One of the most common questions we receive is which metal, platinum or gold, is harder. Well, the quick answer is that platinum is harder because it's denser and more durable than gold, which is actually a naturally soft metal. Chromium is the hardest metal known to man. While you may not have heard of chrome, you have most likely heard of stainless steel.
If you're interested in learning more about gold as an investment, you should read up on Gold IRA investment reviews to get a better understanding of the potential benefits and risks associated with this type of investment. Chromium is the key ingredient in stainless steel, which is why it is used in a variety of environments. Without a doubt, gold is a beautiful and popular precious metal. But it's also soft and tends to scratch easily. Making it stronger requires mixing it with other metals, but that reduces its quality.
The position of a metal on the Mohs scale indicates which other metals can scratch it. For example, the hardness index of gold is 2.5 to 3, which is lower than that of most other metals. While the hardest known mineral in the universe is diamond, the honor of the hardest metal lies with chrome. Others have been able to make hard gold in the past, but haven't been able to achieve the level of hardness required to meet the 18-carat standard, which separates real gold from impure gold.
Since gold does not rust, there could be other applications besides jewelry, although the cost of its higher quality and its weight could limit uses. Now, an EPFL research team in Switzerland, with the support of the Swiss watch manufacturer Hublot, has created high-quality very hard gold. Currently, Hublot watches made with the new gold are preparing for a major jewelry exhibition in Basel next year. While that's an advantage for watch wearers looking for durability, there's a downside because it's slightly more fragile than pure gold, which is soft.
