Historically rings, bracelets, necklaces and other items of jewelry made out of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum have always been very attractive to people. These metals have been sought after as objects of adornment because unlike iron, tin and nickel they do not tarnish.
However, there is another very beautiful metal that is even less corrosive than platinum, gold and silver and this is Iridium. Iridium is a very hard, bright white and strong metal that has a high melting point. Adding 5-10% of Iridium to a standard platinum alloy such as PT950 (95% pure platinum and 5% Iridium) creates a metal that is extremely durable and resistant to corrosion. This combination of qualities makes iridium a perfect metal for use in jewelry and as an alternative to gold.
Iridium is so durable and resistant to corrosion that it is used for electrical contacts, sparking points and in high temperature chemical laboratory equipment such as crucibles. Its high melting point also allows it to be used in the production of surgical stainless steel instruments and for making platinum dental alloys. It has even been used in the prototype kilogram and meter of mass because of its ability to resist both physical and chemical attack.
100% iridium rings have only recently become available and at this time only one company produces these rings, American Elements. Part of the reason for this is because it is very expensive and difficult to work with due to its very high melting point and brittleness. It will be years before we know how well these rings perform over a lifetime.