Spanish Conquistadors Tossed Platinum Aside When Searching for Silver in Colombia

Since the late 1800s, platinum has maintained its stature as the ultimate precious metal due to its rarity, beauty, strength and durability. But it's amazing to imagine that a precious metal that is prominently featured in the world's finest jewelry was once belittled and cast aside by the Spanish conquistadors who encountered the material while mining for silver in Rio Pinto, Colombia. In the 1500s, they named the curious metal "platina" or "little silver." In one version of the story, the conquistadors threw the platinum nuggets back into the river hoping they would ripen into silver.

Today, silver is priced at about $25 per ounce, or 2% of the value of platinum.

Throughout history, platinum has been a curiosity. Julius Caesar Scaliger wrote in 1557 that it was a metal which “no fire nor any Spanish artifice has yet been able to liquefy.” In 1748, Spanish scientist Antonio de Ulloa published a scholarly paper that concluded that platinum was unworkable and unmeltable.

It wasn't until the invention of the oxyhydrogen torch in the mid 1800s that jewelers could finally achieve a temperature of 3190 F or 1755 C to melt and work with the noble metal.

By the late 19th century, French jeweler Louis Cartier had catapulted platinum into worldwide prominence by incorporating the precious metal into the designs of his finely crafted, regal creations.

Platinum was loved by a cavalcade of kings and queens. Before long, the most valuable and famous gemstones in the world — including the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond (seen above)— would be set in platinum.

Here are bunch of other fun facts about platinum...

• Platinum is 30 times more rare than gold. If all the platinum ever mined were melted and poured into an Olympic-sized pool, the platinum would barely reach your ankles. Gold, however, would fill three Olympic-sized pools.

• About 80% of the world's platinum is mined in South Africa. The rest is sourced in Russia, as well as North and South America. Platinum is typically the byproduct of mining for other metals, such as copper or nickel.

• Platinum typically occurs as small grains and crystals in certain layered igneous rocks. The extraordinarily rare platinum nugget, above, weighs 444.4 grams (just under 1 pound) and is so special that it's on permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

• 30% of the world's platinum is used for fine jewelry. Half is used for industrial applications, such as catalytic converters, which are the devices on automobiles that filter harmful engine emissions.

• About half of all cancer patients receive treatments that include platinum, according to an article published in the technical journal, Chemical Reviews.

• Platinum is stronger and denser than gold. When platinum is scratched, the material moves aside and no platinum is lost. When gold is scratched, tiny bits flake away. This is why gold rings that are worn for a long period of time often need to be re-shanked.

• Platinum jewelry is typically 90% to 95% pure and includes markings in the band that say "PLATINUM, PLAT, PT, PT950, 950PT or 900PT." Canadian quality marks can say ""platinum," "plat." or "platine." In the UK, the platinum marks will say "850," "900," "950" or "999." Gold purity, on the other hand, is measured in karats. Most commonly, 14-karat gold is 14/24th (58.3%) gold and alloyed with other metals. Eighteen-karat gold contains 75% precious metal.

• Platinum is a true white metal. White gold, by comparison, is actually yellow gold that has been mixed with other white metals and then plated with rhodium to give a bright white appearance. That plating does wear off over time and requires re-plating.

• Platinum is hypoallergenic and an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin or allergies to other metals.

• Platinum is 60% heavier than 14-karat gold. It's a difference you can actually feel.

• Platinum is strong and durable, a great choice for jewelry that will be worn every day. Platinum does an excellent job holding gemstones firmly and securely.

Credits: Photos by Chip Clark / Smithsonian.

Archeologists Unearth Cache of 1,300-Year-Old Gold Foil Figures in Sweden

Archeologists in Sweden recently unearthed a cache of wisp-thin gold foil figures at the Aska archeological site in Hagebyhöga. The delicate specimens, which depict embracing couples and date back about 1,300 years, were found at the bottom of post holes in the remains of a great hall at this historic site.

The foil shown, above, was completely unharmed after being buried for more than a millennium. Some foils were badly fragmented. Others were folded with their edges pointed toward the center. Archeologist from the University of Lodz in Poland sought the assistance of a goldsmith to unfold the delicate parcels.

"Our best estimate is that we have 22 foil figures. The exact number is not quite clear because most are fragmented, and there is some uncertainty as to which fragments go together," Martin Rundkvist, an archaeology professor at the University of Lodz, wrote in a report recently uploaded to academia.edu.

Amazingly the combined weight of all the recovered foils was 0.76 grams (about 0.026 ounces).

According to Rundkvist, 15 of the foils have been returned to the full original dimensions. Every one of them depicts an embracing couple. The team believes that the foils were once affixed to the upright posts that supported the great hall. Many of the foils were found at the bottom of seven post holes.

There are a number of theories regarding the identities of the couples stamped into the foil. Some believe the couples are gods or goddesses.

