Platinum is one of the strongest and most durable metals.  It's physical properties make it a challenge to use in jewellery.  This is because it's melting point is very high: 1773C.  Advances in jewellery techniques have made it easier to work with this precious metal in recent years.

The type of platinum used in jewellery is 95% pure platinum mixed with 5% of other metals from the platinum family.  Sometimes the metal cobalt is used as the 5% alloy with platinum.   Platinum is sometimes plated with another metal from the platinum metal family called rhodium.  This process, called "rhodium plating", gives the metal a whiter finish.  For a more detailed explanation of the rhodium plating process please peruse our polishing and rhodium plating section.