While today everyone knows platinum is a highly sought after precious metal this wasn't always the case. The name itself comes from the Spanish word for silver (plata). The Spanish conquistadors rampaging through 16th century South America were recovering large amounts of a silvery metal and coined the term 'platina' for it; adding a disparaging -ina suffix for what they thought was a lesser grade of the silver they craved. Shockingly, so little was it valued that on Spain-bound treasure fleets it was recorded that barrels of platina were thrown overboard so as to not weigh down the ships too much and minimize the chances of pirates catching up!

It would not be until two centuries later that the true nature of platinum was discovered. Announcing that the metal appeared invulnerable to fire many tried to liquify it to no avail. Only when modern industrial furnaces were developed in the 19th century could platinum finally be tamed. This opened the door to its commercial use and lifted its desirability exponentially.

Today only about 200 tons of platinum come to market annually, an amount that takes up the volume of a backyard shed, yet trades at about the same price level as gold which is ten times more abundant. This and the fact that 80% of the world's supply comes from just two countries, Russia and South Africa, puts its long-term availability in serious jeopardy unless new sources were to magically turn up somewhere. And yeah, fat chance of that happening.

Of all the shapes platinum has been fashioned to in the last couple hundred years a perfect cube - the simplest of geometries - is apparently a shape that had to wait until now to become available. A premium trophy with a matching price tag, this cube has been machined to an exacting 0.1mm spec leaving razor sharp edges and corners. It is composed of the highest available commercial grade of platinum available and, like most of our other offerings, is laser engraved with a prominent atomic symbol on one of its polished faces.

Weight for 10mm is 21.4±0.1g. Larger cubes can be made as a custom order at a 21.5% markup to the current spot price.