Trusted Saskatoon Jewellers at Batemans Share The History Of Platinum

6. Apr 2020 Trusted Saskatoon Saskatoon Jewellers, Trusted Tips

Bateman Jewellers are Trusted Saskatoon jewellery experts! Did you know that they are the oldest independent jewellery store in Saskatoon? Bateman Jewellers maintain that the relationship with their clients is very important to them. In their latest Saskatoon jewellery tip they share the interesting history of the metal platinum.

THE HISTORY OF PLATINUM

Today, we take for granted that platinum is a coveted precious metal but do you know how long it has been around?

The answer may surprise you - It was declared a precious metal in just 1751

By comparison, Ancient Egyptians began using gold and silver to decorate sacred objects since around 3,000 BC.

From 2551 BC to 2490 BC, they capped the Pyramids of Giza with solid gold, the ultimate sign of the metal’s importance and value. So if like us here at Batemans you are curious about platinum metal history read on!

Incognito Platinum Metal

Platinum’s history slipped into human use as a by-product of gold and silver mining.

Gold was found with platinum and the two blended as they were hammered into shape.

Platinum was thought to be silver — even though it was much harder.

Chemists have identified platinum mixed with gold in items dating back to Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (1991-1718 BC). One example is the gold and “silver” cover on the 700 BCE Egyptian Casket of Thebes. An early examiner noted that while some of the silver was heavily oxidized, curiously enough, other “silver” was unaffected. In 1901, French chemist, Marcellin Berthelot, tested the metal and learned that the untarnished silver metal was a combination of platinum, iridium, and gold.

White Specks and “Little Silver”

Across the Atlantic, archaeologists discovered Pre-Columbian sacred and decorative pieces made of gold with distinctive white specks. These were identified as platinum. In 16th century South America, Spanish conquistadors searched rivers and streams for gold and silver the Spanish King so desperately needed. In the process, they found chunks of platinum. Alas, they called it “platina,” meaning “little silver” and discarded it with no idea it was rare and valuable.

A Hard Fact

To call platinum “little silver” is insulting enough and that isn’t the worst of platinum metal history. In 1735, Antonio de Ulloa, a Spanish scientist, naval general, and explorer, visited Ecuador on a scientific mission. He encountered “platina” in gold mines where it was considered a gold “impurity.” Some thought it was “unripe gold,” and put it back in the mine or ground to “ripen” believing it would yellow with age. Intrigued, de Ulloa undertook to study it. He identified platinum as a separate metal that occurred with gold in alluvial deposits. Indeed, Ulloa found it extremely hard and invulnerable to heat which made it almost impossible to separate from gold nuggets. He observed that platinum was a “nuisance” or “hindrance” that interfered with gold mining. The Spanish abandoned some gold mines with high concentrations of this “nuisance.”

Precious Platinum Metal

In 1751, Swedish scientist, Henrik Scheffer, published the results of his platinum studies. He called it “white gold” and stated that it was:

Hard but malleable with the hardness of malleable iron.
A precious metal with durability and corrosion resistance similar to gold.
Unlike any of the six “old metals” because it is entirely precious containing no copper, tin, lead, iron, or mercury. Scheffer declared it a “seventh metal.”
Fusible with arsenic.

Workable? Well . . .

In 1786, Francois Chabaneau, a French chemist working for Charles III of Spain, developed a technique for creating somewhat workable platinum but the results were highly inconsistent. At one point, a story says he grew so frustrated with platinum that he trashed the lab given him by the King. That same year, Antoine Lavoisier, “the father of modern chemistry,” succeeded in melting tiny quantities of platinum, but not enough to work with.

Who Is Marc Etienne Janety?

Monsieur Janety was Louis XVI’s, Royal Goldsmith. He created a platinum and glass sugar bowl for the king whose beauty caused Louis XVI to famously declare that platinum was:

“ The only metal fit for Kings.”

In 1794, a year after the revolutionary government executed Louis XVI, Janety prudently left Paris. In 1796, he returned to create the revolutionary government’s official kilogram and meter measures out of platinum because it was the most durable and corrosion-resistant metal.

