately. Be careful not to get the acid on your skin, otherwise you may get burned.

   2. Rub the metal with a grinding stone. Place the grinding stone included with the kit on a flat surface. Lightly rub the jewelry against it from side to side to create a line. Apply 2-3 lines to the product (one for each acid). For example, if you want to determine whether a piece of jewelry is made of platinum, silver, or gold, you will need three lines.

      • Rub an inconspicuous part of the jewelry onto the stone. The grinding stone will scratch and damage the surface of the metal.
      • Place the sanding stone on a towel to avoid scratching your countertop or other work surface.

   3. Apply acid to the lines left by the stone. Take the acid from the test kit and carefully apply a small drop to one of the scratched lines. Do not mix different acids, otherwise the results will be incorrect.

      Observe the acid reaction. The reaction may occur within a few seconds or approximately one minute. If the scratched line disappears completely, the test is negative. For example, if you drop acid to detect platinum and the line dissolves, the jewelry is not made of platinum. If the line does not disappear, you have pure platinum.

   Applying test solution directly to silver

   Use the silver testing solution on large chunky pieces of jewelry. Do not use this acid on fragile jewelry. When acid comes into contact with a metal surface, it will corrode it. If you purchased an acid test kit, use the solution included to test for silver. This solution can also be purchased at a jewelry store or ordered online.

   Check the decoration. Apply a drop of silver detection solution to the metal. Select an inconspicuous area of ​​the product for this. For example, if you want to test a large cuff bracelet, drop some acid on the inside surface. For a short, flat necklace, apply a drop of acid to the back of one of the links.

   • Wear gloves to protect your hands and cover your work surface with a towel.
   • Do not apply acid to fasteners or other important parts. Remember that acid can seriously damage small fragments.

   1. Watch the reaction. At first the acid will be dark brown or transparent, then it will change color. The purity of the metal can be judged by the change in color of the solution. For example, if the liquid darkens or turns bright red, the metal contains at least 99% silver.

      Clean the jewelry from acid. Wipe off the acid with a clean rag and throw it away. Rinse the product with cold water to remove any remaining acid. Use a colander or plug the drain hole to prevent the decoration from being washed away. Allow the jewelry to air dry completely before wearing it.

   Testing with hydrogen peroxide

   1. Place the decoration in hydrogen peroxide. Pour hydrogen peroxide into a glass bowl or glass and place the jewelry in it. The decoration should be completely immersed in the liquid. If the hydrogen peroxide does not cover it completely, add a little more.

      • Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased at your local pharmacy.

   2. Look at the reaction. Platinum is a strong catalyst for hydrogen peroxide. If the jewelry is indeed made of platinum, the peroxide will begin to bubble almost immediately. Silver is a less powerful catalyst. If the liquid does not start producing gas bubbles immediately, wait about one minute to see if smaller gas bubbles form near the surface of the metal.

      • Hydrogen peroxide will not cause corrosion or damage your jewelry.

Platinum is a brightly sparkling noble metal of silver color. The modern jewelry industry annually uses about 50 tons of platinum in the production of jewelry. In this case, both pure metal and its alloys can be used. To distinguish metal from a fake and not become a victim of deception, it is important to know a few simple ways to determine the authenticity of platinum.

Check the authenticity of platinum

We determine the authenticity of platinum by interacting the metal with other substances

Use an ordinary iodine solution to determine the authenticity of a precious metal. Place one drop on the product and observe it. If the drop is dark, this means real platinum. Moreover, the darker the stain, the higher the grade of this product.

You can also find out about the authenticity of the metal by heating an experimental sample with a glass blowing torch. Genuine platinum will glow white hot, but will not melt. If you run a heated soldering iron tip over the metal surface, natural platinum will be distributed over it in an even layer.

Ammonia, when interacting with metals, causes blackening, but this will never happen when it comes into contact with platinum.

If you have access to concentrated hydrochloric and nitric acids, as well as the skills to handle them, prepare the so-called aqua regia. To do this, mix one part nitric acid with three parts hydrochloric acid. Place the test item in the solution. If it does not begin to dissolve in cold aqua regia, you have real platinum. The fake precious metal will immediately begin to dissolve in the cold solution.

Comparing platinum with silver

To determine the authenticity of a product, you can also compare it with your own silver jewelry. Take any silver item that is close in size to the platinum item being examined. Weigh the item made of silver in your palm first, and then the one that is supposedly made of platinum. If it turns out to be significantly heavier than the first one, most likely it is genuine platinum, since it is indeed about twice as heavy and dense as silver.

If you are dealing with jewelry that is too small, the weight of which your hand may not feel, use a pharmacy scale

Methods for checking the authenticity of a platinum product

• product weight– if you compare, for example, a platinum ring with a ring of the same size made of gold or silver, then it will be much heavier, especially in the latter case. At the same time, take into account the metal standard: 850, 900 or 950 - it means that the share of platinum in the jewelry is 85%, 90% and 95%, respectively. Platinum is one of the heaviest elements; only rhenium, iridium and uranium can compete with it;
• density measurement– this method can only be used if there are no voids in the product. You need to measure the weight of the jewelry in grams, then place it in a measuring glass with water, determining the volume of displaced liquid in cm3. Next, divide the weight of the decoration by the volume of water displaced. If as a result you get a figure close to 21.45, you can talk about the authenticity of the product;
• checking for oxides– if you examine the product, there should be no oxide or plaque on it, because platinum does not oxidize;
• contact a professional jeweler– here you will receive the most accurate answer, but you will have to pay for the service, therefore, it is better to use it if you have strong suspicions.

• drop iodine onto the product– platinum is not exposed to household chemicals, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, acid solutions, except hydrochloric and nitric, therefore it will not change its shape and appearance under the influence of the listed substances, except for the last two;
• try to melt the product– platinum is one of the refractory metals, which is why it began to be used in jewelry only recently. It will not melt under the influence of a conventional lighter or gas burner;
• place the product in an ammonia solution– platinum does not turn black under its influence, which cannot be said about other metals.

Olga Moskalenko