Does Platinum Scratch? How Durable is Platinum for Jewellery?

Does platinum scratch?

Does Platinum scratch?

Platinum remains the most luxurious precious metal used in jewellery design. Buyers rarely question the rarity and value of this prized element. At the same time, uncertainty arises over durability and scratch resistance.

Put simply, this gleaming precious metal scratches over time despite Platinum’s cost and luxurious reputation.

Like most other metals, small scratches appear from the first day of wearing any jewellery item. The high polish of Platinum dulls to a natural semi-worn appearance. Small scratches are more evident on rings, including engagement rings and wedding rings. In contrast, platinum necklaces and earrings encounter less contact while being worn.

Platinum has a hardness of 4 – 4.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Basically, this means any harder material can scratch it. By comparison, diamond, the hardest substance, measures 10 on the same scale.

Besides its whiteness and density, we identify Platinum by the 950 Hallmark added to jewellery, denoting a purity of 95% Platinum.

The appearance of a brand-new Platinum ring

Brand spanking and newly polished, the surface of Platinum shines with a mirrored surface. Most new jewellery shines unless specifically finished with a textured or patterned effect.

The image below shows the appearance typical of Platinum and Palladium. Our image shows flush-set diamonds set into a Platinum wedding band.

Brand new Platinum wedding ring

Platinum and its ‘new’ mirrored polish

To illustrate the shiny surface of Platinum, our video reveals the gleaming finish of a brand-new wedding band. The surrounding mirrored surface shows the brand-new look of a typical Platinum band. We added our client’s heartbeat to the ring as part of our engraving service.

A Platinum ring, when polished professionally, restores the mirrored surface of a brand-new ring.

The appearance of small scratches on platinum

Scratches cannot be avoided on Platinum jewellery. From the first day worn, tiny scratches appear more visible over a polished surface. Put simply, small scratches and wear stand out against the brand-new look of a ring. Over time, wear builds over the surface of the ring.

Owing to the density of Platinum, scratches rarely remove Platinum. Instead, scratches displace the surface without any loss of metal. Over time, the shiny finish reduces to a duller appearance.

In addition, scratches are not generally a sign of damage to the platinum. They are a natural part of the wear and tear of the jewellery.

A professional jeweller should polish the platinum as part of their work. Most professional jewellers use a dedicated finisher to achieve the final mirror-like polish.

Jewellers polish platinum as part of their work. Most professional jewellers use a dedicated finisher to achieve the final mirror-like polish. Contact your local jeweller for more guidance on getting jewellery professionally polished.

The process of re-finishing flattens the metal and restores the high shine. 950 Platinum includes 5% metal alloys. Either Cobalt or Ruthenium used within the Platinum alloy increases surface hardness. The 950 hallmark on a Platinum piece of jewellery denotes purity of 95 per cent pure Platinum.

Example of Heavy Wear on Platinum

heavy wear on platinum

The above photograph shows heavy wear on a wedding ring. A combination of knocks, dents and scrapes appear over the surface of the ring. Heavy wear results in surface damage. Abrasive surfaces reduce the polish, resulting in a dull look to the ring.

Many small scratches result in a consistent look to the ring.

Showing New or Refinished Platinum 

refinished platinum

Jewellers remove deep marks and dents by filing a ring. Later, the jeweller polishes the Platinum with abrasive pads and paste. A motorised machine spins a pad covered with an abrasive paste to polish and buff the metal’s surface.

While light wear requires less intensive treatment, small scratches polish out fairly easily. Re-finishing the ring regularly restores the shine to an as-new condition. Unlike 18ct White Gold, Platinum has no Rhodium coating added to the ring. This is due to the natural whiteness of Platinum which does not require Rhodium plating.

Should you worry about Platinum wearing?

The important thing to remember is not to worry about the presence of small scratches or marks on a ring. Almost all re-polishing work is routine for most jewellers.

Pay special attention to small claws appearing worn around precious gemstones. The single most common cause of lost diamonds comes from worn claws.

We routinely check claws as part of the refinishing process. As a result, we can advise our clients if there appears to be any risk in gemstone settings.

Cleaning Platinum jewellery at home

Restore the shine of Platinum to a great extent using specialist cleaning materials. Restore the shine of Platinum with Connoisseur beauty wipes. We highly recommend the beauty wipes, which will restore the shine on Platinum and Palladium.

Each pack includes 25 reusable dry wipes. They contain a dry compound that removes tarnishes and dirt, fills small scratches, and never dries out.

Jewellery wipes

Care with fine Platinum detail.

Delicate detail on Platinum jewellery demands specialist attention. For example, milgrain edges are added to some ring designs. While many Platinum rings appear chunky, others include fine, delicate detail. 

Professional jewellers exercise care when re-furbishing milgrain detailed jewellery. Most importantly, get expert help and guidance before anyone works on your ring. Contact our team for more help and guidance.

Platinum vs Rhodium-plated White Gold

Rhodium plating, applied to white gold, offers scratch resistance greater than platinum. However, Rhodium’s slow and gradual wear reveals the true tinted colour of white gold. As a result, many buyers choose Platinum in favour of its natural whiteness. In the coming years, some clients arrange for jewellery to be re-furbished.

Does Platinum scratch more easily than 14K Gold?

Although more durable, Platinum has a softer surface compared to 14k Gold. For this reason, it scratches more easily than 14k Gold. But remember, 14k Gold wears away, unlike Platinum.

What to do if your brand-new ring shows small scratches

Despite great care, your brand-new engagement ring sometimes reveals small scratches and wear. But remember, most rings wear within a very short time of putting the item on.

Remember, owing to the pristine, even surface, small marks are more visible. Rings do not keep their high polish where the ring makes contact with other objects.

Typically, we suggest a simple solution to improve the appearance of small scratches—A Dazzlestik or Beauty Wipes (see above). Or, send the ring back for a cleaning and refinish. Remember that rings eventually scratch again during daily wear, once back on the finger.

Do Platinum rings bend or break?

Platinum rings can bend, dent, scratch, twist and break with excessive force. Breaks occur on sizing lines and between the band and setting most often. In addition, knocked claws sometimes break, especially once worn down.

Wear also depends on the thickness of the item and how much damage it receives. If you discover damage, even beyond repair, we can help.

Part of our work involves re-making items of jewellery. Read our dedicated article showing some of the jewellery re-made and re-modelled over the last few years.

Remade ring example in Palladium

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.