Platinum, a silvery-white metal now synonymous with luxury and splendour, did not have the grandest of beginnings. Arriving on Earth in a hail of asteroids formed from the debris of a supernova 4 billion years ago, platinum’s value remained unknown for a long long time. From being abandoned by Spanish Conquistadors when they were panning for gold, to making no waves in 16th century Europe when it was discovered to be a new metal, read about platinum's highs and lows in history below!

Ancient Civilizations - The Discovery of Platinum

Platinum has a long history intertwined with human civilization. Early records of ancient Egyptians working with platinum exist in the traces of a tomb in Theses. Traces of platinum were found embedded in hieroglyphs and sarcophagi in the ancient city. However, it is a point of contention whether the ancient Egyptians deliberately worked with platinum or if they did not recognize that their gold was alloyed with platinum.

The ancient inhabitants of South America dating back approximately 2000 years, recognized platinum as a valuable metal. They used it for ornamental purposes such as burial objects and wearable jewellery. Although South American natives recognized the metal's value, Spanish conquistadors certainly didn't. When Spanish conquistadors landed in South America and encountered this silvery metal while panning for gold, they considered platinum a nuisance. Thinking that it was an unripe form of gold, the conquistadors named the metal they found platina (a derogatory term for the metal meaning little silver) and tossed it back into the river hoping it would ripen into gold. Little did they know that in a few centuries, platinum would be a valuable commodity and the backbone of many industries. 

18th to 20th Century - Discovering How to Work with Platinum 

When Italian French scientist Julius Caesar Scaliger analyzed this silver-coloured metal in 1557, he discovered it was not silver but a new metal. However, nothing came from this discovery and platinum was forgotten for a few centuries. 200 years later, Platinum made a resurgence in the 18th century and circulated around Europe. Scientists were fascinated with its properties. It was during this period of time that humans first discovered how to melt platinum. 

A century later, in the 1850s George Matthey and Wilhelm Heraeus developed an oxy-hydrogen blowpipe technique to melt platinum in bulk. Fifty years later, the oxy-acetylene torch was able to melt platinum even faster. The advancements in technology facilitated the refinement of platinum bringing about both a cheaper and faster process. These advancements in technology made working with platinum easier, leading to a boom in its popularity in the late 1800s. 

During the 1880s, the most popular metal to use for white jewellery was silver. There was an abundant supply of silver and it was easy to work with. Although silver was the most popular white metal, it had 2 distinct disadvantages. First, when plated with yellow gold, it was susceptible to tarnishing. Second, silver is a soft metal. Because of the softness and malleability of pure silver, jewellers had to create a thicker setting to prevent embedded gemstones such as diamonds from falling off. Louis Cartier did not light the bulky look of the silver metal. It prevented the inlaid gemstone from truly shining and he was determined to create jewellery that would allow diamonds to sparkle and show off their true splendour. Combining the durability of platinum with the newly introduced heating methods, Cartier fashioned platinum into intricate and lightweight designs, tailor-made to showcase the intricacies of the inlaid diamond stone. As a result, platinum exploded in popularity and demand for platinum jewellery became higher than ever, elevating platinum to a status symbol during the Edwardian period. Platinum was the preferred metal of that period as its density and strength allowed jewellers to fashion intricate designs, allowing diamonds to appear set in lace instead of metal. 

The platinum hype was short-lived, however. When World War I started in 1914, platinum became scarce and it was needed for the war effort. This led to an effective ban on platinum jewellery, as platinum was an important component in rifles and engine parts. The end of World War I brought up the supply of platinum for civilian uses, but a few short decades later, World War II started. Platinum was again banned for all non-military uses because it was again needed as a strategic metal in the war effort. White gold replaced platinum as the preferred white metal for jewellery as it was cheaper and could substitute the demand for platinum. Platinum’s popularity took a nosedive and it took decades after the War ended to recover its previous status as the once most beloved white metal.

21st Century - Platinum for Industrial Use

Currently, platinum is mainly used for industrial use. Platinum is popular in industries since it’s a stable, durable metal that increases the rate of chemical reactions. Nearly half of the current platinum demand comes from the automobile and vehicle industry. Platinum’s chemical properties help convert toxic nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide into nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen, which are safer gases for the atmosphere. Read here to find out more about platinum’s most popular usage cases.

Aside from industrial uses, platinum is popular as an investment metal and has regained its status as a popular white metal for jewellers!