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| Gold  Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from the Latin aurum) and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal which, for many centuries, has been used as money, a store of value and in jewelery. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, underground "veins" and in alluvial deposits. It is one of the coinage metals. Gold is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable and ductile of the known metals. Pure gold has an attractive bright yellow colour and is one of only two coloured metal elements, the other being copper. All other metals are silver or grey.
Gold forms the basis for a monetary standard used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The ISO currency code of gold bullion is XAU. Modern industrial uses include dentistry and electronics, where gold has traditionally found use because of its good resistance to oxidative corrosion.
Chemically, gold is a trivalent and univalent transition metal. Gold does not react with most chemicals, but is attacked by chlorine, fluorine, aqua regia and cyanide. Gold dissolves in mercury, forming amalgam alloys, but does not react with it. Gold is insoluble in nitric acid, which will dissolve silver and base metals, and this is the basis of the gold refining technique known as "inquartation and parting". Nitric acid has long been used to confirm the presence of gold in items, and this is the origin of the colloquial term "acid test," referring to a gold standard test for genuine value. For more information, click Here Platinum
 A silver-white metallic element occurring worldwide, usually mixed with other metals such as iridium, osmium, or nickel. It is ductile and malleable, does not oxidize in air, and is used as a catalyst and in electrical components, jewelry, dentistry, and electroplating.
Platinum is pure, an expression of integrity, a reflection of inner truth. Platinum's purity endows it with a brilliant white luster. This helps to reflect the true radiance of diamonds. Because it is generally 95% pure (18 karat gold is 75% pure), platinum jewelry does not fade or tarnish and keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum's purity makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Platinum jewelry is the perfect choice for a lifetime of everyday wear. Its density and weight make it more durable than other jewelry metals. Platinum does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly and securely. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, the scratch on a platinum piece is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost. So, even though wearing it each and every day may leave an impression on the surface, it remains what it was - a symbol for all things eternal.
In addition to its strength and density, platinum has another remarkable quality - pliability. Platinum is so pliable, that just one gram of the metal can be drawn to produce a fine wire over one mile (almost 2 km) long. This quality has enabled jewelers to create some amazing versatile platinum mesh accessories, which could not be fashioned from other precious metals. Platinum is also in demand in other fields - it is used in industry, most notably in catalytic converters. Platinum also plays an important role in medicine. It is not affected by the oxidizing reaction of blood, has excellent conductivity, and is compatible with living tissue. Because of these properties, platinum is used for pacemakers. At present, more than 50,000 people are living healthily on pacemakers. Platinum is a life-saving metal for these people. Platinum is rare, the coveted treasure of discerning individuals. There is very little platinum on this earth and it is found in very few places around the world. This exquisite metal is 30 times rarer than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the platinum in the world were poured into one Olympic swimming pool it would be scarcely deep enough to cover your ankles. Gold would fill more than three pools. Platinum's rarity makes it exclusive and distinctive - a celebration of your individuality. Platinum for Love for Always
Your engagement ring and wedding band will be worn every day, for a lifetime. It symbolizes the bond you share and the uniqueness of your relationship. Nothing personifies and honors these qualities better than platinum. Pure to its heart. Rare as true love. Eternal in beauty and strength. Platinum is today's choice as the enduring symbol of love. Diamonds Prefer Platinum
Diamonds are the most popular choice for an engagement ring prized for their beauty, color, brilliance, and enduring nature. Platinum is a diamond's best friend-complimenting beautifully these qualities.
 Platinum's natural white luster is unaffected by time and forever enhances a diamond's sparkle, which means your engagement ring will explode with brilliance.
Platinum contains no yellow color hue or alloys to tinge a diamond's brilliance. Platinum's unequaled durability, density and resistance to wear makes it the most secure, protective metal for settings, which means your diamond will be protected for a lifetime of wear.
The wedding rings you exchange on your wedding day become an outward symbol of your relationship and commitment to each other. Your engagement ring and wedding bands will be worn every day, for the rest of your lives together.
No other precious metal offers the timeless quality or eternal values of platinum. Platinum Qualities Click Here Precious Metals in the Market
A precious metal is a rare metallic chemical element of high economic value. Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high luster, and have higher melting points than other metals. Historically, precious metals were important as currency, but are now regarded mainly as investment and industrial commodities. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium each have an ISO 4217 currency code.
