How Can You Tell If It’s Platinum or Not?

Platinum ScrapRecycle Precious MetalsRecycle Refine Platinum
Written By Barry Lenson

Let’s say you have come across something that is made of white metal – a ring, a cigarette case, a laboratory crucible – and you would like to know what it is made of. It could be white gold, silver, or platinum. So, how can you tell for sure what you are looking at?

In today’s post we are going to offer you some advice on how to do it. But instead of saving our best advice until the end of this article, we would like to give it to you first . . .

Call Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners at 800-426-2344 and ask us to test it for you

Why is that our best advice? There are several important reasons.

  • One reason is that when we test your white metal item for you, we will not damage it by removing some of the metal, scratching its surface, discoloring it by heating it to a high temperature, or damaging it in some kind of chemical bath.

  • A second reason is that because we have been testing precious metals for decades now, we know exactly what we are doing and we will send you an accurate report of what your item is made of, along with an estimate of its value. If you test your scrap yourself, how will you know exactly what you have?

  • A third reason is that when you allow us to test your item, you avoid the possibility of hurting yourself by getting a burn from heat or acid, or by inhaling noxious chemicals.

  • A fourth reason is that when we test your white metal items for you, you don’t need to go out to buy testing equipment of any kind. That saves you money, plus you can avoid the hassle and expense of buying testing kits and other equipment that might or might not, produce accurate results.

But You Still Want to Do the Testing Yourself? Okay, We’ll Tell You How

Option One: Buy a jeweler’s testing kit with a rubbing stone and various testing fluids. You’ll have to spend about $30.00 on a testing kit. Make sure the one you buy contains the testing fluid you will need for platinum because some of the cheaper kits don’t.  And be forewarned, not all these kits provide accurate results.

Option Two: Heat the metal to a high heat using a Bunsen burner or a propane plumber’s torch. In general, platinum will not discolor, and it will certainly not melt. The problem with this testing method is that if you are mistakenly testing silver or white gold in the belief that they are platinum, they will discolor. Maybe that’s not a big problem for you, but you could end up having to polish up that old ring or another item before you can sell it.

Option Three: Immerse the item in acid. The classic jeweler’s acid, known as aqua regia, will slowly dissolve platinum. (It will also dissolve gold and silver and base metals very quickly, meaning that you can destroy them and lose their value by testing them in this way.) Chemically, aqua regia is made up of three parts hydrochloric acid to one part nitric acid. Aqua regia is really dangerous, noxious stuff that produces toxic fumes while it is dissolving various metals. But hey, if you are dying to test precious metals in this way, we warned you.

As We Said at the Start of Today’s Post . . .

The safest, wisest and most accurate way to test platinum is to send it to us. In many cases, we can offer discounted or free shipping on the items you send to us to be tested. Want to know more? Call Specialty Metals Smelters and Refiners today at 800-426-2344.

Barry Lenson
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