Vermeil is sterling silver jewelry electroplated with karat gold. Silver is much less expensive than gold and platinum. The ease of working with silver makes it a favorite among jewelry designers. Mr. Ernie Herrick presented the lost wax casting technique working with silver to the class. Some 2,000 years ago, South American Indians were the first to work and mine platinum, creating nose rings and jewelry items with a smelting process that would remain secret until the late 1700s.
Platinum is more rare on Earth than gold and silver.
Platinum jewelry is often alloyed with other members of the platinum family, iridium or ruthenium, to add strength. Rhodium, another platinum member, is the most reflective or bright of the metals and is used to coat or plate gold and platinum jewelry. South Africa supplied nearly two-thirds of the world's platinum. Political and labor unrest affects the price of platinum and periodically causes a rise in the price. The price very rarely trades below the price of gold.