"We do know that kings at the time claimed divine descent," Rundkvist noted. He also speculated that they may depict princes and princesses who were about to get married.

Other scholars believe that the embracing couples may represent the mythological union of the god Freyr and the giantess Gerdr from Norse mythology.

In addition to the gold foils, the archaeologists recovered from the Aska site three spiral “omega” pendants made of iron and two game pieces made of whale bone.

Credits: Complete foil image by Björn Falkevik via Academia.edu. Folded foil images by Björn Falkevik - Cheyenne Olander via Academia.edu.

Dazzling Diamond and Rock Crystal Bracelet May Fetch $8.4MM at Sotheby's HK

Reflecting nearly 2,000 hours of hand fabrication, this diamond and rock crystal bangle bracelet will headline Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong on April 20. The bracelet by Cartier features a D-flawless, 63.66-carat, pear-shaped white diamond set among smaller white diamonds and rock crystal. The architectural masterpiece carries a pre-auction high estimate of $8.4 million.

Rock crystal is a type of quartz that has an icy appearance. The origin of its use in fine jewelry dates back to the 1920s, when Louis Cartier began working with the material. According to Sotheby's, the bracelet pays homage to the maker's iconic Art Deco roots.

According to Sotheby's, the innovative marriage of diamond and rock crystal creates a dialog between two colorless stones complementing one another in a subtle, yet palpable, manner. They give the design a stylistic feature full of imaginative flair and immeasurable character.

Sotheby's reported that Louis Cartier utilized a polishing technique from the Renaissance period to give a soft shine to rock crystal which, when paired with a diamond, created an intriguing light effect, working in harmony, yet providing texturized depth and modern contrast.

The auction house estimated that the piece will sell in the range of $5.1 million to $8.4 million.

"The appetite for high-quality jewels has never been stronger in Asia with discerning collectors looking for rare diamonds and gemstones, as well as unique and iconic designs," commented Wenhao You, Deputy Chairman, Jewelry, for Sotheby's Asia. "The star lot of the sale — the unique diamond and rock crystal bangle-bracelet by Cartier — combines a phenomenal diamond, mesmerizing design and impeccable craftsmanship, and represents a high jewelry collectible that will shine through time."

Other items that are expected to turn heads during Sotheby's auction include the following:

• A jadeite bracelet called the “Circle of Happiness.” Considered “a true treasure of nature” by the Swiss Gemmological Institute, the bangle weighs an impressive 277.673 carats and carries a subtle range of green to vivid green colors that is characteristic of the finest green jadeite-jade from Burma (Myanmar). The bracelet boasts outstanding translucency that, when illuminated by a light source, results in a glowing effect. Sotheby's will provide an estimate upon request.

• The 7-carat fancy intense purplish-pink, internally flawless diamond at the center of a ring by Sotheby's Diamonds. The piece carries a pre-sale estimate of $5.8 million to $7.1 million.

Credits: Images courtesy of Sotheby's.

Raging Flood Waters in Sapphire, Australia, Present Rare Fossicking Opportunity

Aussie authorities urged the residents of Sapphire to move to higher ground last Wednesday when violent thunderstorms dropped 215mm (8.5 inches) of rain on one of the largest precious gem-bearing areas in the world.

While most residents scrambled their way to safety, others characterized the raging flood waters as liquid gold.

“There are already people out in the sapphire fields looking for sapphires,” Victoria Bentham, the co-owner of Sapphire Caravan and Cabin Park, told the Guardian. “Sapphires are in the ground there, and when it floods, the flood waters wash them down the creek beds and they get stuck behind billy boulders.”

Bentham reported that fossickers were heading downstream to seek their future fortunes. The last time Sapphire flooded was about a decade ago.

“It just goes to show that even in tough times there is always a glimmer of light,” she added.

Sapphire is located in the sparsely populated Central Highlands region of Queensland, just 50km (31mi) west of Emerald. During an average year, the region receives 628mm of rain. On Wednesday alone, the area collected more than one-third the yearly total. The local Retreat Creek rose nearly 10 meters in a few hours and roadways became impassable.

Comprising the townships of Rubyvale, Sapphire Central, Anakie Siding and Willows Gemfields, the Sapphire Gemfields have a large commercial mining presence, but also attract fossickers from around the world.

Fossicking is the term Aussies use to describe amateur prospecting, especially when carried out as a recreational activity. The Queensland Government is promoting fossicking as a popular outdoor activity the whole family can enjoy.

Sapphires and rubies are mined in all eastern Australian states, including Tasmania. According to The Natural Sapphire Company, the mines of Australia have produced more commercial-grade blue sapphire than any other source in history.

To learn more about sapphire mining in Australia, check out the video, below, titled "GIA's Australia 2015 Field Expedition."

Credits: Screen capture of GIA video via YouTube.com/didier gruel. Map by Google Maps.