Engagement rings come in just about every shape, style, and material. Long gone are the days of simple silver bands with diamonds or white gold bands. Platinum has actually emerged as one of the most commonly used metals for engagement rings. There are many reasons for this, but chiefly it’s because platinum is an incredibly strong metal that doesn’t react very readily to anything around it.
Reactivity
The reactivity of a metal refers to how much it responds to the environment. Platinum engagement rings won’t rust or corrode. Platinum is also fairly hypoallergenic. Very few people are allergic to platinum. You’re unlikely to have an allergic reaction to platinum, and it’s unlikely to decay because of sweat or oil from your finger. These factors make it very useful for rings that you plan to wear frequently.
Resilience
The platinum engagement rings are also unlikely to bend or warp. Metals are ranked based on their ductility as well as their hardness. Ductility refers to how easily a metal can be stretched or drawn into a wire. That’s a great feature for a metal that needs to become a wire, but not very useful in a ring. Platinum is not very ductile, but it is very hard. If a metal is too hard but not ductile at all, it can be brittle; iron has this problem. Platinum strikes a very good balance between ductility and hardness. It’s incredibly hard, but there is a slight amount of give to it when it’s placed under intense pressure. Therefore, your ring won’t break even if it is under pressure, but also it won’t bend under any kind of normal circumstances.
Appearance
Perhaps most importantly, platinum is an incredibly attractive metal. It is a very high luster metal that holds its shine for a great while. Since it doesn’t corrode or scratch easily, it will remain beautiful for a very long time.
