Concerns about palladium?

[Novel]

Hi all,

I'm getting a custom ring designed by one of the frequently used custom jewelers around here (currently deciding which) and have the option of going with palladium instead of platinum. I've read everything I can (including the PS info) and it seems to me that the downsides are:

its lighter
fewer jewelers work in it
it can be a bit gray

and the upsides are:
its much cheaper
to non Pricescopers it will look like platinum

I've tried it on, don't mind the lightness or the color, and live in a major metropolitan area where I have no concerns about finding someone to size it if/when need be. My boyfriend doesn't love the idea of using something new, but it seems that palladium was used as a platinum substitute during WWII.

Is there anything I'm missing? Thanks for your help!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

What raised a red flag to me was that when the war was over, they returned to using platinum. That implied to me that platinum was superior. I might be willing to try it on a right hand ring in order to save money, but I personally wouldn't do it on an e-ring.

I'd go with 18k palladium white gold if platinum was not an option.

 

[Novel]

And for fun, a shot of the 130 year old OEC going in the ring (in its former, 100 year old home).

 

[Novel]

What raised a red flag to me was that when the war was over, they returned to using platinum. That implied to me that platinum was superior. I might be willing to try it on a right hand ring in order to save money, but I personally wouldn't do it on an e-ring.

I'd go with 18k palladium white gold if platinum was not an option.

Diamondseeker, thanks. The jewelers I've spoken to who use both palladium and platinum have basically said its a price thing, that people prefer to work in a metal (albeit one they're more comfortable with) that they can get more money for.

We could do platinum but don't want to if we don't have to, you know? And white gold worries me (for no good reason, probably) for the metal wearing away over time. I'm super clumsy.

 

[D&T]

Hey hey Novel! how are you sweetie!?

Well I wish I can advised by expirience but I cant sooooo.... are you having the prongs done in palladium? Do you remember I think it was stepcutgirl? she had a palladium ring made by JBEG with a blue sapphire. ANyways, I wonder if she is around to give her first hand experience with the metal. I think (again just from reading) that it would be fine if bezel or semi bezel, but with prongs, I would stick with gold or plat to secure your stone, just because of the brittleness of palladium, I just don't know how secure it would be if tiny prongs were made in palladium is my thoughts.

 

[Novel]

D&T! Hey lady! I'm doing ok. At the moment down with a major concussion, but what better time to finalize this stuff, eh? (and its actually happening!)

Ah, good call. It won't actually be a bezel or semi-bezel, shocking, D&T, I know, given my love for all things bezel. Its kind of a hybrid, so there will be prongs. I asked some other jewelers about that and they said the brittleness wasn't a concern, but you're right, it was an issue for SCG in her process. I just went back to her thread and she went with palladium in the end.

BGD says they don't do palladium for this reason, but jBEG (and some independent jewelers I've talked to here) have no problem with it...

ETA: And how are you?!

 

[D&T]

oh no! a concussion! goodness. I hope you recover quickly. I'm so excited for you at this stage...oooh

Sholdt is also working in palladium as well, its new to them, but the demand is there, so they introduce it sometime ago per Sir Bill at Pearlmans

I'm doing ok, been down for six weeks with flu x2 kids with flu, then cold on top of it. I'm starting to study for my CPA... so I'll be scarce...lol but I'll be checking up here and there for your announcement

 

[Novel]

Thanks! It'll be ok, just a slow recovery.

I had heard that about Sholdt but hadn't thought much about it. Its good to know the demand is there.

Ugh, feel better! Six weeks, oy. And good luck with the CPA. Thats huge and exciting!

 

[LD]

It IS a price issue.

However, for me, it's also a colour issue. I love the feel and patina of platinum. I thought I would feel the same way about palladium but I don't. To me, my palladium looks too grey. I'm sure that others don't notice it and it looks white to them but I will never have anything else made in palladium unless it becomes as white as platinum. I understand that it's being advanced all the time and since I had mine made 18 months ago, it has already advanced. So, if colour is an issue for you, think about waiting. You are right though because the man/woman in the street (unless they were a PS'er) are never going to notice the difference!

 

[SilverFire]

Palladium is a metal which, when it comes down to it's characteristics, people don't tend to agree on them. The problem is that we haven't been using it in jewelry for even a century, so when it comes to palladium versus other metals we don't know (necessarily) how it will withstand the test of time.

