What is the difference between platinum and white gold?
Platinum is a naturally white metal that will never lose its brilliant lustre. White gold is an alloy created using yellow gold. White gold looks similar to platinum, but it usually needs to be replated over time to maintain its white color, adding additional expense.
How do I know that a piece of jewelry is made of platinum?
All platinum jewelry is hallmarked. There are a number of symbols or marks that have to be displayed on a piece of jewelry to indicate that it is high purity platinum. Here are some examples of the platinum marks to look for:
PLATINUM or PLAT
PT950
950PT
950PLAT
PT900
900PT
900PLAT
PT999
PT850