How does market price affects consumers?

[sgc3301]

With the recent volatility in the price of platinum and gold maintaining it's $90-$100 lead in market price, how does this affect us consumers - and I guess you retailers as well- when purchasing or having jewelry made? My initial reaction is platinum is a good buy now as the pros gold had/has over platinum could be erased since it is more expensive than platinum. Yet platinum still costs a decent amount more than gold jewelry. Now I understand the reasons why but how does one know if they are still getting a good price on platinum? Would it normally be a LOT more money than gold or does the market price really have little bearing on what happens on the street?