Palladium - The New Star of Luxury Jewelry

Palladium is a precious metalthat you may not currently be very familiar with. But this dazzling and affordable member of the platinum group is exploding on the fine jewelry design scene.

Diamond-Rimmed Palladium Monogram Pendant

After reading this article, you'll understand why we at Sorella Jewelry Studio are such fans of this beautiful precious metal.

So, take a moment and read what the fuss is all about.

PALLADIUM'S HISTORY

Palladium was first discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, an English chemist, and was named after the asteroid Pallas. It is a member of the platinum group of metals (the most precious metals in the world); meaning it's mined and extracted from the same mineral deposits as platinum and shares similar qualities.

Palladium is found only in Australia, Africa, Russia, and North and South America. The Stillwater Mining Company in Montana is the only source of palladium in the United States and the source of the vast majority of palladium used in the United States.

Palladium, like platinum, is used in a wide variety of products and manufacturing processes. A small sample of applications include catalytic converters, electronics, dentistry, medicine, ground water treatment and fuel cells.

Despite its relatively long history, palladium has only been used to create jewelry since 1939. Palladium's chemical properties made it difficult for jewelers to cast, so it was rarely offered. But during World War II, platinum was declared a strategic government resource and reserved for military use, making the unrestricted Palladium a more attractive replacement for platinum for wedding rings during the war.

After the war, palladium's casting challenges once again pushed it out of the jewelry mainstream. It wasn't until relatively recently when work on developing a castable palladium alloy succeeded in producing 950 Palladium that palladium has re-emerged in fine jewelry. And, as you'll read below, this is a precious metal with a lot to offer.

PALLADIUM'S ATTRACTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

Purity: Palladium jewelry is most commonly made with 950 Palladium which is an alloy consisting of 95% palladium and about 5% ruthenium and a few other trace metals. In comparison, 14k gold is only 58.5% pure and 18k, 75% pure.
Color: Palladium is a naturally white precious metal with a lustrous, silver-white color. Its color is often described as "steel white" and is whiter than the "tin white" of platinum. Its natural whiteness makes palladium a popular replacement for white gold, which has a tendency to become more yellow over time, reflecting its natural color.
Lightweight: Palladium is 40% lighter than platinum, and comparable in weight to 14k gold. The lightness of palladium, in comparison to heavier platinum, makes it an especially popular choice for earrings, larger pieces, and wedding rings.
Hypoallergenic: Palladium, and it's ruthenium alloy, are both non-allergenic metals, significantly decreasing any possibility of a skin reaction.
Durable: Palladium is much harder than gold of any karat and actually 12% harder than even platinum. Its durability makes it a wonderful choice for wedding rings or other every day jewelry.
Affordable: Palladium has the allure and qualities of platinum at a significantly lower price. Since metal cost in jewelry is based upon the weight of the metal, combining palladium's lighter weight with a lower cost per ounce makes palladium an extremely attractive and affordable luxury metal. Palladium will cost somewhat more than gold, but substantially less than platinum.

PALLADIUM'S FUTURE

Palladium Jewelry is 95% pure, beautifully white, wonderfully light, extremely durable, hypoallergenic, and surprisingly affordable. It's a wonderful precious metal to create any piece of fine jewelry in.

We offer almost every piece in our collection in palladium and are experts at casting and finishing this challenging metal. We have loved introducing customers to this relatively unknown metal, often suggesting it as a replacement for white gold. As a result, we have many happy palladium customers who are spreading the word.

And this fall, Palladium Alliance International (PAI), the industry trade organization for palladium, will spread the word further with a multi-million dollar awareness campaign featuring some familiar fashion faces in publications such as Glamour, Elle, W, and Cosmopolitan. It's palladium's time to shine.

Call or email us today to discuss creating your piece of original Sorella Palladium Jewelry.