Platinum Buyer · San Antonio, TX · 11808 Wurzbach Rd
Watch Affinity is one of the few San Antonio buyers who properly value platinum. We pay on live spot and verified purity — PT950, PT900, and PT850 — for rings, bridal, bars, and platinum watch cases. Same-day payment on acceptance, with no refining deductions.
What We Buy
Platinum is the rarest and densest of the mainstream precious metals — and one of the most commonly undervalued when people sell it. If your piece is stamped PT950, PT900, PLAT, or 950, bring it in. We evaluate every category below with XRF testing and make a written, same-day cash offer based on real platinum content and the live market price.
Rings, wedding bands, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in solid platinum. Broken, bent, or single pieces are welcome — we price on verified metal content, not condition.
PT950 · PT900 · PT850 · Bands · Chains
Platinum has been the premium setting metal for engagement rings for over a century. We value the platinum and any diamonds or gemstones separately, so you are paid for both — never one at the expense of the other.
Solitaires · Wedding Sets · Eternity Bands
Platinum bars, ingots, wafers, and rounds from recognized refiners such as PAMP, Credit Suisse, and Valcambi, plus Platinum American Eagle coins. Priced on live platinum spot with no melt discount.
Bars · Ingots · Rounds · Platinum Eagles
Platinum Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet. As a full-time luxury watch dealer we don't melt desirable watches — we pay the full brand market value, which is almost always far above platinum weight.
Rolex · Patek Philippe · VC · AP · Platinum Cases
Platinum is used in dental alloys, thermocouples, lab crucibles, and industrial components. We buy verified platinum scrap of all kinds — bring it in for a free XRF test if you are not sure what you have.
Dental Alloy · Crucibles · Industrial Scrap
Signed platinum from Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Harry Winston, and Van Cleef & Arpels, plus Art Deco and estate settings. These often carry a brand or period premium well above metal value — and we recognize it.
Tiffany · Cartier · Harry Winston · Art Deco · Estate
Transparent Pricing
Every offer follows the same four steps. There are no opaque formulas and no hidden refining deductions. You are welcome to watch the entire process.
We weigh your item on a calibrated precision scale in grams. Because platinum is roughly 11% denser than 18k gold, a platinum piece weighs more than an identical gold one — meaning more metal by weight in your favor.
We confirm the alloy with XRF analysis or platinum-specific acid testing — PT950, PT900, or PT850. This proves the piece is truly platinum, not white gold or palladium, and reads the exact composition. We price on the verified result, never the stamp alone.
We reference the live platinum spot price, which moves independently of gold and silver. Your offer reflects what platinum is worth today in the open market — not a fixed internal rate set months ago.
We present a written offer from actual platinum content at market rate, with any diamonds, gemstones, or brand value added on top. No obligation to accept — if you walk, you leave knowing exactly what your piece is worth.
Understanding Platinum Purity
Unlike gold, platinum jewelry is not measured in karats — it is measured in parts per thousand. Most fine platinum jewelry is PT950, meaning 95% pure platinum, which is a far higher purity than the 75% found in 18k gold. The hallmark stamped inside your piece tells you the alloy; testing confirms it.
| Hallmark | Platinum Purity | Parts (of 1000) | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| PT999 / 999 | 99.9% | 999 | Platinum bars, ingots, and investment bullion |
| PT950 / 950 | 95.0% | 950 | The standard for fine platinum jewelry & engagement rings |
| PT900 / 900 | 90.0% | 900 | Vintage and Art Deco settings; some watch cases |
| PT850 / 850 | 85.0% | 850 | Chains, lighter settings, and some estate pieces |
| PLAT | Min. 95.0% | ≥950 | General U.S. mark indicating at least 950 platinum |
Why weight surprises people: platinum has a density of about 21.4 g/cm³ versus roughly 15.6 g/cm³ for 18k gold. A platinum wedding band and an 18k gold band of the exact same size look identical, but the platinum one weighs noticeably more — so it contains more metal, and combined with its higher 95% purity, it often yields a stronger offer than people expect.
