Clutches for Less

Posts Tagged ‘platinum’

With gold breaking the $1,000 barrier, silver riding at a ten-year high and precious metals up across the board, the question has to be asked – is it now time to sell platinum?

Between 1992 and 1999, platinum languished around the 0 per ounce mark but with the advent of the new millennium, platinum commenced its inexorable rise, initially due to demand in the electronics sector we all wanted to get in on the internet bubble which in turn fuelled PC and laptop demand, and as that bubble burst in 2001, so did the price of platinum. Then the warning bells sounded over economic performance and from the 0 level in January 2001, platinum peaked at almost ,200 in early 2008 and drastically fell back to 0 by the end of the year – Obama was elected and a 0 billion stimulus plan from the US alone was promised as an injection into the economy, primarily the banking sector.

This directly led to the huge drop in platinum prices seen in the opening days of 2009 – such a capital injection from the US taxpayer was almost unprecedented and more than this, taxpayers around the world in developed countries were finding similarly large amounts of taxpayer cash was being pumped into the global financial system to keep the global economy afloat. He initial reaction of metal speculators, particularly those looking at platinum and precious metals as a safe haven in the very harsh economy, suddenly saw some light at the end of the tunnel – demand for platinum dropped and dropped like the proverbial rock.

Since this platinum crash, the spot price has steadily recovered to where it is now (September 2009) trading at around the $1,250 mark – a far cry from the dizzying heights of $2,200 but nevertheless a remarkable recovery from the low of $800.

The burning issue is whether the price is going to recover further – and that really depends on your view as to whether the economy is going to turn the corner and recovery commences or not. It will depend on stock and bond market peformance – if they recover, the professional investor will drop his precious metal holdings and liquidate to invest in order to take advantage of the market recovery. A close eye needs to be kept on earnings and profit performances and especially whether they are coming at the level of, or better than analyst expectations.

A good guide is the hedge fund market – where many have laid the blame for the current economic malaise. For the year to date, the KDY-index has returned in excess of 17% from the basket of hedge funds it tracks – that’s good news for those looking for super-bonuses and for those looking for recovery.

It is very bad news for those looking for future platinum value increases and signals that the time to sell has definitely arrived – for further proof, look at how the value of platinum has hit a plateau and is rebounding off the ,200 price ceiling – speculators and traders simply don’t know which way they should be going and are waiting and watching to see what will happen next – the current round of earnings results in Wall Street are primarily positive.

Platinum is not going higher – sell.

Palladium, like many other precious metals, has been enjoying excellent growth in value since the financial crisis as savvy professional investors moved out of stocks and bonds, which were taking a swan dive, and into assets such as gold, silver, platinum and of course, palladium. These metals are used as a hedge against inflation and a weak dollar, especailly in difficult economic times.

At the onset of the recession the value of palladium leapt with double-digit growth, but the summer months of 2009 demonstrated a wavering in the price of many metals - including palladium.

Platinum is bouncing underneath the $1,200 per ounce mark, gold is volatile, silver is hanging and palladium is stuck around $290 per ounce.

More disconcerting for metal speculators is that trading volumes are thin – the market is still and doesn’t seem to know which way to move.

Mixed economic signals create uncertainty, though some pundits feel the economy was saved by Obama's 0 billion stimulus plan. After the hype came the realization the crisis was a lot worse than thought, and maybe, $700 billion was not going to be anywhere near enough –especially when overseas governments were pumping similarly large sums of taxpayer cash into the banking system and still it seemed the financial system still looked to be on the verge of collapse.

The housing sector saw an improvement in August 2009 and September was on target as reported by banks and retailers. Positive signs demonstrating some recovery or at least stabilization, but at the same time the dollar has continued to weaken against foreign currencies signifying a relatively poor performance against overseas markets and especially by those holding America’s debt (China especially).

The fundamental question is whether stock and bond market performance is going to convince investors to return – if they do, those holding precious metals are going to liquidate to get back into those markets in anticipation of enjoying the returns recovery will bring. The metal price will drop like a rock (just look at platinum prices falling from $2,200 to the $1,200 mark in the last quarter of 2008) and those holding palladium, gold, silver or platinum are going to feel very bad indeed that they didn’t take the opportunity to sell when the price was this high.

For those with small holdings of palladium, especially the private individual who may have the metal tied up in family jewelry, now is the time to sell. The risk of a price crash in precious metals, including palladium, outweighs the prospect of a future return. The return of financial stock market performance heralds recovery and that means the end of the precious metals bull market which is why the metals market has stalled now.

