Does Platinum Scratch? 

Like all precious metals, platinum is susceptible to scratches from daily wear and tear. When it is scratched, platinum displaces rather than loses mass, maintaining its weight and structure. This characteristic is beneficial for investors in platinum bullion, as the metal retains its weight even after years of handling. Its durability is higher than many other metals, and it develops a natural patina that many find attractive, which can enhance the appeal of platinum coins over time. 

Understanding Platinum’s Hardness on the Mohs Scale 

The Mohs scale measures the hardness of minerals based on their ability to scratch softer substances. Platinum has a hardness of 4 to 4.5, making it more resistant to wear than softer metals like gold. This level of hardness also means that platinum bullion and coins maintain their integrity over time, contributing to their long-term investment value. While harder metals exist, platinum’s unique balance between hardness and malleability makes it a popular choice for jewelry and bullion products. This balance plays a key role in stabilizing the platinum price in the investment market, as its durability ensures it remains in demand.  

Comparing Platinum to Common Metals on the Mohs Scale 

The hardness of platinum allows it to resist wear better than gold. However, platinum can still be scratched by harder substances despite its relative hardness. Here’s how platinum compares to other common minerals: 

Mineral Mohs Hardness Comparison to Platinum 
Talc Much Softer 
Gypsum Softer 
Calcite Softer 
Nickel Comparable 
Iron Slightly Harder 
Titanium Harder 
Quartz Significantly Harder 
Topaz Much Harder 
Corundum Much Harder 
Diamond 10 Far Harer 
Mohs Scale and Hardness

The Nature of Platinum Scratches 

Scratches on platinum, whether found in jewelry, bullion, or platinum coins, do not remove metal but instead displace it. Over time, these small scratches blend into a natural patina, giving platinum a distinctive patina that many collectors value. As a result of greater frequencies of handling, jewelry and coins tend to develop this patina more quickly, further enhancing their uniqueness and desirability among collectors and investors. 

Platinum Versus Other Metals 

Platinum’s resistance to scratches is often compared to other metals like gold and silver. While platinum may scratch more easily than harder metals such as tungsten carbide, it is able to retain metal with each scratch. Unlike gold, which can lose material and value with each scratch, platinum retains its mass, preserving its intrinsic value.  

What Metals are Harder than Platinum? 

Metal Mohs Hardness 
Gold/Silver 2.5 
Copper 2.5-3 
Platinum 4-4.5 
Palladium 4.5-5 
Cobalt 
Stainless Steel 5.5-6.3 
Rhodium 
Tungsten Carbide 8.5-9 
List of Metals on the Mohs Scale

Practical Applications of Platinum’s Hardness 

Platinum provides a combination of hardness, durability, and resistance to corrosion, making it valuable in numerous industries. Below are some common applications of platinum. 

  • Jewelry: Platinum is often used in engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry, valued for its weight retention and natural whiteness. 
  • Platinum Bullion and Coins: Platinum’s durability and scarcity make it a stellar choice for coins and bullion.  
  • Industrial Uses: Platinum is employed in catalytic converters to reduce harmful emissions. Its high melting point and resistance to corrosion make it suitable for use in laboratory equipment like crucibles. 
  • Medical Devices: Platinum is hypoallergenic and chemically inert, and its biocompatibility makes it a perfect match for use in pacemaker electrodes and dental alloys. 
  • Aerospace: Platinum is used in jet engine components because of its ability to withstand extreme temperatures. Its catalytic properties allow it to be used in hydrogen fuel and other chemical processes vital to aerospace technology. 
  • Glass Manufacturing: It is used in the production of high-quality glass, including fiberglass and optical glass, due to its resistance to high temperatures. 

Maintenance Tips 

Platinum is durable, but maintaining its appearance requires some care. Here are a few tips: 

  • Storage: Store products like platinum coins and jewelry by themselves to avoid contact with harder materials that may scratch them. 
  • Considerations in Daily Wear: To preserve the finish of platinum pieces, remove them before engaging in manual work or handling harsh chemicals. 

Although platinum does scratch, its unique properties allow it to retain its weight and structure, making it one of the most durable precious metals. This durability ensures that platinum bullion and coins remain valuable, maintaining their appeal to investors and collectors alike. The price of platinum is driven by these intrinsic properties, along with global demand and industrial uses, solidifying platinum as a versatile and long-lasting metal. Its hardness, combined with its resistance to wear and corrosion, makes it valuable in various applications, from fine jewelry to aerospace and medical devices. 

Quick Guides to Investing

Step 1:

Why Buy Physical Gold and Silver?

If you are concerned about the volatility of the stock market, you’re not alone. The extreme highs and lows of the stock market often lead investors towards safe-haven assets, like bullion. Historically, the Precious Metals market has an inverse relationship with the stock market, meaning that when stocks are up, bullion is down and vice versa.

Step 2:

How Much Gold and Silver Should You Have?

This question is one of the most important for investors to answer. After all, experts suggest limits on how much of any types of investments should go into a portfolio. After deciding to purchase and own Precious Metals and considering how much money to allocate, one can then think about how much and what to buy at any point in time.

Step 3:

Which Precious Metals Should I Buy?

With the frequent changes in the market and countless Precious Metal products available, choosing investments can be difficult. Some want Gold or Silver coins, rounds or bars while others want products that are valuable because of their design, mintage or other collectible qualities. Also, collectors may shop for unique sets and individual pieces for their collections.

Step 4:

When to Buy Gold & Silver

After considering why, how much, and what Precious Metals products to buy, an investor’s next step is when to buy them. This decision requires an understanding of market trends and the impact of economic factors on precious metal prices.

Explore More On APMEX

Silver

Platinum

Rare Coins