Pure Platinum

Above, we mentioned Chabaneau’s efforts to create workable platinum. The results proved inconsistent because he didn’t realize that platinum ore contained other platinum group metals — osmium, iridium, rhodium, and palladium. In the early 1800s, an English chemist, William Wollaston, found a way to produce pure platinum on a commercial scale. He kept his technique secret until just before his death.

The Heat Is On

In the waning years of the 19th century, new high-temperature blowtorches made it possible to work platinum into fine jewelry. Cartier in Paris and Tiffany & Co in New York took the lead, making platinum jewelry a status symbol. Many famous stones are set in platinum — including the Hope Diamond — are set in platinum. Nothing less will do for beauty, strength, purity, and natural white colour.

Platinum Metal Strength

Today it holds its status as the elite precious metal chosen by celebrities. It has also become the symbol of the exclusive credit cards, programs, and so on. Yet thanks to advances in technology and techniques — not to mention that its price per ounce is significantly lower than gold — platinum is available to many more customers and very popular in bridal rings. Can anything match the platinum solitaire?

Platinum: The Hypoallergenic Metal

Over the decades, we’ve learned much more about platinum. One discovery stands out: it’s hypoallergenic. This makes it a prime consideration for customers with sensitivities to nickel and copper.

Bateman Jewellers is a Trusted Saskatoon Jewellery Store

sited by May 31, 2019, By Elizabeth Raffel

Kitchen and Bath Classics Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Store Shares Top 5 Bathroom Design Trends

2. Apr 2020 Trusted Saskatoon Saskatoon Bathrooms, Saskatoon Interior Design, Talk to Experts, Trusted Partner News, Trusted Tips

Whether you are building a new home In Saskatoon or remodelling a single room, the team at Kitchen & Bath Classics Saskatoon is a Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Store offers you one of the largest selections of plumbing fixtures, faucets, lighting and accessories from quality brand names, Their showroom displays the latest trends and cutting-edge styles. In their latest offering, they share their top 5 trends for bathroom design

Bathroom Design Trends.

Here's a breakdown of the latest bathroom trends according to design industry experts.

Design Your Saskatoon Bathroom With The 2020 Pantone Colour Of The Year- Classic Blue.

Classic blue represents “bringing a sense of peace and tranquillity to the human spirit”. It makes perfect sense that colour with that meaning behind it would be chosen for a place of rest and tranquillity—the bathroom.

Depending on your style and taste, Classic Blue can be used in a variety of ways. For example, a popular way to include colour in the bathroom is through tiles, either for the flooring or in the shower. You can also include a Classic Blue bathroom vanity if you want a pop of colour against flat neutrals that can use a bit of edge. If you’re feeling extra daring, you can even paint an entire bathroom Classic Blue! But we know that not everyone can commit to a paint job in a bold colour. If you want to incorporate the 2020 Colour Of The Year in smaller steps, you can try adding towels, flowers and paintings.

Design With The Hottest Faucet Finish in 2020: Matte Black

The bathroom is a great place to experiment with matte black finishes. You can change your current faucet, showerhead, handheld showerhead, handles, pulls and lighting to this popular finish and see your bathroom transform from ordinary to extraordinarily modern.

Matte black finishes have been perfected to meet the needs of bathroom users, so you don’t need to worry about the finishes wearing off. Many luxury and mid-range brands are adding even more matte black faucets and accessories to their lineup, giving you a large selection to choose from in 2020.

Design Au Naturel and Eco-Friendly

Let your mind be free in the serenity of greenery in the bathroom. Between the hardness of bathroom finishes and materials, it's a much-welcomed idea to have plants and foliage in the bathroom. Bathroom plants are great to freshen the air, add some softness and of course, colour.

The new year also brings focus to creating an eco-friendly bathroom by changing out inefficient faucets and plumbing fixtures.

Here are some bathroom features to think about:

Change out your toilet to a low-flow model
Install a low-flow showerhead that works on magnetized poles, like ones from American Standard
Get a motion-activated faucet so there’s less water wasted between washing your hands and brushing your teeth
Choose quartz countertops as opposed to other materials. Quartz impacts the environment significantly less than other materials

Design In Plain Sight

Here’s what’s funny about bathrooms—there are certain things we want to show off about them, like beautiful tile work in the shower or a gorgeous clawfoot bathtub. But there are other things we don’t necessarily love to look at...like plumbing and drains.