With so many outlets for convenient selling of old gold, silver, platinum and palladium it makes a great deal of rational economic sense as well as simple commonsense to take the profit that has been created by the recession and turn useless jewelry gathering dust into cold hard cash to pay off debts or to get ready to invest in the stock markets.

Lots of people find themselves confused when it comes time to purchase an engagement ring or wedding ring. If someone does not like the sell gold“>traditional yellow gold for jewelry, there are lots of options out there in the form of white gold and platinum, plus titanium and other metals. For a classic look, most people turn to white gold or platinum, but how do they know which to choose?

Price is very important to some people. It's hard to tell white gold from platinum at first glance. It’s what you don’t know that can hurt you here, because the two types of jewelry are very different indeed. Let’s attempt to uncover the differences between the two metals to figure out what is best for you.

White gold is the less expensive option of the two. It costs one half to one third less than the same ring in platinum. Why would that be? What exactly are you paying for when you buy a platinum ring? For one, platinum is a mostly pure metal, not an alloy like white gold. Unlike white gold, platinum is usually 95% pure. The amount of pure gold in a white gold piece of jewelry depends on the karat of the piece. For 18kt piece, the gold content is 75%, with the other 25% made up of other types of metals.

Nickel used to be the filler alloy for white gold. It turns out that a lot of people are allergic to nickel, so they stopped that and started filling in with sell palladium“>palladium and coating the jewelry in rhodium. People are not as allergic to rhodium. Rhodium makes the white gold have that white shimmer to it, but it does wear off. If you buy rhodium-plated white gold, it is recommended that you have it re-plated ever 12-18 months. With that in the picture, the overall cost difference changes at bit.

It costs anywhere between $0 and $30 to re-plate a standard wedding ring (some places do it for free) but when you think about the inconvenience of having to have your wedding ring "serviced" it might not be worth it. However, if you object to the cost of platinum, re-plating might not seem like a big deal to you.

Another thing to consider is the fact that platinum is a lot heavier than white gold. So, if you like the feel of a heavy ring on your finger, go with sell platinum“>platinum. If you don’t feel like doing the heavy lifting with your ring finger then it would be best to stick with the white gold. Just plan on taking a trip to the jeweler every year or so.

Hopefully you now have the information you need to make an educated decision on whether to buy white gold or platinum for your engagement ring or wedding ring.

There are different types of precious metals that are used to make fine jewelry. Jewelry is made out of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Most people have a preference in what type of metal they prefer whether it be gold or white in color.

Gold has a long history and has been used for thousands of years for ornamental decorations and jewelry. 18K and 14K gold make up a majority of engagement rings. The capital letter K stands for karat and is how the amount of pure gold is measured in a ring. 18K gold consists of 75% gold and 25% other metals, such as copper and silver. 14K gold consists of 58% gold and 42% of other metals including copper and silver.

The reason gold is mixed with other alloys is because it is too soft for jewelry otherwise. 18K and 14K both make for stylish jewelry. While 18K gold will be more expensive, it is also more durable and valuable than 14K gold. 18K or 14K white gold might be what you are going for if you want gold with a silver look.

If your loved one prefers white jewelry you can choose between white gold, palladium, or platinum. Platinum is very expensive metal, but one of the most durable metals. Platinum is one of the rarest and most sought after of all the precious metals.

To give you an example of how rare it is; all of the platinum ever mined would fit in the average living room. The platinum jewelry process takes 10 tons of ore and five months to make just one ounce of platinum. Platinum is very strong and heavier than gold and will not wear away or wear down.

Palladium is an excellent choice when it comes to choosing a metal for a ring, because it has many of the same qualities as platinum but it is much cheaper. Palladium is a member of the platinum family and wasn't separated from it for a long time.

Palladium jewelry is continuing to become a popular choice for making fine jewelry. It's lightweight and has a white luster that is even brighter than platinum, believe it or not. Palladium is starting to be the new trend in jewelry and is quickly catching up to platinum. With the skyrocketing prices of Platinum choosing Palladium is a smart choice. It is lighter and is also a natural white metal at a much more affordable price.

If you are environmentally aware you should look for fine and reputable jewelry stores that use recycled metals in their jewelry. Jewelry made out of recycled metals are just as beautiful and have high quality, but not harmful to the environment. Our supplies and natural resources are depleted when we mine for precious metals. Using recyclable metal is a way to spare our environment and allows you to purchase a fine piece of jewelry at the same time.

