Precious Metal or Substitute

Some of the television shopping channels have been selling jewelry made of metals other than sterling silver, gold or platinum. The shopping channels own registered trade marks to describe their substitute materials. The consumer may believe that they are purchasing sterling silver or gold, but in reality the true metal content is unknown.

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In the last two years, 2004 to 2006 the cost of all precious metals including silver, gold and platinum have increased by a factor of about two or more. The prices have varied, but the trend is still up.

Silver content in sterling silver, and gold content in jewelry is regulated by law supervised by the Federal Trade Commission. However it appears that platinum content may not be regulated.

There is a debate in the jewelry industry whether a piece of jewelry or ring that only contains 58 percent pure platinum can still be sold as a platinum article. The normal percentage of platinum as been in the range of ninety to ninety five present pure. A ring made of the new alloy know as 585 platinum costs about half the price of a ring made of the more accepted, and customary platinum alloy containing about ninety five percent platinum.

The new alloy appears to have the same appearance as the traditional alloy, but weights about 30 percent less. A real concern would be its long term durability.

The real lesson is to know what you are buying. All sterling silver must be stamped to indicate its silver content. The most common method of making it is either .925, or 925, both mean the same thing. Gold is stamped with it gold content ranging from 10 karat to 22 karat. Therefore why should the most expensive of precious metals used in jewelry, platinum, be permitted to be sold in a questionable form?

Know exactly what you are buying and consider the value and price relationship.