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Short answer
Platinum value depends on weight, purity, and today's platinum spot price (a separate market from gold). Pt950 is 95% pure, Pt900 is 90%, and Pt850 is 85%. Per-gram value typically runs 80–85% of melt on scrap.
What Pt950, Pt900, and Pt850 actually mean
Platinum jewelry stamps work like karat stamps for gold, but the numbers are decimal-percentages instead of 24ths. Pt950 (or 'PLAT' or just '950') is 95% pure platinum. Pt900 is 90%. Pt850 is 85%. The remaining 5–15% is usually iridium, ruthenium, or palladium — alloys that improve workability and don't degrade the white color. Most modern engagement settings and wedding bands in the US are Pt950. European platinum sometimes uses Pt900 or Pt850 for better workability with intricate filigree. Older platinum from the early 20th century (Art Deco era) can be 850 or unmarked.
Platinum is its own market — and it doesn't track gold
Platinum's price is driven mostly by industrial demand (catalytic converters in cars, hydrogen fuel cells, lab equipment) rather than store-of-value demand like gold. That means platinum can trade above or below gold depending on auto-industry cycles and supply disruptions from South Africa (where most platinum is mined). Historically platinum traded at a premium to gold for decades; since 2015 it has more often traded at a discount. When you sell platinum at our counter, we use today's actual platinum spot price — not last year's, not a number that assumes platinum = gold.
The math: weight × purity × today's platinum spot price
Platinum spot price is quoted per troy ounce. For Pt950: weight × 0.95 × (spot ÷ 31.1035) = per-gram melt. Worked example: at $1,000/oz platinum spot, an 8g Pt950 wedding band is worth 8 × ($1,000 ÷ 31.1035) × 0.95 ≈ $244 in melt content. Our honest offer on scrap platinum runs 80–85% of melt — typically $195–$207 — because platinum scrap has tighter dealer margins than gold (smaller secondary market, less refinery competition). For Pt900 the multiplier is 0.90, for Pt850 it's 0.85. If your piece is a signed designer setting or contains a diamond worth removing for separate sale, we evaluate it as a piece, not just metal.
Platinum vs white gold: identical to the eye, very different at the counter
Platinum and 14K white gold (rhodium-plated) look essentially identical — same cool silvery-white color, same weight feel until you compare side-by-side. But platinum is about 1.7× denser than gold of the same shape, and the two metals price very differently per gram. We acid-test or XRF-test every white-metal piece before we name a number. The test takes 5–15 seconds. White gold is often stamped 14K, 18K, 585, or 750; platinum is stamped Pt, Plat, 950, 900, or 850. If the stamp is worn or missing, the test reveals what you actually have.
Selling Platinum in San Diego: What 950, 900, and 850 Actually Mean FAQ
How can I tell platinum from white gold?
Stamps are the first clue: platinum is marked 'Pt', 'Plat', '950', '900', or '850'; white gold is marked '14K', '18K', '585', or '750'. Platinum also feels noticeably heavier than white gold of the same shape (1.7× denser). If the stamp is worn or missing, bring it in — an acid test or XRF reader tells us in seconds.
Why does platinum sometimes price below gold?
Platinum's price is driven by industrial demand (catalytic converters, hydrogen fuel cells) more than store-of-value demand. Gold has more universal investor demand worldwide. The platinum-to-gold ratio has flipped multiple times historically. We always quote against today's actual platinum spot, not a fixed assumption about how platinum prices vs gold.
Do you buy platinum settings without the stones?
Yes. If you've removed a diamond or other stone from a platinum setting (or want us to remove it), we buy the setting for its platinum content. Bent, broken, partial — none of that reduces the metal value. A 5-minute counter operation removes most stones cleanly if you want to keep them.
Is Pt950 worth more than Pt900?
Per gram, yes — Pt950 is 95% platinum vs Pt900's 90%, so Pt950's melt value runs about 5–6% higher than Pt900 at the same weight. Pt850 is another 5–6% below Pt900. The math is straightforward: higher purity multiplier = higher per-gram value.
What about platinum bullion (Pt Eagles, PAMP platinum bars)?
We buy recognized platinum bullion close to spot — typically 92–96% of platinum spot price, depending on coin/bar type. American Platinum Eagles, Canadian Platinum Maple Leafs, PAMP Suisse platinum bars, Valcambi platinum — all welcome. Platinum bullion is rarer in our daily inventory than gold or silver, so call ahead if you're selling a large lot.