But what if they were designed to be extra pleasing to the eye? That’s what 2020 is all about.

Exposed plumbing is a rising trend. Bathroom brands are now creating industrial-inspired pipe systems that are meant to be shown off in an array of beautiful finishes. You don’t have to hide away complicated pipe systems behind drywall anymore!

As for drains, bathroom brands and designers have found a clever way to hide them in plain sight. Many shower drains can now be designed to look as though they are part of the shower tile or shower floor. The result is a sleek look that doesn’t distract!

You can even go as far as a wall-hung toilet to remove the bulk and clutter of a toilet septic tank. Bathroom brands like TOTO are trailblazing this 2020 toilet trend. It’s also great for smaller spaces where a tank can take up precious square footage.

Design Your Bathroom With Colours, Wallpaper and Fun!

Step outside your comfort zone in the colours and designs you choose for your bathroom. Break out of traditional neutrals in the bathroom and experiment with pops of colour in textiles, accents of paint colour and even wallpaper. Yes, wallpaper...But don’t think it’s the same type of wallpaper from your grandparents’ homes.

Wallpapers come in so many varieties these days. You can choose anything from gentle geometric patterns to bold prints and textures. But a great alternative to wallpaper is a nice tile. Tiles also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours for any project. The options are endless.

Design Your Bathroom With Kitchen and Bath Classics Saskatoon

If you're considering a bathroom remodel or renovation, contact Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Store Kitchen & Bath Classics!

Trusted Saskatoon Jewellers at Batemans share a Tip about Hand Sanitizer Effect On Jewellery

18. Mar 2020 Trusted Saskatoon Saskatoon Jewellers, Saskatoon Retail, Trusted Tips

Bateman Jewellers are Trusted Saskatoon jewellery experts! Did you know that they are the oldest independent jewellery store in Saskatoon? Bateman Jewellers maintain that the relationship with their clients is very important to them, and Trusted Saskatoon is sure you have heard Cam say in his well-known radio ads

'Your jewellery is a lifetime investment; Buy it from a lifetime friend. '

What Does Hand Sanitizer Do to Our Jewellery?

In the past few weeks, you've probably increased your use of hand sanitizer and other soaps due to the global spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19 for short). But while all of those disinfecting agents are protecting you, they might be hurting something else—your jewellery.

In Batemans latest jewellery tip they share an article from JCK Online - a North American Jewellery Industry website.

On the best days, many of us are germaphobes. My obsession with keeping germs at bay went into overdrive when I became a mom, and then throw in a pandemic, and I’m considering fashioning myself a hand sanitizer holster. Oh yeah, I’d wear it.
Years ago when I worked in retail, even then I had a small bottle of hand sanitizer close at hand. I remember being told that too much could eat away at the rhodium plating on my ring (I had a white gold wedding set at that time). Still, a quick rub here and there kept my hands feeling clean, and, though my ring definitely bled yellow over time, it’s hard to know if that was the reason why—or if it was just general wear and tear.

Currently, constant hand-washing and sanitizing isn’t just for peace of mind; it’s highly recommended. I don’t even want to write the word COVID-19—I swear it echoes in my dreams. But it’s keeping us prudently cleaning our hands, and in turn, cleaning our jewelry, too—at least, the pieces we wear on our fingers.

Let me please preface this by saying that yes, you should absolutely positively wash wash wash, spray spray spray, scrub scrub scrub—whatever keeps your hands clean. Jewelry is precious, that is true, but your health is all the more so.

However, given that I’m sporting a newly redesigned wedding ring, I can’t help but wonder what I might be doing to it with my constant use of chemicals. Am I causing damage?

I always take my ring off to shower, lotion, make meatballs—you get it. Not trying to gunk up the jewels here! But I almost never take it off to wash my hands, and certainly not to sanitize. I’m betting most wearers are the same.

I spoke with Shan Aithal, a metallurgist at Stuller, to get the dirt (pardon the pun) on keeping hands—and rings—clean.

