Platinum Value Guide

Platinum's own market and math

Platinum trades on its own spot market, separate from gold and silver, and its price can move in the opposite direction from gold depending on industrial demand, since platinum is heavily used in catalytic converters and other manufacturing beyond jewelry. This means platinum jewelry isn't valued using the gold spot price at all — it needs its own live platinum spot price for an accurate calculation.

Platinum jewelry is typically 90-95% pure, commonly stamped '900,' '.900,' '950' or '.950,' with the remainder made up of hardening alloys like ruthenium or cobalt. The melt math follows the same pattern as gold: grams x purity (decimal) x platinum spot price per gram. A 10-gram 950 platinum band at a hypothetical platinum spot price of $35/gram works out to 10 x 0.95 x $35 = $332.50 in metal content.

Why platinum is often confused with white gold

Platinum and white gold can look nearly identical to the eye, especially once white gold has been rhodium-plated to enhance its shine, and this is one of the most common mix-ups we see at the counter. The two metals are priced completely differently — platinum is naturally white and denser, while white gold is yellow or grayish gold alloyed and plated to appear white.

Platinum is also noticeably heavier than white gold for the same size and design, since it's a denser metal, which is one clue jewelers use before formal testing. Because the visual difference can be subtle, especially on older or worn pieces, proper testing rather than a visual guess is the only reliable way to tell them apart.

Where platinum shows up

Platinum has long been favored for engagement rings and wedding bands because of its durability, hypoallergenic properties, and the way it holds diamonds securely without wearing down prongs as quickly as gold. It's also used in some luxury watch cases and high-end designer jewelry, where its density and rarity are part of the appeal.

Because platinum jewelry is often paired with diamonds in engagement settings, an accurate appraisal needs to separately value the metal and any stones — the platinum's worth doesn't change based on the diamond, and vice versa.

Hallmarks to look for

Platinum is typically stamped 'PT,' 'PLAT,' '900,' '950,' or a combination like 'PT950.' Older or European pieces may use different purity levels such as '850' or '999' for pure platinum, so it's worth checking the exact number rather than assuming a standard purity.

• 'PT' or 'PLAT' — general platinum indicator
• '950' or 'PT950' — most common jewelry purity, 95% pure
• '900' — slightly lower purity, still solid platinum
• 'IRIDPLAT' — platinum-iridium alloy, common in older pieces

Sell your platinum in Houston

Gold King tests every white metal piece to confirm whether it's platinum or white gold before quoting anything, since guessing from appearance alone isn't reliable. We price platinum against its own live spot price and appraise any diamonds or stones separately.

Bring your platinum jewelry to 6809 Southwest Freeway, open daily 10:00 AM to 8:45 PM, or call 713-997-0875 with questions beforehand. Photo ID is required by Texas law for any precious metal sale.