Precious Metal Platinum

Platinum is a highly valuable metal and one of the rarer elements in the earth's crust. Due to its scarcity and given its variety of uses, platinum holds high value and is a major precious metal commodity.

As one of the most corrosion-resistant, least reactive metals, platinum is used in a wide variety of industrial and manufacturing processes, from catalytic convertors to glass manufacture, with further uses in medicine, jewellery and as an investment asset.

Platinum demand is spread across four main segments: automotive, industrial, jewellery and investment. Over the past five years the proportion of the world's platinum used in these segments has been 40%, 24%, 30% and 6% respectively.

Precious Metal gold

Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. It is present in the earth's crust and trace amounts are present in plants and animals. It is, however, difficult and expensive to extract. In modern mining operations approximately 3 tons of ore are needed to extract one ounce of gold. The many desirable qualities found in gold, along with its scarcity, have made it the most popular metal for use in jewellery today.

Gold in its pure state:

Has a melting point of 1945 degrees Fahrenheit (1063 degrees Celsius). When alloyed (chemically combined) with other base metals the melting temperature of the resulting alloy is changed. 18K yellow gold has a melting point of 1675 degrees Fahrenheit and 14K yellow gold has a melting point of about 1550 degrees Fahrenheit.

Precious Metal silver

Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. It is present in the earth's crust and trace amounts are present in plants and animals. It is, however, difficult and expensive to extract. In modern mining operations approximately 3 tons of ore are needed to extract one ounce of gold. The many desirable qualities found in gold, along with its scarcity, have made it the most popular metal for use in jewellery today.

Gold in its pure state:

- Has a melting point of 1945 degrees Fahrenheit (1063 degrees Celsius). When alloyed (chemically combined) with other base metals the melting temperature of the resulting alloy is changed. 18K yellow gold has a melting point of 1675 degrees Fahrenheit and 14K yellow gold has a melting point of about 1550 degrees Fahrenheit.