“To my knowledge, hand sanitizers are not capable of removing tough, albeit thin, rhodium that’s on a piece of jewelry,” says Aithal. “Hand sanitizers come in two varieties: alcohol-based and non–alcohol-based. The ones with alcohol are benign to jewelry items as alcohol is the main germ-killing ingredient. However, non–alcohol-based ones typically use chlorine-based compounds as germicides. These chlorine compounds could react with water and release free chlorine. Free chlorine radical is very reactive and could cause tarnishing of jewelry, especially if it is made of sterling silver. Also, halogens are known to cause stress corrosion cracking in low karat golds, in particular, nickel white golds.”

It is worth noting, in this case, that the CDC recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content. As long as you’re doing that, your metal will probably stay in great shape.

Soaps, according to Aithal, are a different story. “Soaps can contain abrasives, like Lava or that orange goo dispensed near hand-washing stations, that could damage the surface of jewelry and cause rhodium to be worn away.”

What about diamonds and sapphires?

It won’t damage them but can leave a filmy residue on the stones over time, dulling the sparkle. But it’s not permanent, and nothing a quick soak in an ultrasonic can’t fix.

“If anything, people should be cleaning their jewelry more,” says Susi Smither, founder of The Rock Hound. “Think of all that horrid buildup of crud under rings and behind the setting of claw-set earrings. Hand sanitizer kills the baddies then evaporates fast—this shouldn’t have any detrimental effects on your gemstones, even materials such as gemstones and pearls. If you’re worried, at the end of the day give them a rinse and dry when you get home.”

Peggy Grosz, senior vice president at Assael, suggests erring more on the side of caution when it comes to pearls.

“Sanitized skin should not come into contact with your pearls until completely dry and evaporate—wait about five minutes before putting on your pearls,” says Grosz. “As with perfumes and hairspray, the alcohol in the hand sanitizer can change the surface of the pearl, the two noticeable differences being a loss of lustre and a change in colour—white pearls, for example, will become yellowed if repeatedly exposed to such chemicals. Pearl rings should be removed when applying hand sanitizer, but because they have a mounting which separates them from direct contact with the chemicals, it is safe to put rings back on after a few minutes.”

Bottom line? Most, if not all, jewellery will be just fine, lovers of Georgian and early Victorian pieces should take special care as water can get into rings with closed-back mountings and affect the appearance of the stones. Also, locket rings or any ring that has a photo of some other decoration under glass should not be washed with water.

But of course, sometimes the simplest advice is the best. When in doubt, it is always better to take your rings off before washing your hands.!

If you are resting your rings on the sink while you scrub, please be sure the drain is closed, okay

Bateman Jewellers is a Trusted Saskatoon Jewellery Store

sighted from March 13, 2020 by BRITTANY SIMINITZ

Trusted Saskatoon Real Estate Agent Marla Janzen Shares 5 Reasons To Sell Now

13. Feb 2020 Admin Saskatoon Real Estate, Trusted Tips

Marla Janzen is an award-winning SASKATOON REAL Estate expert she takes action to sell her client's homes and find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. She loves what she does and takes great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of her clients.

Marla Janzen is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE EXPERT listed on the SASKATOON DIRECTORY and she loves to provide Trusted Saskatoon real estate Tips that help the public! In her latest article she shares some tips on when to sell...hint it is now!

Why You Should Consider Selling Before The Traditional Selling Season.

Are You Thinking About Selling Your Home In Saskatoon, Warman and Surrounding Area?

A common thought in real estate is never list your home in the winter offseason. Perpetuated by industry experts, agents and repeat sellers alike, this saying encourages many would-be sellers to wait until the spring peak to list their homes. However, studies show that homes listed in the winter offseason not only sell faster than those in the spring, but sellers also net more above their asking price at this time. Don’t wait until spring to sell.

If you’ve been thinking of selling your home, here are five compelling reasons to list now.

