The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ruled that companies must disclose a metal's exact composition when advertising platinum that includes a large percentage of base metal alloys.

As a result of the ruling, which was made on December 16th, marketers have been told they must mark or describe the full composition of base metal alloys which contain between 50 and 85 per cent platinum.

They must also "disclose that the product may not have the same attributes or properties as traditional platinum products, which are comprised of at least 85 percent pure platinum," said the FTC.

While the authority accepted that adding base metals, such as copper and cobalt, to platinum jewellery has made it more affordable, it stressed that it has also increased the need to prevent deceptive trading practices.

Meanwhile, jewellery must be composed of at least 95 per cent pure platinum to be described as "platinum" with no qualification.

The Platinum Guild USA welcomed the news, with president Huw Daniel saying: "The FTC's decision will go a long way to ensure that consumers can make confident choices when purchasing platinum jewellery, while also benefiting members of the platinum jewellery industry on the manufacturing and retail sides."

Sources:



FTC: Disclose Platinum Percentages
 (20/12/10)



Platinum Guild welcomes new FTC guidance (20/12/10)

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