| The oldest record of platinum use is as an inlay in | | | | engine. They were first introduced on cars in the |
| ancient Egypt. However, the Egyptians though it | | | | US market for the 1975 model year to comply |
| was a variation of electrum, (a natural blend of | | | | with tightening EPA regulations on auto exhaust. |
| gold and silver.) Native Americans used it for | | | | Each catalytic converter contains between three |
| centuries in small decorative objects. Platinum was | | | | and seven grams of platinum. Not a bad catch if |
| unknown to Europeans until Spanish discovered it | | | | you can find one legally. Catalytic converters are |
| in Columbia. The Spanish called it platina, meaning | | | | also used on generator sets, forklifts, mining |
| little silver. It was not identified as a new metal | | | | equipment, trucks, buses, trains, and other |
| until the 1700's. The metal was introduced into | | | | engine-equipped machines. |
| Europe from South America in the middle of the | | | | From the scrap yards, the converters make their |
| eighteenth century. It is always found in | | | | way into the metal-recycling industry, where the |
| association with other metals, chiefly Rhodium, | | | | platinum and other precious elements, including |
| Osmium, Iridium, Palladium. | | | | palladium and rhodium, are removed and used to |
| Platinum is one of the rarest and purest precious | | | | build high-tech machinery, including more catalytic |
| metals in the world. The perfect jewelry material | | | | converters. |
| for these fortuitous times, Platinum is regarded by | | | | Although it is being brought to the forefront |
| many as a "new" metal. Platinum has been held in | | | | thanks to thieves stealing the catalytic |
| high regard as a symbol of wealth and nobility, the | | | | converters, platinum still seams to be the big |
| true worth of Platinum was underappreciated until | | | | unknown in scrap metal. Some great places to |
| the eighteenth century, when the Europeans | | | | find old catalytic converters for scarp are the local |
| began to recognize Platinum's beauty. As a matter | | | | junk yards, online classifieds, such as Craiglist, US |
| of fact, France's Louis XVI proclaimed it the only | | | | Freeads and Kiji. Another great place, as usual is |
| metal fit for royalty. Legendary jewelers such as | | | | Ebay. Some people even find them at flee |
| Cartier, Faberge and Tiffany created their | | | | markets and garage sales. The trick is once you |
| timeless designs in platinum. The world's famous | | | | get them, finding refiners that will pay decent |
| diamonds, including the Hope and Koh-l-Noor, are | | | | scrap metal prices for the platinum. It will be less |
| secured permanently in platinum. | | | | than what the price of platinum is due to the fact |
| Platinum reached its peak of popularity in the early | | | | that they have to extract it, that price is passed |
| 1900s, when it was the preferred metal for all | | | | on to you. |
| fine jewelry in America. It dominated the world of | | | | Now there is a second way to find the cheapest |
| jewelry design during the Edwardian era, the Art | | | | scrap platinum and that is through jewelry. Again |
| Deco period and well into the 1930s. At the onset | | | | the best places to find great deals on platinum |
| of World War II, however, the U.S. government | | | | jewelry is through the flee market and garage |
| declared platinum a 'strategic' metal and its use in | | | | sales, followed by Craigslist, Us Freeads, Kiji and |
| non-military applications, including jewelry, was | | | | Ebay. Or if you are really resourceful you can |
| banned. | | | | invest in a metal detector and hope for the best. |
| Very few countries have platinum supplies, with | | | | What is so great about scrap platinum jewelry? |
| South Africa (80%) and Russia (11%) accounting | | | | Well, the number of knowledgeable buyers and |
| for approximately 90% of the world's supply. The | | | | sellers are low. Most people don't understand that |
| yearly production from these mines is only 150 | | | | platinum jewelry is 90% platinum and that the |
| tons, which is 1/25 of the yearly production of | | | | other 10% is made up of a platinum group metal. |
| gold. Moreover, the amount of platinum that can | | | | If you call around to your local pawnshops, scrap |
| be produced from raw ore is relatively small. To | | | | metal dealers, junk yards, coins shops, and |
| make a single small ring of approximately 3 grams | | | | jewelers, you'll find that most of them are paying |
| requires approximately 1 ton of raw ore. | | | | about the same for platinum jewelry as 14k gold |
| Today, platinum is much more valuable than gold. | | | | and some may pay close to what they pay for |
| Although it is used in many industrial applications, | | | | 18k gold. They are taking advantage of most of |
| including the automotive industry, platinum jewelry | | | | the sellers out there who just don't understand |
| consistently commands higher prices than even | | | | what they have. |
| pure gold because of its rarity. | | | | If you find the cheap scrap platinum that you are |
| Two of the best ways to find the cheapest scrap | | | | looking for then your next step is to locate a |
| platinum is through catalytic converters and scrap | | | | platinum refiner preferably in your area and get |
| platinum jewelry. Due to the prices of platinum | | | | their schedule or purchase prices. Your goal is to |
| being so high as of late, a lot of people are | | | | locate a refiner who will pay you for the "residual" |
| becoming victims of thieves who steal their | | | | values in your scrap alloy. The key is that you will |
| catalytic converters. It used to be you had to | | | | need to guarantee that you'll be providing a |
| worry about your rims, stereos and gps systems, | | | | minimum of 10 to 12 Troy ounces in order to be |
| well not anymore. | | | | paid for all your metal rather than just the 90% |
| A catalytic converter is used to reduce the | | | | platinum. |
| toxicity of emissions from an internal combustion | | | | |