Palladium is a rare, lustrous, silvery-white metal that belongs to a group of elements collectively known as the platinum group metals (PGMs). Other elements of this group are ruthenium, iridium, osmium, rhodium, and platinum. Of the elements that make up this classification, palladium, platinum, and rhodium are used as alloys in the manufacture and plating of white gold jewelry to enhance whiteness. Elements of the PGM have similar chemical properties, however, palladium has the lowest melting point and is the least dense of them. It is also whiter and cheaper than platinum and more precious than silver, offering jewelers a sharply different price point when using it for jewelry..
Alternative to Nickel
Palladium is mainly used in automotive industries for the production of catalytic converters and as a preferred alloying agent in the production of white gold in countries of the European Union, Japan, and China. Although more expensive than nickel, palladium has seen increase in demand as an alternative alloying agent due to its hypoallergenic properties. Nickel is widely known to trigger allergic reactions such as skin rashes, eczema, and dermatitis in roughly 16-18%* of a given population. Bad news for white gold business.
The European Union's Nickel Directive in 2000 restricted nickel release from jewelry and other items that come in close contact with the skin. Thus, in Europe, nickel white golds are being phased out and being replaced by palladium white golds. Japan and China have taken a similar position on nickel. However, the US has taken a more relaxed approach by simply mandating that nickel-containing jewelry be labeled as thus. Many other countries have not taken a definite stance on the widespread use of nickel as a white gold alloy, so be sure to ask your jeweler if their white gold alloy is palladium or nickel.
Palladium Use in Silver
It is also possible to alloy palladium with silver. Precium is a brand name of palladium-silver alloy created by Handy & Harman and patented in April 9,1974, for use as a casting alloy and a wrought alloy. When used as a casting alloy, it is widely used by manufacturers of class rings. Precium is 25% palladium with 62-75% silver, the rest of the other incremental white metal alloys remain unnamed.
Palladium is malleable, lightweight, easy to finish and polish, furthermore they do not require rhodium plating, and have desirable, platinum-like setting and forming characteristic. Additionally, it offers a good combination of hardness, workability, and suitability for casting, welding and soldering. Despite the fact that 950 palladium jewelry does not enjoy the same mainstream popularity as white gold or platinum for use in fine jewelry, you might want to consider going off the beaten path and opting for this lesser-known cousin of platinum.
*Nickel Allergy Information from disabled-world.com
Alternative to Nickel
Palladium is mainly used in automotive industries for the production of catalytic converters and as a preferred alloying agent in the production of white gold in countries of the European Union, Japan, and China. Although more expensive than nickel, palladium has seen increase in demand as an alternative alloying agent due to its hypoallergenic properties. Nickel is widely known to trigger allergic reactions such as skin rashes, eczema, and dermatitis in roughly 16-18%* of a given population. Bad news for white gold business.
The European Union's Nickel Directive in 2000 restricted nickel release from jewelry and other items that come in close contact with the skin. Thus, in Europe, nickel white golds are being phased out and being replaced by palladium white golds. Japan and China have taken a similar position on nickel. However, the US has taken a more relaxed approach by simply mandating that nickel-containing jewelry be labeled as thus. Many other countries have not taken a definite stance on the widespread use of nickel as a white gold alloy, so be sure to ask your jeweler if their white gold alloy is palladium or nickel.
Palladium Use in Silver
It is also possible to alloy palladium with silver. Precium is a brand name of palladium-silver alloy created by Handy & Harman and patented in April 9,1974, for use as a casting alloy and a wrought alloy. When used as a casting alloy, it is widely used by manufacturers of class rings. Precium is 25% palladium with 62-75% silver, the rest of the other incremental white metal alloys remain unnamed.
Palladium is malleable, lightweight, easy to finish and polish, furthermore they do not require rhodium plating, and have desirable, platinum-like setting and forming characteristic. Additionally, it offers a good combination of hardness, workability, and suitability for casting, welding and soldering. Despite the fact that 950 palladium jewelry does not enjoy the same mainstream popularity as white gold or platinum for use in fine jewelry, you might want to consider going off the beaten path and opting for this lesser-known cousin of platinum.
*Nickel Allergy Information from disabled-world.com