Back Finding: post-with-snap-down
Binding: Jewelry
Brand: 585 Karat Platinum
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: 585 Karat Platinum
Manufacturer: 585 Karat Platinum
Material Type: platinum
Metal Stamp: .585 PT
Metal Type: Platinum
Model: KPE-SP2520
Publisher: 585 Karat Platinum
Studio: 585 Karat Platinum
Total Metal Weight: 1.48

• Karat Platinum 15mm Hoop Earrings
• Karat Platinum 30mm Twisted Hoop Earrings
• Karat Platinum Love Knot Post Earrings
• Karat Platinum 35mm Hoop Earrings

Indulge in affordable luxury with these gleaming 585 platinum hoop earrings. Made from a combination of 58.5% platinum and other alloys, they have a look and feel that's essentially indistinguishable from conventional platinum, with the same rich luster, beauty, and durability. Comfortably lightweight and easy to wear, these medium-sized hoops will complement any outfit. They are set on hinged snap-down posts. Learn more about Karat Platinum™.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Nice earrings.
Comment: Platinum is one of the most industrially useful precious metal and thus costs more than twice the price of gold of equal weight. It also is denser and maintains its luster better than gold. No wonder the public has fallen in love with it as a jewelry material in recent decades.

With the price soaring above $2000 per oz, however, Platinum is in danger of getting too expensive for the average consumers. Some vendor have therefore come up with a new alloy, the 585-Platinum, of which this pair of earrings is made.

Basically, the 585-Platinum is the "14-karat" version of platinum. This may sound innocuous to the lay-people, but it is actually quite controversial among the professionals because, unlike gold, platinum has historically being sold only in pure (24-karat) or near-pure (23-karat) forms. The filler material used here is cobalt (90 times cheaper than platinum) and copper (90 times cheaper than cobalt), the cost of which is negligible. Therefore, the vendors of the new alloy save 41% in material cost right away.

As long as the consumers are aware of these facts, however, I don't think there is anything wrong with marketing this more affordable alloy. Some critics have pointed out the possibility of lesser endurance compared to traditional platinum, but this metal is so new that the effect has not been fully quantified yet.

In any case, I had never bought any 585-platinum jewelry before and was quite curious about its look and feel. These earrings turned out to look fine, i.e. visibly better than silver or white gold. Only the trained eyes of an expert can tell that they are not pure platinum. The workmanship is not the best (actually machine-stamped), but you can only tell under a loupe, so it is not a big deal.

In terms of value, the pair I received weighs 1.466 gram. 58.5% of this is platinum, equivalent to 0.858 gram. At around $65 per gram wholesale, the material cost to the manufacturer is therefore about $56. I paid $99 with free shipping during a sale. This is a reasonable bargain in this part of the world. I am satisfied overall.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A great buy!
Comment: Today, for the first time since buying these earrings several months ago, I finally wore them. My favorite earrings broke today so I put these ones in. I am so glad that I got these! They are so lightweight and comfortable. I love them! You won't be sorry for buying them. Fantastic quality for a low price.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Can't Stop Wearing Them
Comment: I have worn these earrings almost every day since purchasing several months ago. I LOVE them. They are the perfect size for everyday wear and are very shiny - unlike silver. They are hollow - but have proven to be very durable anyway. I am thinking of getting another pair of Karat hoops - but I wear these so much that it might just be a waste of money.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great piece of everyday earrings
Comment: I love these earrings. I wear them everyday including sleeping in them. They are comfortable and much better than sterling silver hoops. Buy them.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: big
Comment: This earring is too big for a man to wear. I bought them because they were a good value. I also purchased the 15mm hoops, when they were on sale, and they are a good size.

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