Watch Affinity vs. Pawn Shops & Mail-In
Most pawn shops, generic "cash for gold" outlets, and mail-in refiners are not set up to value platinum properly — many lump it in with white gold or pay a flat scrap rate. Understanding the difference helps you know where to go first.
Watch Affinity
Pawn Shops, Cash-for-Gold & Mail-In Refiners
The Luxury Context Difference
A platinum Rolex Day-Date or a platinum Patek Philippe has real melt value — but as a complete, working watch it is worth many times that on the collector market. The same is true for a signed Harry Winston or Tiffany platinum ring set with diamonds.
Because Watch Affinity operates in the luxury resale market every day, we recognize and pay for that additional value where it exists. A refiner sees only grams of metal.
Walk into our showroom at 11808 Wurzbach Rd for a same-day offer, or call us first with a description of what you have. All evaluations are free and zero-pressure.
Common Questions
Platinum and gold trade at different spot prices that move independently, and the two have taken turns being the more valuable metal over the years. What often makes platinum jewelry surprising to sell is density: platinum is roughly 11% denser than 18k gold, so a platinum ring weighs noticeably more than an identical gold one and therefore contains more metal by weight. Platinum jewelry is also usually PT950 (95% pure) versus 75% for 18k gold, so purity works in your favor too. We price on the live platinum spot, your verified purity, and the exact weight.
We start with the hallmark — PT950, PT900, PLAT, 950, or 900 stamped inside the band — but we never price on the stamp alone. Every item is verified with XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis or platinum-specific acid testing, which reads the actual metal composition without damaging the piece. This confirms whether a ring is truly platinum versus white gold or palladium, and it distinguishes 950 from 900 and 850 alloys. The test is free, takes a few minutes, and is done in front of you.
Yes — platinum bridal is one of the most common items we buy, since platinum has been the premium setting metal for engagement rings for decades. We evaluate the platinum content separately from any center stone or side diamonds, so you are paid for both the metal and the gemstones rather than one at the expense of the other. If the ring is a signed designer piece (Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston), it may carry a brand premium well above its metal and stone value, and we account for that.
Absolutely, and this is where being a full-time luxury watch dealer sets us apart. A platinum Rolex Day-Date, Daytona, or Patek Philippe is worth dramatically more as a complete, working watch than as scrap platinum. Most gold-and-platinum buyers only see melt value and pay a fraction of what these pieces are truly worth. We recognize the reference, condition, and market demand, then pay the higher of brand market value or platinum content — which for a desirable watch is almost always the market value.
Three factors: verified purity (PT950, PT900, or PT850), the exact weight in grams on a calibrated scale, and the live platinum spot price on the day you visit. We multiply weight by purity to find your actual platinum content, then apply the market rate — with no hidden refining deductions. Any diamonds, gemstones, or brand value are assessed and added on top. You receive a written offer showing the math before you decide.
Walk-ins are welcome at our showroom at 11808 Wurzbach Rd during business hours — Monday through Friday 11am to 6pm and Saturday 11am to 3pm. For larger lots, multiple pieces, or high-value watches, we recommend calling ahead at (210) 983-0096 so we can have the right specialist and equipment ready. Every evaluation is free and there is no obligation to sell.
Find Us
Located on Wurzbach Rd near UTSA Blvd, Watch Affinity serves platinum sellers throughout San Antonio — from the Medical Center and Stone Oak to Alamo Heights, Helotes, and the broader South Texas region.
Platinum tends to arrive with a story — an inherited engagement ring, an Art Deco estate piece, a platinum-cased watch, or a wedding set that has served its purpose. Because we work in the luxury market every day, we can tell you whether your piece is worth more intact than melted, and we give a respectful, knowledgeable evaluation without pawn-shop pressure.
Every evaluation is free. If our offer is not right for you, you leave with your platinum and a clear picture of what it is worth.
Also Selling — Related Metals & Services
Related Services
Beyond platinum, Watch Affinity buys, sells, and services luxury watches, fine jewelry, and all precious metals from the same San Antonio location.