Platinum is one of the most rare and pure precious metals it is both an essential and precious metal its includes palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium. These metals are known for their purity, high melting points and ability to stay stable at high temperatures.

The platinum jewellery crafted at ESTRELLA JEWELS is designed using the finest quality, 950 grade platinum. The 950 grade means the metal is 95% pure. It has more strength than any other metal, and is used widely for the setting of precious stones.

Platinum Marks :

• 950 PLATINUM -  Platinum jewellery containing at least 95 percent pure platinum is marked "Platinum," "Plat," or "PT." It rarely causes allergic reactions and resists tarnishing. Platinum is considerably denser than gold or silver and is extremely strong and durable.
• 850 PLATINUM -  Jewellery marked "850 Plat." or "850 Pt." is 85 percent pure. 
• 585 PLATINUM - Is an alloy of 58.5% pure platinum combined with 41.5% of cobalt and copper. 585 platinum is a unique It gives the platinum lover the same look, feel, lustre and durability of 950 platinum, but at half the cost. All the hypoallergenic properties of pure platinum are also present in 585 platinum, which makes it the perfect choice for those with sensitive skin.

Gold is the "gold standard" for adornment and beauty, and is the symbol of love. It speaks volumes both in language and in culture

This very durable metal that has been used for jewellery making for centuries will not corrode, tarnish or rust. Our artisan craftsmen at ESTRELLA JEWELS are happy to work with this lustrous metal which can be crafted into beautiful designs, created with great care and intricacy.

Yellow gold is very popular, but today purchasers can choose also between white and rose gold. Experiments with different alloys have produced black, purple and green golds. 24K gold is often considered too soft to be crafted into jewellery, so 9K and 18K yellow and white gold is often the metals of choice

The marks or stamps contain numbers ‘750’ for 18k gold and ‘375’ for 9k gold. The numbers refer to the percentage of pure gold included in the alloy. 18K gold is 75% pure and will result in a number of 750. 9K gold will result in a figure of 375 because the mix is 37.5% pure gold.

A 75% mix is highly recommended as there is more pure gold content and will result in a richer, more golden colour which will enhance the beauty of the diamond. It has also proved to be more durable and more resistant to damage.

The 18K white gold used by ESTRELLA JEWELS is our signature metal containing a very high platinum content in the alloy. The result is a signature unique white gold with an amazing rich white lustre.

The abbreviations "karat," "carat," "Karat," "Carat," "Kt," "Ct," "K," "C" or a designation in thousandths may be used to express the standard of a gold object is a measure of the fineness of gold with a minimum quality of 9K.

• 24 carat (fineness 999)
• 20 carat (fineness 833)
• 15 carat (fineness 625)
• 10 carat (fineness 417)
• 8 carat (fineness 333)
• 22 carat (fineness 916)
• 18 carat (fineness 750)
• 14 carat (fineness 585)
• 9 carat (fineness 375)

Like gold, silver is one of the world's oldest metals for jewelry design. Highly reflective and malleable, silver has been transformed into everything from fine flatware to mirrors, but one of its most enduring uses is as a personal adornment. Because silver does not tarnish when worn, it became associated with purity.

Understanding the different types of silver and silver plating techniques will help when choosing silver jewelry.

• Solid Silver and Silver Alloys- Pure or native silver in its elemental form is one of the most reflective metals known. However, it is also soft and prone to losing its shape with extended wear. To strengthen the soft metal and enhance its suitability for jewelry, manufacturers often mix it with other metals to create an alloy. Unlike some gold alloys, most silver alloys contain a high percentage of the precious metal.
• Fine Silver- Jewelers refer to pure or nearly pure silver as fine silver. Ingots and jewelry made from fine silver must contain 99.9 percent silver, a percentage often expressed as 999 parts of silver in 1,000 parts of metal. Items made of fine silver may bear the number 999 stamped on the piece as an indication of its composition. Although fine silver jewelry is rare, some artisans prefer to work in it. When buying fine silver jewelry, look for simple shapes that will not lose their detail if the jewelry becomes dented or bent. Items with a hammered finish are a good choice because they will not show wear as a brushed or polished finish might.
• Britannia Silver- Britannia silver contains 95.8 percent pure silver alloyed with copper. Although it is occasionally used for silver jewelry, particularly vintage silver items, it is more often used for coinage or decorative housewares. Sometimes marked with the numbers 958 to denote its purity, Britannia silver is indistinguishable from the closely related and more widely known sterling silver at a glance.
• Sterling Silver- Overwhelmingly the most popular option for silver jewelry, sterling silver consists of 92.5 percent pure silver alloyed with other metals, usually copper. Sterling silver is one of the oldest alloys still in use. Its first recorded use was in the late tenth century. The alloy has a lower melting point than fine silver or pure copper, so it was easy to manufacture and withstood wear better than the pure metal, leading it to become the standard for coinage. British money takes its name from this ancient alloy, and in some languages, the same word is used for "money" and "silver." As jewelry, sterling silver has many advantages over fine silver. It retains silver's brilliance and workability, but it is considerably more durable than pure silver. The copper and other metals in the alloy reduce its tendency to tarnish and sometimes impart other properties to jewelry. Argentium sterling silver uses germanium instead of copper for a more tarnish-resistant product, and other manufacturers use gold or platinum to accomplish a similar effect. Sterling silver bears a stamp of purity featuring the number of its parts per thousand of pure silver, 925. Some makers refer to sterling silver as 925 silver.

Tips for Buying Silver Jewelry

When shopping for silver jewelry, note the markings on the inside of the piece. Almost all sterling silver jewelry is marked as sterling or 925 silver, but some handcrafted pieces do not bear these stamps even if they are sterling. Silver rarely reacts with skin. Most people who have experienced skin irritation or staining from jewelry have been wearing nickel silver, an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel that contains no precious metal. It may be difficult to find a jeweler who can resize silver rings, so pay attention to ring sizes when buying silver jewelry. Because silver is inexpensive, the cost to resize a ring may be more than the item's worth. Silver-plated jewelry is best for items that are worn occasionally. With daily use, the thin layer of silver can eventually wear away, exposing base metal that can corrode or stain skin.

Conclusion

Silver is a precious metal, but it has an accessible price. For those who appreciate its softer beauty, it is more highly prized than gold, yet it is inexpensive enough to wear as a fun fashion accessory. With silver plating and filling, even costume jewelry can be encased in precious metal. Although silver may not retain its connection to purity, it is a link with history; even the most contemporary silver jewelry designs have something in common with ancient adornments.