Palladium, a platinum group metal, was first used for jewelry when platinum was declared a strategic metal and reserved initially for military use in 1939.  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, and easy to finish and polish; furthermore they do not require rhodium plating, and have desirable, platinum-like setting and forming characteristics.

 
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 palladium ring from Larson Jewelers contains 95% palladium and 5% ruthenium, a combination of two of the precious metals from the Platinum Group. This combination is referred to as 950 palladium, or PD950. Palladium is one of the relatively unknown “sister” metals of platinum and shares many of the same unique characteristics and physical properties of platinum: both are naturally white precious metals, strong, non-tarnishing, and hypoallergenic. They are equally rare and are mined together in less than a half-dozen regions around the world. Due to 950 palladium’s characteristics, it is now the best choice for wedding bands.

Palladium versus White Gold

The weight of 950 Palladium wedding bands is very close to that of 14k white gold wedding bands.  However, palladium wedding bands will stay white forever, never needing to be re-plated by rhodium plating that white gold requires. 950 Palladium wedding bands are the perfect choice for those with sensitivity to nickel because they are nickel free and hypoallergenic - unlike white gold wedding bands. Palladium is an extremely rare metal, much more so than gold.  It is one of the whitest metals, thus, creating wedding bands of extraordinary and uncommon beauty.  In addition, 950 Palladium wedding bands are incredibly durable and extremely difficult to tarnish.

White gold is not a true white metal like platinum or palladium jewelry. It is made by mixing pure yellow gold with other white metals like zinc and nickel to change its color to white. As a result, it usually has a slight yellowish tint. To enhance the whiteness of white gold jewelry, it is electroplated with another precious metal called rhodium. Rhodium is extremely white, reflective, hard, and virtually tarnish free, so it is the perfect protective coating for a white gold ring. However, rhodium coatings wear off gradually.

Palladium versus Platinum

In virtually all jewelry circles, platinum is still considered the king of metals. Platinum rings are approximately 60%-70% heavier than gold or palladium wedding bands. They are extremely durable and will last much longer than comparable gold wedding bands. Also, high worldwide demand for platinum has driven prices much higher recently, making platinum wedding bands a great investment. Even the name platinum denotes the highest standard available. If your budget allows, platinum is still the most highly prized and expensive of all metals. Palladium, however, offers many of the same desirable characteristics of platinum, at a much lower price. It is as white as platinum and whiter than white gold. Palladium is hypoallergenic, never needs rhodium plating, and is rarer than gold. As a platinum group metal, the women’s and men’s wedding rings provide wearers with the same durability and premium white beauty that platinum wearers have learned to treasure. The best part is that palladium wedding bands offer a price point right between white gold wedding bands and platinum wedding bands.