PRECIOUS METAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 28, 13 November 1939, Page 8

PRECIOUS METAL

THE ROMANCE OF PLATINUM. USE TN MANY WAYS. ♦ Even a suitor’s heart of gold does not carry much weight unless his declaration of undying affection is accompanied by a platinum engagement ring, and most of the brides who promise to love and obey for ever will, with very very few' exceptions, he hound by a band of the world’s smoothest, most enduring, and precious metal—appropriately symbolic qualities, states the “Syclftey Morning Herald.’’

Popularity of platinum has increased greatly over tho past few years, and, according to leading jewellers, the demand for a shining yellow ring “like the one worn by mother” is negligible. Only a fe wclioose gold “for sentiment’s sake.”

So far as the jeweller is concerned, however, platinum possesses many valuable qualities. Chief of these is its strength—less than tissue-paper thickness being sufficient setting for precious stones. Those wondrous necklaces and pendants, for example, in which a spider-web of unobtrusive metal holds in place constellations of diamonds, making their fire blaze and flash with increased brilliance, would be merely a craftsman’s dream without a platinum base of reality. Utilitarian Qualities. The woman who goes to dinners, balls and other social functions, her fingers sparkling with diamonds, realises perhaps the big part platinum plays in her adornment. But it is unlikely she knows the many htimblei but more essential services performed for her by the most precious of all metals. Telephone, radio, electric iron, hairwaving apparatus, vacuum cleaner, and even light itself, depend on the presence. of small quantities of platinum in certain parts of the equipment. It is fitting that ’ a precious metal which plays- such an important part in romance should, itself .have a romantic history.' That story, however, begins in comparatively recent times. Neither the enlightened ancients nor the alchemists of the dark ages knew about platinum,’ and Europe had to wait for the first definite news of it until 1748, when Don Aiitonio de Ulloa, a Spanish naval officer, published •an account of his travels through South America in'l73s with a French astronomical mission.

It had, however, been discovered earlier by Spanish' gold-seekers in the country, but they were impressed by only, its great weight, and covered it with a thin layer of gold and sold it as the then more precious metal. To prevent such fraud it was decreed that all platinum should be thrown into tho sea. Then, in 1788, the Spanish Government went into the counterfeiting business on its own account, payirig 8s a pound for platinum to mix with gold. Russian Bullets. Russian huntsmen, however had boon using platinum to make bullets, and in 1819 huge deposits wore found in the Ural Mountains. Before the war 90 per-cent of the world’s supply, came from this quarter. Russia actually had a platinum coinage from 1828 rto 1845, when it was discontinued owing to fluctuation of price and difficulties of manufacture. Canada, Russia, Colombia and South Africa now furnish the bulk of platinum supplies, with a very ' small quantity from Australia. Fifield, near Parkes, New South Wales, produced to the end of 1935, 20,0930 z, valued at £127,627, but its present output is only about 60oz a year. From 8s 6d an ounce in 1869, the price of platinum rose steadily to 85s in 1908, and to £2O in 1914, compared with £4 5s for gold. During the war it reached £4O owing to the supply from the Urals being -closed and to the largo quantity used in the manufacture of munitions. This led to the discovery of substitutes for scientific and commercial purposes, and since 1927 the value of platinum has slumped until it is now worth only a lew shillings more than gold.