Some people don't like the 'light' feel of palladium compared with platinum. Because it's a newcomer to the jewellery market, it's too soon to say whether palladium will keep its value so it's probably not the best metal to choose if you're looking to make a long-term investment.
Palladium is 30 times rarer than gold and nearly 15 times rare than platinum. That makes it a unique option for wedding bands and engagement rings. That means it'll be challenging to find a variety of styles and choices at the jewelers because of a low supply.
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. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting, if conscious give water, milk...
Like most other precious metals Palladium does scratch. Despite being harder than Platinum, it will nevertheless pick up scratches.
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.
Corrosion resistant: Palladium is about as resistant to corrosion as gold, with a natural resistance against oxidation.
Palladium is used in catalytic converters for automobiles, in fuel cells to generate power, in jewelry, dental fillings, and electronic components. Catalytic converters convert the toxic gases from automobiles into less harmful substances.
Palladium-catalysed reactions are so valuable that, in 2010, their discoverers shared a Nobel prize. But despite its versatility, chemists are trying to move away from palladium. The metal is more expensive than gold, and molecules that contain palladium can also be extremely toxic to humans and wildlife.
Palladium is in high demand from various industries but there is a low supply. This makes the precious metal scarce, which is an attractive feature for an investment. There are many applications for palladium, making it one of the most sought after precious metals on the market.
So, is it a good time to buy palladium? We believe so. The market factors indicate that 2022 would be a great time for precious metal investors to get in on the palladium market. If you are new to coin and precious metal investments, you don't have to worry about entering the market blindly.
Also, you won't have the disappointing experience of having your jewelry turn yellow and dull as you would with traditional white gold as palladium white gold does not change color over time and doesn't require any form of plating.
Palladium does not tarnish and will keep it's white color indefinitely. It is much lighter than platinum, similar in weight to 14 karat gold. I find that at current precious metal markets the same design cost a bit less in palladium than it cost in 14k palladium white gold.
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.
Palladium is a chemical element that is similar to platinum. A rare, silver-white precious metal, palladium has been commonly used for fine jewelry since the 1930s.
Palladium will not tarnish and is great for filigree work, allowing for a broad spectrum of designs.
While platinum will hold up better against impacts that might dent your ring, palladium is more resistant to scratches. For example, the prongs holding the center stone of a platinum engagement ring are less likely to break than those of a gold engagement ring.
Though palladium is considered the most reactive in the platinum metal group, it doesn't react with water. You can wear it in the shower, and it won't tarnish. Over time, the glossy finish might fade to a matte one. But you can get it polished by a jeweler to restore the original look.
Palladium has the lowest melting point (2830.82 °F) and is the least dense of the PGMs. Deposits of palladium are rare, but are found in South Africa, Canada, and Russia. Much of the world's demand for palladium is met by recycling catalytic converters.
The carcinogenic potential of the palladium ion is still unclear, although there is some evidence that it is capable of acting as a mutagen. However, there are no well documented cases of adverse biological reactions to palladium in the metallic state.
About a dozen radioactive isotopes of palladium are known also. A radioactive isotope is one that breaks apart and gives off some form of radiation. Radioactive isotopes are produced when very small particles are fired at atoms. These particles stick in the atoms and make them radioactive.
Palladium is used in emission-reducing catalytic converters in gasoline engines, but the metal's price surge has driven automakers to replace it with platinum.
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.
More good news: both palladium and platinum are strong metals that are great for an engagement ring or wedding band. Of the two metals, platinum is stronger than palladium, but again both metals are strong enough to be used for engagement rings or wedding rings that are worn daily.
Moreover, palladium is also said to be the key to unlocking fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen, which some believe are the future of transportation given that hydrogen fuel cells can offer much higher energy density than the contemporary lithium-ions.