What does platinum plated silver jewelry mean?

It simply means that your jewelry has a coating of platinum over it. This does not devalue the silver in any way, instead it protects it. Platinum is much harder than silver/gold and does not tarnish easily, it is hypo-allergenic and still maintains a shine. It actually a while metal, which is actually very expensive since it was refined. Hope this helps. I have platinum jewelry for year, never regret buying AND I forgot to mention.. they are easy to clean.. Soap, Water and a Soft Cloth!