1. Take advantage of low inventory in Saskatoon and area housing market.

Since most sellers are waiting until spring to list, local inventory falls during the offseason. However, there are still motivated buyers who are ready to move now and don’t want to wait that long to purchase a home. According to the National Association of Realtors, 55 percent of all buyers purchased their home at the time they did because “it was just the right time.” These eager buyers may flock to your home. You may not need to try as hard to make your home stand out in the sea of other similar homes. With less competition, more buyers, some of whom may have otherwise overlooked your home if you listed during the peak, will express an interest to buy. While you’ll likely have fewer showings in the offseason, buyers who do visit will be more serious about writing an offer. Your home will likely sell faster than it would have during the peak season.

2. Set a higher listing price.

Homes sold during the offseason sell at a higher price, on average, than those sold during the spring and summer peak. There are many reasons for this. First, motivated buyers are willing to pay closer to the asking price for a home. Second, homes are more likely to be priced right and reflect the economics of not only the local market, but the neighbourhood as well. Often, homes listed during the peak may be priced to compete with other homes in the area and neighbourhood. Sellers may be pressured to sell for less than the list price in order to encourage buyers to choose their home out of the others on the market.

3. You’ll receive more attention.

While our team always strives to give you the personal attention you deserve, when you list during the offseason, we’re able to work more closely with you to ensure your home is prepared for its debut on the market. We can also take more time to answer your questions, address your concerns and prepare you and your home for the sale.

Additionally, if you’d like to hire a tradesperson to handle routine maintenance or undertake a minor home renovation before you list, you may be able to take advantage of flexible scheduling and cheaper rates. Many of these professionals experience a winter offseason as well, and they will be able to focus their time and attention on you and your project.

4. Easier to maintain curb appeal.

Curb appeal is intended to attract the buyers who are just driving by as well as those who saw your home online and wanted to see it in-person. It sets the stage for what interested buyers can expect when they step foot in the home during a showing or open house. If you list your home during the peak of the selling season, you may exhaust your time your energy maintaining curb appeal. You’ll likely spend most of your free time mowing the lawn, weeding, trimming shrubs and hedges, planting flowers in pots and in flowerbeds, pulling spent blooms and watering it all to ensure it looks lush and healthy on a daily basis. After all, a lush landscape will attract potential buyers and set your home apart from other similar homes in the area.

The offseason eliminates the pressure to maintain a picture-perfect front landscape. Since most grass, shrubs and plants go dormant at this time of year, you’ll have less to maintain. If you live in an area that experiences a traditional winter, your landscape will be covered with snow. Even if you live in a milder climate, you may not have to mow as often, if at all. It’s still important to ensure your exterior appears well-tended, so make sure your walkway and front porch remains free of snow, ice and debris.

5. Tap into the life changes of buyers.

Many buyers receive employee raises and bonuses at the end of the year. If they’ve been saving to buy a home, this extra money may allow them to reach their goal for a down payment and put them on the path to becoming a homeowner. Additionally, companies often hire new employees and relocate current ones during the first quarter of the year, creating a strong demand for housing. If you live in an area that’s home to a large company or has a strong corporate presence, this may be the perfect time to list.

Thinking of Listing in the Offseason? 3 Things to Do Before You List

Get your home ready to list by following these tips.

1. Schedule maintenance.

Buyers, especially first-time buyers, want a home they can move into right away; they don’t want to repair the roof or the furnace or replace windows with blown thermal seals before they move in. Do the scheduled maintenance and make repairs before you list your home for sale.

In some cases, it may help to have an inspector do a pre-inspection of your home. A pre-inspection will make you aware of any major, potentially deal-killing, issues that will have to be addressed before you list. It also gives you an idea of minor issues that a potential seller may want repaired. Overall, it helps you to accurately price your home and may protect you from claims a buyer might make later.

2. Create light.

Balance out the lack of natural light outdoors by turning the lights on inside. Since people naturally tend to buy emotionally, turning on the lights helps create a sense of warmth and coziness. Light a fire in the fireplace, if you have one, fill your home with the scents of the season, such as vanilla or fresh baked cookies, and put a throw blanket on your sofa.

If you plan to paint the interior of your home before you list, consider an off-white shade to create consistency throughout your home and make the space feel larger and brighter. If you have photos of your garden or the home’s exterior in the spring or summer, display them so interested buyers can get a glimpse of what the home looks like in other seasons.

