Dec
29
A Look at the Precious Metal Platinum
Filed Under Jewelry | Leave a Comment
The beautiful silver-white platinum is a valuable precious metal that is sought all over the world. Its brilliance as well as its malleability, ductility and resistance to corrosion make platinum a highly popular choice for use in jewelry such as engagement rings and eternity rings. Most people are familiar with the use of platinum for jewelry, but platinum has unique properties that have made it valuable for many purposes throughout history and still today.
Platinum is a member of the Platinum Group of Metals (PGM), which also includes Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Osmium and Iridium. The scarcity of platinum coupled with high demand makes it a highly valuable precious metal. Though all precious metals are rare, platinum is mined from the earth in lesser quantities than are gold and silver.
The use of platinum has confronted several obstacles throughout history. Platinum often exists in nature in dispersed particles combined with other metals and impurities, making platinum mining a difficult and capital intensive endeavor. Its high melting point, nearly double that of gold, made working with platinum practically impossible until a chemist named ******** developed a way to melt the precious metal. Scarcity has presented a continual challenge throughout history, though rarity is a contributor to platinum’s high value.
Though the history of platinum use is not nearly as lengthy as that of gold, this precious metal’s unique properties have made it a valuable commodity over the years. Being one of the heaviest, densest metals and exhibiting a distinctive resistance to oxidation and corrosion, people have found numerous uses for platinum throughout history. Jewelers and goldsmiths of the 1700s began to use platinum in jewelry, watch chains and cutlery. Though platinum has always faced the obstacle of scarcity, the 1800s saw a rise in platinum use as new techniques evolved for mining the metal. It was not until later when high temperature torches were available that jewelers could fully utilize platinum in jewelry making.
Today, the uses for platinum are ever increasing. Platinum’s effectiveness as a conductor of electricity has made it a highly useful material for electrical contacts and numerous industrial purposes. It is also a potent catalyzing agent used in the production of sulfuric acid and in petroleum refining. The medical and dental fields have also found many uses for platinum in specialized equipment. Platinum’s stability under conditions of high heat has also led to its use in components of jet engines and missiles. The applications for which platinum is becoming a mainstay is widespread and on the rise.
Dec
25
Gold Investing
Filed Under News | 5 Comments
Greg McCoach http://www.goldworld.com discusses Gold Investing at Angel Publishing’s Profit from the Peak Summit 2007. Introduced by Angel President and Managing Editor of http://www.wealthdaily.com Brian Hicks, Part I is greg’s intro to metals and gold investing
Dec
25
Investing in Precious Metals
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http://www.goldworld.com Greg McCoach of Gold World talks about Investing in Precious Metals and why it is a must.
Dec
25
Gold Investing Question?
Filed Under Investing | 4 Comments
If I buy a Kruggerand, hold it a week and sell it for a profit, I guess no one would notice. But if I buy 50 or so, is there a limit on how much gold you can buy and sell? When does someone (Uncle Sam, The Fed, whoever) notice?
Dec
25
INVESTING IN GOLD, WHAT’S THE BEST WAY?
Filed Under Investing | 2 Comments
DO YOU KNOW OF A GOOD INVESTING PLATFORM TO INVEST IN GOLD????
Dec
25
Would DGL be a safe etf to invest in compared to other gold-oriented etfs?
Dec
24
http://www.todaysfinancialnews.com — Ian Cooper explains why investors should look to gold and mining stocks during times of economic uncertainty.
To watch the latest FREE TFN Hot Stock Pick of the Week video, please follow this link:
http://www.todaysfinancialnews.com/videos/?channelID=15&showID=577
Dec
23
Keeping gold yourself is a risk to theft and you can’t always trust a bank? What’s the best way?
I’m preparing for a total economic collapse.
Also, which is better to invest in before a depression, gold or silver?
Dec
23
i know nothing about markets really so give me the basics
Dec
22
I have an online brokerage acct that I handle myself (but I’m brand new to it - it’s TD Ameritrade). Can I buy gold through something like that? Is it just like going into a pawn shop or something and buying broken gold? Is it buying gold certificates?
I hear all the time that gold is a good investment - but I don’t know if a) that’s true or b) how to do it.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.













