Palladium Metal Properties
Why 950 Palladium?
Palladium, a platinum group metal, was first used for jewelry when platinum was declared a strategic metal and reserved for military use in 1939. Developing palladium alloys for jewelry typically contain 95% palladium and about 5% ruthenium and have trace amounts of other metals proprietary to their developers. These 950 palladium alloys are white, noble, malleable, lightweight, hypoallergenic, easy to finish and polish, furthermore they do not require rhodium plating, and have desirable, platinum-like setting and forming characteristics.
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Comparative Qualities of Palladium: |
|
Alloy |
Specific Gravity |
Melting Temp |
color |
Vickers's Hardness |
|
95/5 Pd/Ru |
12.0 |
2840¢ª F |
white |
150 |
|
14k white gold |
12.7 |
1710¢ª F |
white to yellow |
165 |
|
95/5 Pt/Ru |
20.7 |
3235¢ª F |
tin white |
131 |
The specific gravity of 950 palladium is close to that of 14k white gold and nearly half the weight by volume of platinum. The lightness of the 950 palladium alloys and pricing considerations make them prime candidates for use in fashionable, affordable and classically influenced jewelry designs.
The 950 palladium will stay white, never requiring the ¡°renewed whitening¡± via rhodium plating white gold does
Palladium engagement rings and wedding bands are harder than platinum and 18kt gold, and slightly softer than 14kt white gold. Palladium will wear extremely well, when worn daily.
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