History

Liquid Platinum

Platinum

Key Data and Description

History

Geological Information

Crystallography

Reactions of Platinum

Platinum Compounds

Uses

Platinum Market

Links and Resources

History

Platinum was officially discovered by Antonio de Ulloa in 1735 in South America. However, the metal was first discovered and used by pre-Columbian Indians and by 1822, plenty of platinum was discovered in the Ural Mountains in Russia.

The name originates from the Spanish word "platina" meaning "silver". It has an alchemical symbol shown below (alchemy is an ancient interest in, for instance, the transformation of other metals into gold).

Alchemical symbol for platinum

The alchemical symbol for Platinum courtesy of www.chemsoc.org

Timeline

700 BC	Ancient Egypt
	Having mastered the techniques of processing platinum, High Priestess Schepenupet's document casket is embellished with platinum hieroglyphics.

100 BC	South America
	Pre-Columbian Indian cultures succeed in blending platinum with gold, creating nose rings and various other jewelry items.

1590	Spain
	Conquistadors discover a white metal in the rivers of Equador. Believing it to be unripe silver, they name it Platina, little silver, and throw it back to "ripen".

1758	Italy
	Giovanni Casanova and the Marquise d'Urfe carry out mysterious experiments attempting to turn platinum into gold.

1790	France
	A goldsmith creates platinum jewelry for King Louis XVI who later declares it "the only metal fit for Kings."

1824	Russia
	Substantial deposits of platinum are discovered in the Ural Mountains.

1875	South Africa
	When vast diamond deposits are discovered in the small town of Kimberly, a new jewelry style is born. The diamonds of Kimberly paired with modern platinum.

1912	Germany
	In Pforzheim, Germany an effort to provide a substitute for the increasingly rare platinum, white gold is invented.

1924	South Africa
	In the Merensky Reef, geologist Dr. Hans Merensky discovers the largest deposits of platinum ever found. The deposits were later named the Merensky-Reef.

1937	England
	The Duke of Windsor commissions Cartier to make platinum wedding rings for him and Wallis Simpson.

1939	America
	WWII causes the restriction of platinum for any use other than the war effort.

1967	America
	Elvis Presley presents his new wife with a platinum ring set with diamonds. Yes! It is still the only metal fit for Kings.

1983	The Isle of Man
	The first modern platinum coin of legal tender is made.

1992	America
	PGI-USA is formed to reacquaint the public with precious platinum jewelry.

1997	America
	In Maryland, the government mints the first platinum coin called the Platinum Eagle.

2000	Earth
	Wildly popular with consumers, platinum jewelry sales are up more than 1000% since 1992.