3. Give your home a thorough cleaning.

Cleaning puts your home in its best light. Clean and polish all the horizontal surfaces of your home, including countertops, windowsills and baseboards; have the curtains dry cleaned or otherwise laundered; wash windows, glass doors and their tracks; vacuum carpeting and polish all wood surfaces, including the floor.

Additionally, this is a great time to pack any personal items and family photos as well as sort through your belongings and donate items you no longer use. This not only eliminates any clutter, but it also gives you less to pack and move when you sell.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in Saskatoon, Warman, Martensville and area give Marla Janzen a call!

I would love to help you position your home to sell in our market. I take action to sell my client’s homes and find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. I truly love what I do and take great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of my clients. Marla Janzen

Find Marla Janzen Online at www.marlajanzen.com

Marla Janzen is TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE EXPERT.

Top IT Security Tips From Burnt Orange Solutions your Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts

13. Feb 2020 Trusted Saskatoon Saskatoon Computers & Web design, Saskatoon Legal & Professional, Trusted Tips

The Trusted team at Burnt Orange Solutions are located in the Saskatoon computers Category.

Honesty and respect are important factors in daily communication at Burnt Orange. Gareth and the team at Burnt Orange Solutions are YOUR Saskatoon IT stress solution. Burnt Orange Solutions are your Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts. In their latest Saskatoon IT Tip, they share top tips to ensure IT security at your Saskatoon business!

Top IT Security Tips

Keeping passwords, financial, and other personal information safe and protected from intruders, scammers and stalkers have long been a priority of businesses. Besides, it’s increasingly critical for consumers and individuals to heed data protection advice and use good practices to keep personal information safe from harm. Gareth McKee- Owner Burnt Orange Solutions

1. Backup your data.

One of the most basic, yet often overlooked, data protection tips for individuals is backing up your data. Basically, this creates a duplicate copy of your data so that if a device is lost, stolen, or compromised, you don’t also lose your important information. This is vital for businesses, no matter how small or large. As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and insurance company Nationwide pointed out.

“According to Nationwide, 68% of small businesses don’t have a disaster recovery plan. The problem with this is the longer it takes you to restore your data, the more money you’ll lose. Gartner found that this downtime can cost companies as much as $300,000 an hour.”

2. Malware

Malware is a serious issue. Anti-malware protection is essential for laying a foundation of security for your devices. Malware is short for malicious software, and it’s software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer without your consent. Things that fall into this category sound scary – they include viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, scareware and more. Malware can attack you via websites and emails, or hidden in downloadable files, photos, videos, The best way to avoid getting infected is to purchase and run a good anti-virus protection program, then do periodic scans for spyware. Also, be very vigilant when it comes to clickable links in emails or on websites you are unfamiliar with.

WARNING: 350,000 malware versions are identified every day. A new malware programme is released every seven seconds. Malware activity has increased by 61% over the last year. The cost of malware attacks is going up too, with companies and people losing around 11% more money in 2018 than in the previous year. Scammers are sneaky: sometimes malware is cleverly disguised as an email from a friend or client. Unfortunately, even the most cautious will likely pick up an infection at some point. Gareth McKee

3. Keep Up To Date

Operating system and software updates are a gigantic pain for users, but they’re a necessary evil! These updates contain critical security fixes and improvements twill protect you and your devices from newly discovered threats and glitches. Failing to install these updates means you are at risk. Operating systems and software updates may not be updated frequently or on a regular schedule so we suggest setting your systems to update automatically if possible.

4. Secure Your Wireless Network.

A valuable IT tip for both small business owners and individuals, it’s always recommended to secure your wireless network with a password. This prevents unauthorized individuals within proximity to hijack your wireless network. Even if they’re merely attempting to get free Wi-Fi access, you don’t want to inadvertently share private information with other people who are using your network without permission. In addition, be sure to turn your computer off when you are finished using it. Leaving your computer connected to the Internet when it’s not in use gives scammers 24/7 access to install malware and commit cybercrimes. To be safe, turn off your computer when it’s not in use.

Contact Burnt Orange today for more information or to take advantage of your FREE initial consultation. View them on Facebook here. They are your Burnt Orange Solutions are Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts!

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