The best-known precious metals are gold and silver. While both have industrial uses, they are better known for their uses in art, jewellery, and coinage. Other precious metals include the platinum group metals: ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum, of which platinum is the most widely traded. Rhenium is a precious metal that is not part of the platinum group or one of the traditional precious metals.
The demand for precious metals is driven not only by their practical use, but also by their role as investments and a store of value. Palladium, osmium and iridium, as of May 5, 2007, are valued at $376, $380 and $435 USD per troy ounce, respectively, which is a bit over half the price of gold, at $689 USD/ounce. Platinum's price of $1,332 USD/ounce is around twice that of gold. Rhodium is usually the most expensive of the precious metals, over 4 times more expensive than platinum, with a current price of $5,900. However, the price of rhenium has been fluctuating wildly recently and at the moment it is selling at 5,950 USD per ounce, just above rhodium. Silver, at $14 USD/ounce, is substantially less expensive than all of the other precious metals, presently at about 1/50 the price of gold, but is often traditionally considered a precious metal for its role in coinage and jewellery. If you created this page to highlight a special offer, be sure to mention all of the offer details, including: regular price, special price, length of offer, and packages including this product. For more precious metal market price information, click Here  A metal is deemed to be precious if it is rare. The discovery of new sources of ore or improvements in mining or refining processes may cause the value of a precious metal to diminish. The status of a "precious" metal can also be determined by high demand or market value. Precious metals in bulk form are known as bullion, and are traded on commodity markets. Bullion metals may be cast into ingots, or minted into coins. The defining attribute of bullion is that it is valued by its mass and purity rather than by a face value as money.
Many nations mint bullion coins, of which the most famous is probably the gold South African Krugerrand. Although nominally issued as legal tender, these coins' face value as currency is far below that of their value as bullion. For instance, the United States mints a gold bullion coin (the Gold Eagle) at a face value of $50 containing 1 troy ounce (31.1035 g) of gold — as of May 2007, this coin is worth about $690 as bullion. Bullion coins' minting by national governments gives them some numismatic value in addition to their bullion value, as well as certifying their purity.
The level of purity varies from issue to issue. 99.9% purity is common. The purest mass-produced bullion coins are in the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf series, which go up to 99.999% purity. Note that a 100% pure bullion is not possible, as absolute purity in extracted and refined metals can only be asymptotically approached. Usually a bullion coin contains a stated quantity (such as one troy ounce) of the slightly-impure alloy; the Krugerrand is unusual in containing one troy ounce of actual gold, with the impurity making the coin heavier than one ounce.
One of the largest bullion coins in the world is the 10,000 dollar Australian Gold Nugget coin minted in Australia which consists of a full kilogram of 99.9% pure gold. There have been a small number of larger bullion coins, but they are impractical to handle and not produced in mass quantities. China has produced coins in very limited quantities (less than 20 pieces minted) that exceed 260 troy ounces (8 kg) of gold. Austria has minted a coin containing 31 kg of gold. As a stunt to publicise the 99.999% pure one-ounce Canadian Gold Maple Leaf series, in 2007 the Canadian Mint made a 100 kg 99.999% gold coin, and now manufactures them to order, but at a substantial premium over the market value of the gold.
Gold and silver are often seen as hedges against both inflation and economic downturn. Silver coins have become popular with collectors due to their relative affordability, and unlike most gold and platinum issues which are valued based upon the markets, silver issues are more often valued as collectables, far higher than their actual bullion value. For more information, click Here What is White Gold?
White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal, such as silver or palladium. Like yellow gold, white gold is measured in Carats.
Its properties vary depending on the metals and proportions used. As a result, white gold alloys can be used for different purposes; while a nickel alloy is hard, strong and therefore good for rings and pins, white gold-palladium alloys are soft, pliable and good for white gold gemstone settings. The highest quality white gold is usually at least 17 karat, and made up of gold and palladium, and sometimes even trace levels of platinum for weight and durability, although this often requires specialized goldsmiths.
While some higher quality white gold alloys retain their shine and lustre, most will be coated with a very thin layer of rhodium. This will give the naturally more dull white gold a shine comparable to platinum or silver. Often white gold will require cleaning, or re-coating of rhodium at a later date because the base metal of this alloy has a high level of yellow color retention. For more information, click Here
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