Patinum vs Palladium

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

HauteMama

HauteMama

.
O.G.
Sep 22, 2006
11,639
1,485
#1
I am not sure I understand the difference. Palladium is technically a harder metal than Platinum, yet platinum is valued higher than palladium. What is the difference between the two, and why is one valued more than the other?

I ask because I am looking into having my wedding diamond reset. It is currently in yellow gold, and I wished within a year of being married that I had chosen at least white gold, and probably a more durable white metal. When I do get it reset (probably in the next 3 years, for our 15th anniversary), it will be in a white metal. Replating is not something I want to deal with, so white gold is probably not the best option for me.
 
#3
Palladium has less platinum in it and I think 40% lighter (not in color). I have a palladium setting for my Interlap CZ. The setting is quite durable and I have pics of it in the Asha vs. moissanite thread.

The metal color is not really white like shiny white gold... it is more a grayish cast, like the way platinum looks but not significantly. I wear both a platinum diamond band with the palladium CZ and the other than the PT950 vs Pd950 marks, any visible difference between the metals are miniscule.

I've never had it resized so I don't know if by now jewelers are familiar with working with this type of metal but I would think if they know how to work with platinum, they can work with palladium.

I really enjoy wearing Palladium metal because feels so much stronger (to me) than all my white gold rings.
 
#5
Apart from the different chemical structure, platinum and palladium are very much similar.

For one, palladium is in the platinum family, along with the metals ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, and iridium. They have extremely similar chemical compositions and occur together in the same mineral deposits.

Silver itself is a byproduct of these metals' formations.

For another, Tiffany & Co. does not use palladium in its jewelry (yet) but they do use ruthenium (such as the charcoal esla peretti bone cuff) and rhodium (for use in gifts such as select clocks and tableware).

All the metals in the platinum family are precious, beautiful, and very much fashionable.

In fact, palladium is, ounce for ounce, much rarer than diamonds! It simply suffers from a lack of marketing, making it a great value. It is even more (about 40%) expensive than it was just two years ago.

Historically palladium has been much more expensive than platinum! Chances are it likely will be in the future, making the metal perfect for investments.

As for its use in jewelry, it is lighter than platinum and therefore more comfortable, and stronger than platinum, any gold alloy, and silver.

In my opinion it is a great value and a great metal, and I am saving up for a few pieces.

And if anyone asks you if it is platinum feel free to say yes, as it is a platinum metal (in the platinum family).
 
#6
Tiffany silver is right. Palladium should be a lot more expensive than platinum, it's just less known. It used to be more expensive but due to a lack of marketing its price went down but it's bound to come up as soon as people realise what a good value it is.

palladium is cheaper than platinum and gives you the same satisfaction. Just beware of those jewellers than want to charge you a whole lot more for palladium instead of white gold. And it's lighter than platinum making it much more easier to wear


my friend's jeweller wanted to charge her an extra $850 for palladium instead of white gold. Mine only charged me about $50 more and I got a much more durable metal.


I wear my palladium solitaire with my tiffany atlas white gold ring and the difference is barely there. But then the atlas like isn't exactly a very white goldish shiny ring :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top