Platinum is a noble precious metal. Products from it are very popular. It is important to understand how it stands out among other metals and for what parameters will exceed them.
How to distinguish from silver?
The cost of silver is much lower in comparison with platinum, for this reason unscrupulous manufacturers are issued for expensive noble metal silver products.
Attempting to sell a massive chain on a democratic value indicates the likelihood of deception.
Identify platinum and distinguish it from silver metal by several parameters, such as:
- Colour;
- weight;
- resistance to chemical influences;
- density;
- Resistance to heating.
In appearance, these metals are similar, but if you carefully look at, you can notice the difference in shades. Silver has a gray chip, and the platinum is brighter and stronger.
If there are weighing metals in the house of weights. When determining the mass of products, the error must be minimal. Compare the weight of silver and platinum ornaments (their dimensions must be approximately equal). Platinum is harder, so the difference in mass with a similar silver sample will be significant.
It is impossible to exclude the likelihood that the decoration is made of silver alloy and other heavy metal, for example, rhodium, but it is minimal. Such substances are also quite expensive, they can rarely meet in nature, and in the production of fake products, such materials do not apply.
Platinum is calculated to the category of solid metals, and silver decorations change the shape even with a small external effect. If the surface of the product is deformed after the force was applied to it, the likelihood that it was made not from platinum, high.
Platinum decorations are denser than silver. If you place a sample into a container with water and measure the amount of fluid that it displaces, and then divide the mass of the product, the figure should be about 21.45. This density has a pure platinum metal, devoid of impurities.
It will not hurt to try platinum and silver decorations tooth. The platinum will not be imprint, and on silver it will be. This is associated with a higher density of platinum metal.
Another test on the definition of the difference is carried out with the help of a swollen egg. To him alternately apply decorations from different metals. Silver under the influence of hydrogen sulfide turns around, and with platinum nothing will happen.
Platina is characterized by refractory, it can be without concerned to keep over the stove. If contact with fire is short, it will not even have time to warm up. About such a decoration will not be born. Silver heating occurs quickly, so the risk of getting a burn is high.
Differences from gold and other metals
Gold refers to the category of soft metals. In contrast, platinum is much stronger and more tight, steady to wear. And she weighs more. Gold is easier than deformation, platinum products are more practical. Platinum is lighter, gold bars and decorations have a gray or gray-yellow tint.
To give products from white gold characteristic whiteness and gloss, additional strength, they are often covered with a rhodium layer of silver-white shade.
Its properties are as close as possible to the properties of platinum.
Rodiy attractively looks and does not fade, does not change the color over time. It is more resistant to scratches than soft gold. The only lack of such a coating is associated with its abrasion, which leads to the yellowing of the product. Similar spraying is recommended to update once a few years at the jeweler. Platinum does not require additional processing , she also has a silver-white sweat.
Another difference is in price. Previously, platinum products were cheaper than silver. Today, the decoration from this metal will cost much more than an analogue of gold.
Platinum from other metals, including Palladium , distinguishes pure white shine. It is characterized by refractory and immune to high temperatures.
If you bring a platinum product to the open fire, nothing will change, the color will remain the same, even severe heating will not happen.
How to determine authenticity at home?
For clean platinum, there are sometimes various alloys containing it in a minimum quantity, so each buyer should know how to prevent an error when choosing a platinum product and recognize the fake. There are a number of techniques to determine the authenticity of platinum. If there is a doubt, it is worth conducting a test using special compositions.
Check how the sample reacts to iodine. If the color of the medical droplets after applying to the surface will remain unchanged (dark), it means that the sample is high. Moreover, than rushing the kel, the higher it is.
"Tsar vodka" is used to authenticate. Concentrated hydrochloric acid is connected to nitric in proportion 3: 1. Such a mixture contributes to the dissolution of metals, but this does not apply to platinum. The platinum decoration lowered to the solution will not change its type.
Fake "Tsarist Vodka" solurate with ease. But the solution should be used in a cold form, hot soluble and platinum.
Authentication is performed using liquid ammonia. Contacting with metals, it provokes the blackening of their surface, this does not happen from the platinum.
It is stable and to magnetic effects. If the magnet attracted the product, it means that the amount in it of the precious metal is low or no at all . Most jewelry manufacturers are equipped with their locks, the design of which provides a steel spring. Such a mechanism is in chains and bracelets. If it is presented, the magnet attracts exceptionally lock.
At home, you can perform another safe test aimed at establishing the authenticity of the product. Pour water with salt dissolved in it in the metal container and place the sample checked into the solution. Connect to the minus the usual battery with a tin can, and to the plus - the product is a tested.
In the case of a fake in the solution, a precipitate is formed, which causes its turbidity. If the product is really made of precious metal, the solution will not lose its transparency, but the chlorine will begin to synthesize. The advent of its appearance is evidenced by a sharp smell.
The listed methods do not guarantee 100% result, it is desirable to apply as an addition to professional advice. To check the authenticity of the metal, it is better to use special equipment that sues jewelers.
More information about platinum and determining its authentication in the next video.