Palladium: The Other White Metal

Over the past few years the demand for fine jewelry in white precious metals continues to rise. Traditionally the customer has had two choices; Platinum or White Gold. While the demand for platinum jewelry remains strong, it can be price prohibitive with a current cost hovering around $1200.00 an ounce.

White gold has become the popular alternative. Although white gold is priced more agreeably, it has several drawbacks. First and foremost, white gold is not truly white; it has a slight yellow tint. Plating a white gold ring with rhodium (a relative of Platinum) has been the technique used to make the jewelry appear white. The problem is that the plating wears off in a short period of time, which often leads to customer complaints that their jewelry is changing color. White gold is also not hypoallergenic like platinum.

The jewelry industry has been experimenting with several alternative white precious metal alloys, none of which in my opinion have been all that desirable, until now. Palladium is a precious metal, and a member of the same group of metals as platinum and rhodium. Palladium’s history is tightly linked to that of platinum, as they are found together.

The metals were first worked by South American Indians over 1000 years ago. The Europeans discovered the unique properties of platinum after the Spanish conquest. In 1751 Platinum was first recognized as a new element. It was not until 1804 however, that palladium was separated from platinum.    

       

The use of palladium was limited until the 1970s when its properties became in demand for catalytic converters. Palladium was used in jewelry during WWII when platinum was declared a strategic metal in 1939 and its use was reserved to the military. Because the demand by consumers for white metal jewelry was high both white gold and palladium became popular substitutes.

New 950 palladium alloys have been developed that are true white, hypoallergenic, reasonably priced and have many of platinum’s characteristics.

Like gold and silver and platinum, a palladium alloy’s quality is stated as its fineness. The fineness of a palladium alloy is the amount of pure palladium parts out of a thousand total parts. An example would be a piece of jewelry stamped 950 PD would be 950 parts pure palladium and 5 parts other metals for a total of 1000 parts.

We are very excited to be, for the last year and half, one of the few retailers nationally to be offering 950 Palladium as an alternative to platinum in all of our Signature Series designs and custom work.

Till next time that is how I see the world of jewelry from Rochester, NY

 

David West Nytch CGA  www.westandcompany.com

Comments

[Lynn]

With all due respect, I'd like to know why there appear to be so many half truths and unverified "popular notions" circulating about platinum. Here are a few examples:

1. Myth: Platinum is the whitest precious metal.

Truth: Most antique platinum ring are not white due to a patina — an apparent euphemism for "oxidize" — which stems, in part, from the fact that platinum is very easy to scratch. The whitest metal with the highest overall optical reflectivity is SILVER — something that anyone who has held a silver herringbone chain next to platinum or white gold may have noticed.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver

2. Myth: Platinum doesn't wear, it just shifts or plows aside.

Truth: If platinum "never wears" as is the oft-repeated marketing claim, there should be no antique platinum rings that require a new shank. There is a thriving industry that specializes in refurbishing worn antique jewelry — most of it pre-WWII and most of it platinum.

3. Myth: Platinum is hypoallergenic.

The term "hypoallergenic" is an over-generalized misnomer. According to a January 2006 edition of JCRS, a leading jewelry underwriter, platinum stamping is not regulated by the FTC in the US, and some manufacturers have begun to use lower grade platinum that is visually identical but more brittle (and ostensibly more likely to create rashes due to contact dermatitis). This might explain the reports of platinum owners becoming "sensitized" to the metal over time.

See: http://www.finishing.com/337/77.shtml for anecdotal reports of allergic reactions to Platinum.

See: http://jcrs.com/newsletters/2006/2006_01.htm in which it is stated: "The FTC Guides do not mention the new platinum alloys. … All of this raises the old issue of DISCLOSURE. Consumers equate platinum with highest quality. Even if a manufacturer does mark platinum and alloy content, most consumers will not recognize the significance of particular alloys or of the ppt markings."

The JCRS goes on to recommend:

"• the jewelry should bear a purity mark giving platinum and alloy content; and
• the consumer should be told the affect of the alloys used — in particular, that diluted platinum does not hold set stones as well and is more susceptible to damage"

[x-ray fluorescence]

Hi,
Palladium, not to be confused with platinum, is one of a group of white precious metals that can be used for a variety of commercial applications (i.e. computers, mobile phones, dentistry, medical equipment, fuel cells) as well as in the manufacturing of beautiful pieces of fine jewelry. Most palladium today, however, is used in the manufacture of automobile catalytic converters.

[palladium ring]

Hi! i like the ring you posted very elegant. I like palladium rings rather than gold rings.

-jewel-

[palladium ring]

Is it a heirloom? very unique nice design.

by: rhianne

[Shopper's Mystery Blog]

You know, I've just recently discovered for me jewellery from this wonderful metal. I like wearing jewellery but prefer light and modest ones, as well as hypo-allergenic, and why not cheaper one!. And hearing about palladium rings, I said "That's what I'd love!"

[Pawnshop Gold]

Nice post.Palladium, not to be confused with platinum, is one of a group of white precious metals that can be used for a variety of commercial applications...

[Arsh]

nice post dear thanks for sharing. jewellery