Palladium is a precious metal with numerous properties that make it an excellent choice of plating material, especially in the automotive and electronics industries.
Compared to gold's knoop hardness of 200, Palladium has a knoop hardness of 400. This also means palladium is more resistant to wear and tear. Diffusion resistant: Unlike gold, palladium provides an excellent coating for copper.
Unlike white gold, palladium's naturally bright 'white' colour will not fade over time or need re-plating. Its colour will last forever. Palladium has the look and durability of platinum.
Palladium will not tarnish and is great for filigree work, allowing for a broad spectrum of designs. Palladium rings are also 12% harder than Platinum, which translates into less signs of wear than Platinum. Rings made of palladium can be up to 40% lighter than platinum.
Palladium does have its negative side, though. It used to be far cheaper than platinum, but the rare metal is now more expensive than almost all other precious metals. Also, many jewelers choose not to work with palladium because of its brittleness when not properly handled.
Palladium is a precious metal that can create jewelry, electronics, and even automotive catalytic converters! It is very similar to platinum and often used in jewelry as an alternative to white gold or platinum because it's generally more affordable than both.
If your ring has a PD metal stamp, it is palladium.
If your jewelry is gold, silver, platinum, palladium, stainless steel, or titanium, you're safe to shower with it. Other metals like copper, brass, bronze, or other base metals shouldn't go in the shower as they can turn your skin green.
Palladium is Rare
Plus, restrictive environmental policies limiting the extraction and mining of the metal have further constricted global supplies. Palladium's relative rarity makes it a valuable investment option when used to strategically diversify a Precious Metals portfolio.
Fill a small container with 1/2 tsp. of mild dish soap and warm water. Place the platinum or palladium jewellery in the solution and allow to soak for five minutes. Remove from the solution and scrub with a small brush, or wipe with a soft cloth – repeat step 2 and 3 until all dirt and grime is fully removed.
If the metal has palladium content, it will very slowly turn a yellowish green color.
It has a higher tarnish resistance and more strength than sterling silver. Its hardness falls right in between that of 14KY and 14KW golds. Due to the high palladium content it is a lot more expensive than normal sterling silver but way less that palladium alone.
In its pure state, palladium is slightly softer than platinum, but both are impractical as a jewelry material because they would be too soft. The palladium alloys currently available are roughly comparable in hardness with the platinum alloys in popular use.
Palladium is a precious metal with numerous properties that make it an excellent choice of plating material, especially in the automotive and electronics industries. SPC has developed a palladium plating process that reliably provides a high-quality coating for various components and products.
Durability. As you may have already figured out, palladium is stronger and more durable than white gold given its internal chemical makeup. "This is really where the metal alloys matter most," shares So.
Palladium Is More Valuable than Gold & Silver
It also tops platinum when it comes to current market value. On average, prices for palladium rings today are around $2,000, according to Brides.com.
As a result, the mining giant experienced a 28% reduction in palladium output, reducing the global supply to 6.4Moz. A culmination of these factors has resulted in palladium being one of the rarest metals. Palladium is estimated to be about 15 times rarer than platinum, making it significantly more expensive per ounce.
Industrial Uses Abound
Palladium is often purchased because of its widespread use in various industries. For instance, it's widely used in the dental industry for fillings and other items. It's also a popular option for jewelry.
Hardness (and scratching)
Palladium is a harder metal than platinum, which means a palladium ring is harder to scratch compared to a platinum ring. Regardless, like any engagement ring, both rings are still going to get scratched so this shouldn't be a deciding factor.
Since it doesn't contain a common allergen, palladium is a safe precious metal to wear. The metal is also resistant to corrosion and is unlikely to tarnish when it's exposed to the air. You can even wear most palladium jewelry in the shower without fearing the items will become discolored.
Palladium White Gold – An Attractive New Alternative
Part of the platinum group of metals, Palladium is a durable and lightweight precious metal that does not tarnish.
Nitric acid can be used to perform a quick test to differentiate between palladium and silver. Palladium won't react to nitric acid, whereas silver will oxidize and turn a light brown color. It's important to remember to always use protective gloves and eyewear when working with any type of acid.
Palladium is regarded as of low toxicity, being poorly adsorbed by the body when ingested. It may cause skin, eye or respiratory tract irritation, may cause skin sensitisation. Liquid may cause burns to skin and eyes.
Sterling palladium is a 925 sterling silver alloy which contains 3.0% palladium and 92.5% pure silver. It is intrinsically harder than standard sterling silver and is more tarnish resistance. It is slightly more grey and has a little more luster than traditional sterling silver.