Is palladium jewelry hypoallergenic? Palladium vs platinum which is better?

What is Palladium?

Before we look at the properties of palladium, did you know that palladium is not a new metal and it has been around for decades and that it became very popular during WWII when the use of platinum in jewelry was reduced and only reserved for military use? Since platinum and palladium belong in the same metal family. Palladium took the place of platinum, and it was used in jewelry making. The palladium jewelry and rings made at the time were high-quality pieces made of 95% palladium alloyed with 5% ruthenium (also belongs in the platinum metal group), and the result is called 950 palladium.

Palladium is, therefore, a precious metal that belongs in the Platinum Group of Metals (PGM), as classified on the periodic table. All the metals in the PGM group are known for their high anti-oxidation and anti-corrosion properties and also the fact that these metals are durable and hardy. The PGM metals are, therefore, also known as Noble Metals.

Palladium, atomic number 46, looks just like platinum, but it’s denser and cheaper than platinum. Palladium is also quite rare, and it’s up to 15x rarer than platinum. It’s interesting to note that platinum was previously regarded as a worthless product obtained from platinum mining, but it’s now regarded as one of the most valuable metals on the market. Out of the total world palladium supply, only 4% is used to make jewelry, while the rest is used in the technology and automobile industries.

Is Palladium Hypoallergenic?

Generally, palladium is one of the top-recommended metals for anyone looking for jewelry that will not irritate the skin.

It is a hypoallergenic metal, and this is made possible by the fact that palladium jewelry contains a high palladium content at 95%, while the remaining 5% is ruthenium, which is alloyed with palladium to make 950 palladium that is skin safe.

Although it may have trace amounts of other metal elements, it is free of allergens that would cause skin allergies and other kinds of sensitivity reactions.

Palladium is free of metals like cobalt, zinc, and nickel, which means that you can trust the jewelry if you have sensitive skin.

Why Palladium jewelry is Hypoallergenic?

If you have sensitive skin or struggle with metal allergies, you will be happy to know that you can wear jewelry made of palladium comfortably because palladium is a hypoallergenic metal that makes the best of hypoallergenic jewelry. Essentially, palladium is free of nickel or any other metal that would cause or trigger skin allergies, which is why it is ideal for anyone struggling with skin sensitivities.

What Is Platinum Jewelry?

Platinum jewelry is purer (90 – 95% pure for platinum versus 58.5% pure for 14 karat gold) Platinum is denser than gold. This means that for a similar ring, a platinum ring weighs more than a gold one, and therefore needs more metal. Platinum has historically cost the same or more than gold.

Palladium vs. Platinum Which Metal Is Better?

There is no “best” metal when it comes to palladium vs platinum, and both have their own unique qualities that will appeal to different types of ring wearers. If you are looking for a metal that is higher quality, durable, and a bit heavier in weight, platinum may be best for you. If you’re looking for a metal that has that beautiful silvery color, durable, but noticeably lightweight on your finger, palladium could be the one. With palladium vs platinum rings, the metals are very similar visually and look great as engagement or wedding rings. It is important to note that although palladium and platinum may look similar, each precious metal has its pros and cons, which we will go over below.

Appearance

If you compare two rings side by side, platinum and palladium, you will hardly spot any difference between the two metals. Both metals offer a similar aesthetic of a white, silvery look. If you really want to get critical, palladium will look slightly darker than platinum, but again with both rings polished they will look very similar.

Durability

Both precious metals are hard and durable, however, palladium will be slightly harder, and thus slightly more durable. This means that palladium will be more resistant to scratches, but not invincible. If you do wear your engagement ring or wedding ring daily, expect some wear and scratches on the band. Both platinum and palladium will patina a bit (develop a sheen with age and wear). And if you don’t like the looks of the patina, you can easily polish your metal and it will look shiny again!

Weight

Palladium is lighter in weight when compared to platinum, which will make the ring feel lighter on your finger. If you like the feeling of a heavier band, platinum rings will weigh about twice as much as a palladium ring.

