Platinum is one of the rarest precious metals.  It is heavier and more durable than gold and is naturally white in colour.  It is an ideal metal for jewellery as it is hypo-allergenic, tarnish resistant and has a rich white lustre.  If scratched, platinum does not lose any of its metal and it does not wear away over time.  This makes platinum ideal to use for claws when setting loose diamonds.
The two main sources of platinum in the world are South Africa and Russia.  One of the reasons it is so rare is that it requires ten tons of ore to produce one ounce of metal.

Like all fine jewellery platinum does lose its lustre over time and develops a natural patina.   Many people prefer this ‘matte’ look however its original shine can be restored with polishing by a jeweller.  Platinum is more difficult to polish and repair than gold.

At home you can clean your platinum jewellery with a mild soap solution, warm water and a soft-bristled toothbrush followed by a buff with a soft cloth to renew its lustre.

In the past platinum has always been a lot more expensive than gold however today with the increase in the price of gold this has evened out making platinum a very popular choice for diamond jewellery and especially engagement rings.