Glossary · Materials
Platinum 950
Definition
Platinum 950 is an alloy of 95% platinum, usually with iridium or ruthenium. It is the densest of case metals: it weighs 60% more than 18K gold and twice as much as steel. It does not oxidise and does not lose colour. It scratches, but the metal shifts rather than wears away: a scratched platinum case still has all its weight. It is the metal of the highest series from Patek Philippe, Lange and Rolex.
Frequently asked questions
What is PLATINUM 950?
95% platinum, with iridium or ruthenium. The heaviest and most stable case metal: it does not oxidise, it does not change colour. It scratches by shifting metal, not losing it. It is used by the highest series of the great houses.
Does the weight of platinum change the strap?
Yes. A 40 mm platinum case weighs as much as a 44 mm steel one: the strap needs to hold it steady. I prefer compact leathers, not too soft, with a thickness at the lug of 4 mm and a deployant buckle, which distributes the weight and does not strain a single hole.
How do I match a strap to a platinum 950 case?
I encounter platinum in the case and the buckle, not at the workbench: I work the leather. The white of platinum is cold and discreet: black or midnight blue alligator, grey box calf, tone-on-tone stitching. No strong contrasts. Platinum buckle if the house supplies it, otherwise polished steel.
The next step
The right strap isn't chosen. It is built, together.
From the atelier appointment to delivery, every step is made for those who know that things done well take time. Rare leathers, one piece at a time, eighteen months of warranty.
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