950 Sterling Silver is made of 95% pure sterling silver. It is the highest grade of usable sterling silver, and mainly reserved for jewelry. Flatware, for example, would be better purchased at the 92.5% mark. 925 Sterling Silver is the minimum standard for sterling silver.
Q: WHAT DOES 950 STAMPED ON JEWELRY MEAN? A: The 950 stamp on jewelry, a.k.a 950 silver, means that jewelry is 95% pure and 5% alloy. In other words, the 950 stamp on jewelry means that the 950 silver consists of 95% pure silver.
“Platinum in its pure state is very soft and unsuitable for making jewellery, so platinum jewellery is usually made with a 950 standard alloy, i.e. 95 percent platinum and 5% other elements are in the alloy.
Not only is platinum more dense than gold, but platinum 950 is 95% pure, whereas 18ct gold is 75% pure. These two factors combine to result in a platinum ring weighing approximately twice as much as a gold ring of the same size.
Platinum does not fade, tarnish, or turn color. However, with age, it does take on a patina and show slight scratches.
Platinum is easier to maintain over time than white gold. Platinum is also the most hypoallergenic of all metals, because of its purity. Platinum is made of 95% pure platinum, where white gold is made out of 75% pure gold, and 25% other metals.
950 Sterling Silver is made of 95% pure sterling silver. It is the highest grade of usable sterling silver, and mainly reserved for jewelry. Flatware, for example, would be better purchased at the 92.5% mark. 925 Sterling Silver is the minimum standard for sterling silver.
Price. Platinum: Despite being nearly identical in appearance, platinum is more valuable than gold. Platinum's high price point can be attributed to its rarity and density as precious metals are often priced by their weight.
Platinum jewelry should be stamped “PT” for pure platinum or “PT900” or “PT950,” indicating the number of parts per thousand that are pure platinum.
Platinum is a rare precious metal, typically comprised of 95% platinum and 5% other metals, also known as alloys. Labeled as 950 platinum, it is a dense, malleable silver-white metal that makes it ideal for crafting jewelry.
Sterling silver, even real . 925 sterling silver, will always tarnish. While pure 99.9% silver does not tarnish, any sterling silver will tarnish over time as a result of the metal mixed in. However, fortunately there are many ways to keep sterling silver from tarnishing.
Platinum is not a hard metal. It is 4 – 4.5 on the MOHs scale of hardness. This means it can be scratched by anything harder than it is. Diamond is ten on the MOHs scale and can easily scratch platinum.
The number 950 refers to its level of purity, and it means that your silver item is 95% silver and 5% alloy. This number system is an easy way to tell an item's purity. Another example is 900 silver which is equal to 90% silver. In the 19th century the US produced 950 silver items for higher quality pieces.
In 18ct. white gold, the mix is three parts gold to one part palladium, hence the stamp “750” in 18ct.
Look for a Letter Mark
If the item of jewelry has the letters GP, GF, or GEP stamped on it, these indicate that it is not made of real gold. GP means it is gold plated, GF means it is gold filled, and GEP means it is gold electroplate. That is, the jewelry is made of some other metal with a thin layer of gold on top.
Resilient, beautiful and pure: platinum is all these, giving it an appeal that jewellery made of gold, silver and diamonds lacks. Platinum withstands daily wear, as it is one of the strongest natural materials. Its jewellery has 95 per cent purity, even when it is set with diamonds.
Supply issues
The refined mine supply of platinum dropped 18% year-on-year in 2022, according to the WPIC, with South Africa and Russia having seen the biggest decreases.
does platinum tarnish? No. Platinum will not change color or fade over time, unlike some other metals. It's naturally white and remains that way.
The only disadvantages to platinum are the higher cost and heavier weight. For example, platinum is a great metal for necklaces, bracelets and rings but not earrings, because the heavy weight may pull down more on your ears and cause discomfort.
Simply mix up a bit of dish soap with warm water and dip in a microfiber cloth. Then, rub the piece of silver – whether it's jewelry or silverware – with the soapy cloth. Rinse it with cold water. Dry with a soft, clean towel.
Platinum is extremely durable and strong making it ideal for jewellery that's worn on a daily basis. It's highly resistant to stress and withstands both extreme heat and extreme cold, which means platinum jewellery will retain its good looks better than any other metal.
Yes, platinum loses its shine and dulls up faster than other precious metals.
Can you wear platinum in the shower? A similar scenario to gold, you should refrain from wearing your platinum jewelry in the shower as it will reduce its shine and luster. Water itself will not harm the platinum, but it well affect the overall look of it down the road.
When you see a yellowish tint in your white gold jewelry, it's not because of poor quality. Instead, you see the inner layer of gold alloy under the rhodium plating. Because rhodium is applied in such a thin layer, usually only a few microns thick, it can wear off over time.