Article from DanforthDiamond.com, a leading authority on loose diamonds, affordable engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

Platinum is regarded as a superior metal for fine jewelry and is used in many exquisite diamond engagement rings. It is 35 times more rare than gold and is naturally white. It is the strongest metal used in jewelry and is 90 to 95 percent pure. The high purity level makes it hypoallergenic and an idyllic choice for someone who has sensitive skin. Platinum is also almost twice as heavy as 14K gold which makes it very durable.

The reason Platinum is a desirable metal for making jewelry is because it is very malleable and can be formed without cracking or tearing. Once platinum prongs are bent to hold a diamond they will stay in that position and not spring back.

It takes 10 tons of ore to produce a single ounce of platinum. There is only one platinum mine for every 10 gold mines which make this metal one of the rarest. On avergae, 88 tons of platinum is used to craft jewelry every year, while gold has 2,700 tons used.

The purity of platinum is expressed as parts per thousand and the number designation represents how many parts per thousand are contained in the metal. The marks used on platinum jewelry are 900Plat, 950Plat or just Plat. Platinum is usually alloyed with metals in the platinum group which are similar in weight and chemistry to platinum.

Over the past two decades, platinum has risen back to the top of the precious metals hierarchy. It was held in high esteem during the early Egyptian times. The Spanish conquistadors discovered platinum in the New Word when they were mining for gold. The considered it worthless and discarded it. In the 18^th century King Louis XVI elevated platinum’s popularity by calling it the metal of kings.

The Art Deco Period was when platinum became popular in modern jewelry. The strength and malleability of this metal allowed artisans to create filigree and wire patterns that were popular during this period. Its regained status over the years as earned it the reputation of being the most preferred metal used in engagement rings.

Even though it is growing in popularity it still remains one of the world’s rarest metals. The yearly worldwide production of platinum only amounts to about 160 tons compared to approximately 1,500 tons of gold. One reason it is so rare is because the mining and refining process is time consuming. To extract one ounce of platinum over 10 tons of ore has to be mined. The refining process is no short matter as it takes five months minimum. There are only a handful of regions where platinum can be found and the primary source of this metal is in the mountains of Russia and South Africa.

If you love the look of platinum but can’t afford the cost. There is an alternative metal that is increasing in popularity called Palladium. It is part of the platinum metal group and is an excellent alternative to platinum. Palladium has the lowest melting point in its metal group and is extremely resistant to corrosion. It will not tarnish and is whiter and lighter than platinum. If you are in the market for an engagement ring you might want to look into Palladium for that special ring.

Article from DanforthDiamond.com, a leading authority on wedding ring sets, diamond rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

The anniversary of one’s wedding is not a small matter because it symbolizes both the next year in your marriage and it is also the best day to celebrate the entire wedding. If you are preparing to have a celebration of your anniversary then you’ll want to set aside some time to locate the proper gift . It’s common knowledge that diamond jewelry and different accessories are preferred by many, and as such are normally utilized as anniversary presents.

Anniversary rings, whether encrusted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires or any of the other countless types of dazzling gems available, were at one time reserved for “special” anniversaries, such as the 25th But today, many couples choose to celebrate their day with these and other beautiful reminders of their love

Though diamonds are widely loved, they are by no means the choice of every single person and anniversary rings are made in many different styles as well as with many different gemstones . You can start looking through your options and to start with you need to choose the metal that you want. There are several different ones to choose from and in addition to that there are also many different settings for you to choose among.

A few styles to think about are antique, modern, and traditional with different settings. Keep in mind that you’re in no way restricted to white diamonds because these gems come in many different colors .

If you have the understanding that her preferences do not involve diamonds, then you can pick a different type of rock such as sapphire or even ruby. These rocks will stand out in a crowd and mesh well with anything else that she happens to wear.

There are a few women that would rather keep their rings on the right hand rather than the left. If she is such a woman then you’ll be able to make more choices as far as setting and size because you don’t want this ring to overpower any others that she might be wearing. If it’s a totally different style then she’ll probably want to wear it on her right hand anyway .

In addition to diamond rings, you may also want to consider other options for an anniversary gift such as diamond earrings in any number of carat weights and shapes, or perhaps one of the gorgeous types of diamond pendants to choose from. Pendants may be ornate and elaborate or dainty and delicate and can be found in varying lengths .

Pearl jewelry is yet another option for an anniversary gift that’s sure to be a cherished keepsake for many years to come. Pearls convey a timeless sense of elegance that’s unrivaled by few other types of jewelry.

Perhaps one of the very best things about shopping for anniversary rings is simply the sheer number of choices you’ll find available. This gives you plenty of unique options to consider, and allows you to choose that one perfect piece that will complement her personal style as well as pay testament to the joyous memory of your wedding day.