Whilst platinum had been worked by South American Indians over 1 000 years ago, Europe only came to learn of the new white metal following the conquest of the New World by the Spanish in the 15th and 16th centuries.  The Conquistadors discovered large deposits of platinum in South America and so named the metal “platina” - Spanish for "little silver".

This rare metal’s extraordinary properties fascinated European scientists and it was discovered to be denser than gold and almost impossible to corrode with gases or chemicals.  In 1751 a Swedish assayer by the name of Scheffer recognized platinum as the seventh element known to exist (up until that time) and was the first person to successfully melt platinum.

In the 18th century platinum's tarnishless beauty and strength caught the eye of European jewellers and goldsmiths.  The challenge of working with platinum encouraged such jewellers as Marc Janety, Royal Goldsmith to Louis XVI, and Pierre Chabaneu of Spain to master the metal.  In 1788 King Carlos III of Spain commissioned Francisco Alonso to craft a platinum chalice, weighing nearly two kilograms, for Pope Pius VI. 

Toward the end of the 18th century France created the metric system of weights and measures and platinum was used to create the standard kilogram weight. 

At the turn of the 19th century, an English scientist by the name of Wallaston discovered the process for making platinum malleable.   Significant platinum deposits were discovered in the Ural Mountains in Russia in 1819 and in 1866 diamonds were discovered in Kimberley, South Africa.  All these discoveries boosted the popularity of platinum which became the metal of choice for setting precious gems.

High-temperature jewellers' torches were developed toward the end of the 1800s and this allowed platinum to be melted more easily.   Prior to this discovery diamonds were set in silver in order to highlight their brilliance.  But as jewellers became more adept in working in platinum, it quickly took over this role since platinum settings were not required to be as heavy as those made from silver.

In the early 1900s, Louis Cartier became the first person to successfully create platinum jewellery and his skill revealed the metal’s hidden characteristics for the first time.  Cartier became known as the "jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers".

The world’s largest platinum deposits were discovered in South Africa in 1924 by German geologist, Hans Merensky.

However, with the onset of World War II, the use of platinum was restricted to the manufacture of armaments and crafting of platinum jewellery was forbidden.

During the latter part of the 20th century, platinum’s popularity as the preferred metal for elegant and sophisticated jewellery once again soared and a new generation of platinum jewellery craftsmen was born.