About Platinum Jewelry
Platinum is a rare metal, with a limited global supply. If all the platinum ever mined were melted down, it would only fill an average-sized living room to about ankle height. This rarity makes platinum more valuable than more common metals like gold or silver.
Platinum is dense and durable. It is highly resistant to corrosion and tarnish, making it an excellent choice for jewelry that needs to withstand everyday wear and tear. Its strength and durability mean that platinum jewelry is less likely to get scratched or damaged compared to other metals, maintaining its beauty over time. Platinum jewelry lasts for ages and can be passed down from generation to generation.
Purity and durability — those two characteristics define platinum from the rest of the precious metals. From the chemical perspective, platinum is one of the most stable elements.
The white color of platinum comes from its purity. While white gold contains an alloy of zinc, copper and nickel, platinum has a pure 95-98% composition. In fact, white gold is yellow gold mixed with other metals and then rhodium plated. Because of its purity, platinum also is hypoallergenic. Those who are allergic to certain metals, such as nickel, often find platinum to be a safe and comfortable choice for jewelry.
Platinum's purity and strength make it relevant to the idea of eternal love. It's an embodiment of strong feelings and rarity. That's why platinum engagement rings and platinum wedding bands have been popular ever since.
Platinum has always been a symbol of status and reputation. It looks subtle and not as noticeable as yellow gold. Gemstones set in platinum look well pronounced due to the metal's neutral appearance. The color, brilliance, and vibrance of diamonds and colored stones are amplified next to platinum “true white”.
About Vintage Jewelry
When it comes to vintage jewelry, we can talk about it for days. Since the subject is that big and has multiple aspects to discuss, in this article we will focus on a few key elements of the topic. We will define what vintage jewelry is, why it's so appealing and how to buy your vintage jewelry online.
In the industry, different sellers and makers have different opinions on the time period when vintage jewels were made. Here at Nadine Krakov, we consider vintage as anything being made between 50 and 100 years ago. Therefore, all jewelry produced from 1930s to 1980s is called vintage. This time frame is comprised of Art Deco, Retro and Mid-Century.
Why do we love vintage jewelry so much? It's all about the quality of the make and – of course – the aesthetic.
Vintage pieces were mostly made by hand or at least hand-finished while modern jewels are mainly cast. As the lifestyle back in the days was much slower, jewelry makers literally had more time in their hands. Skilled craftsmen honed their craft and reputation. They couldn’t allow a flimsy, poorly done piece to ruin that. Mass market jewelry didn’t exist at that time. Each little detail of a piece was executed thoughtfully and with high quality in mind.