Cost

When comparing palladium vs. platinum today, the prices will be fairly similar for engagement rings and wedding bands. Until recently, palladium would have cost you less than platinum. But the price of palladium has gone up over the last few years, becoming more popular for both jewelry and industrial uses. Both palladium and platinum are two of the more expensive precious metals you can use for rings and jewelry. You will pay significantly more for these, versus rings or jewelry made of 14k or 18k gold. For example, at Clean Origin our Classic Solitaire in platinum will cost you $929.00 compared to 14k white gold which will cost $525.00. Remember that, whichever metal you choose, price does not reflect that one metal is better than another. If you are looking to save money when it comes to deciding on a metal, 14k gold is the best choice and will look good for years to come!

Availability

While platinum is more commonly found by jewelers, palladium is much harder to find. In fact, palladium is about 30x rarer than gold and 15x rarer than platinum, thus is not commonly found for wedding and engagement rings because of its limited supply. At Clean Origin, we only offer platinum, not palladium.

Resizing

While resizing is fairly common for wedding bands and engagement rings, there are some metals that are easier to resize. If you are considering a ring made from palladium, it is very important to note that it will be more difficult to resize, due to the lack of jewelers that work with this precious metal and also because of its characteristics. For that reason, be sure that the size you order is the correct size to avoid any resizing issues. Platinum, on the other hand, can be resized easily (within reason). Generally, for platinum and gold metals, it is easier to size down than it is to size up, so keep that in mind before buying your ring. However, if you resize a platinum ring to make it larger, this involves adding more platinum into the band, which will cost you more than a gold band would because platinum is a more expensive metal. With palladium and platinum, we recommend that you get the correct size upon purchase to avoid any issues or added costs.

Why Choose A Palladium Ring Over A White Gold Ring?

Most people who have purchased a white gold ring did so because they like the fact that gold is a precious metal and they wanted a white color metal for their ring. But white gold is not a true white metal. Think about it…what color is gold when it comes out of the ground? That’s right, it’s yellow! So to make a 14kt white gold ring, the jeweler takes 58% pure gold (remember pure gold is bright yellow) and alloys the pure gold with white metal alloys, like nickel. These alloys “bleach” out the metal leaving it with a slight yellowish color. So white gold is not a true white color like platinum, palladium, silver or steel.

The last step before the ring makes it into the jewelry store showcase, or in the jewelers’ gift box, is that the ring is then rhodium plated. Rhodium plating the ring makes it look like platinum in color. It’s kind of like chrome plating the bumper on your car. But the rhodium plating wears off after little time, showing the true color of the white gold ring. Of course, you can go to a jeweler and pay to have your ring re-rhodium plated. Average cost is about $30 – $50 to rhodium plate a ring.

But a palladium ring, because the metal is a naturally white precious metal, does not ever need to be rhodium plated. It will stay white forever, it does not yellow.

White gold rings have a certain amount of nickel in them. Palladium rings have no nickel in them and are the perfect choice for those with sensitivity to nickel. They are hypoallergenic – unlike white gold rings. White gold rings come in several purities – 10K is 41% pure gold, 14K is 58% pure gold and 18K is 75% pure gold. But palladium rings are 95% pure. Therefore, palladium rings are much more precious than white gold rings.

Palladium can support more intricate designs than white gold can. So for filigree work palladium is the better choice. Value is another consideration. Even though the price of one ounce of pure gold is more than double the price of palladium, palladium is much rarer than gold. So purchasing a palladium ring now could prove to be a wise decision.

Why Choose A Palladium Ring Over A Platinum Ring?

Yes, platinum is a precious metal that is naturally white. So is Palladium. It is in the platinum metals group family. What’s the main difference, if they are both naturally white and hypoallergenic? PRICE. Read on…

Recently the NY Spot price of platinum went over $2100 per ounce! The last several years however it has traded in the $1500 – $1700 range. In comparison, during the same time period palladium traded in the $500 – $750 range. So a platinum ring will cost several times more than a similarly styled palladium ring.

The density of the metals is also a big difference. Platinum is a very dense metal, meaning a platinum wedding band will be fairly heavy. Palladium is rather light, meaning a palladium wedding band will be pretty light on the finger. Thus saving you some more hard-earned cash.

Platinum is a soft metal. It scratches, bends, gouges very easily. Palladium is about 12% harder than platinum. So your palladium ring will keep it’s finish longer and not scratch as easily.