Palladium is grayer...as you know. It is lighter, as you know as well. During WWII it was used, and it did disappear after the war. Some say that it didn't last because of it's lack in durability. However, (even if that is true) something we have to take into consideration is that the mining processes are more advanced now. What happened during WWII is not entirely relevant when it comes to the quality and purity of the palladium they used in the jewelry.

Some say that palladium is brittle. It is more brittle than platinum, that is true...but not by a whole lot. Palladium is very close in characteristics to platinum. Both wear almost identically (with slight exceptions), and both metals have a tendency to bounce back or stay it their original position (unlike any sort of gold). Jewelers specifically do not like palladium because it's more difficult to work with...not to mention it's cheaper.

For the consumer however, I seriously doubt it makes a whole lot of difference whether you have platinum and palladium, unless for some reason the lightness or the grayness of palladium bother you. Those two are for the most part the only discrepancies you should worry about. If you want to save money (me and my boyfriend are also looking to get a palladium ring) palladium is really the way to go if they grayness or the lightness do not bother you.

I personally feel that I would rather have palladium despite it's grayness because it is somewhat harder than platinum. Platinum is very "soft". Very light wear will move the metal and develop (usually very quickly) a patina. Some people prefer the patina, and some don't. Palladium will also develop a patina but it will develop somewhat slower.

Hope that helps and good luck!

 

[geckodani]

My rings are palladium. My one and only concern (apart from the difficulty finding a jeweler that works with it) is that local folks have had no luck polishing out scratches. Platinum can be polished. Not sure about Palladium. I am planning to send my ring back to Scott Kay at the end of this month, at which point the polishing issue will be decided once and for all.

 

[SilverFire]

My rings are palladium. My one and only concern (apart from the difficulty finding a jeweler that works with it) is that local folks have had no luck polishing out scratches. Platinum can be polished. Not sure about Palladium. I am planning to send my ring back to Scott Kay at the end of this month, at which point the polishing issue will be decided once and for all.

Palladium can be polished. I'm surprised that none of the jewelers around you have had success with it.

 

[Novel]

Thanks, Geckodani, SilverFire, and LD. I appreciate your input.

LD, I like patina too, but not the weight so much. I actually was thinking about brushed platinum anyway, which always looks a little steelier, so I like the gray. I'm glad to know your decision is about personal taste and not scientific or quality reasons. Thanks!

Geckodani, otherwise you're happy with them? No prong issues? Your rings are beautiful!

Silverfire, thanks for talking all those points through. The flipside of the hardness is the brittleness, I've been told, which is the one thing that worries me. I'm glad to see other people are considering it, too. Good luck to you and your boyfriend!

I've actually asked the jeweler who can do palladium if platinum prongs are a possibility. May be too much worry/work or not a good idea, but worth a shot.

 

[SilverFire]

Silverfire, thanks for talking all those points through. The flipside of the hardness is the brittleness, I've been told, which is the one thing that worries me. I'm glad to see other people are considering it, too. Good luck to you and your boyfriend!

I've actually asked the jeweler who can do palladium if platinum prongs are a possibility. May be too much worry/work or not a good idea, but worth a shot.

Again, the hardness and brittleness difference between the two is not huge. Definitely go with something you feel more comfortable with! Platinum is a good choice. Whatever you feel is best is what you should buy.

Definitely ask. I know some jewelers will make a shank in one metal and the setting in another.

 

[Novel]

Silverfire, thanks for talking all those points through. The flipside of the hardness is the brittleness, I've been told, which is the one thing that worries me. I'm glad to see other people are considering it, too. Good luck to you and your boyfriend!

I've actually asked the jeweler who can do palladium if platinum prongs are a possibility. May be too much worry/work or not a good idea, but worth a shot.

Again, the hardness and brittleness difference between the two is not huge. Definitely go with something you feel more comfortable with! Platinum is a good choice. Whatever you feel is best is what you should buy.

Definitely ask. I know some jewelers will make a shank in one metal and the setting in another.

Thanks, SilverFire!

And Geckodani, definitely let us know what Scot Kay tells you!

 

[stepcutgirl]

Hey hey Novel! how are you sweetie!?

Well I wish I can advised by expirience but I cant sooooo.... are you having the prongs done in palladium? Do you remember I think it was stepcutgirl? she had a palladium ring made by JBEG with a blue sapphire. ANyways, I wonder if she is around to give her first hand experience with the metal. I think (again just from reading) that it would be fine if bezel or semi bezel, but with prongs, I would stick with gold or plat to secure your stone, just because of the brittleness of palladium, I just don't know how secure it would be if tiny prongs were made in palladium is my thoughts.

I'm here! I'm here! I'm here! Just generally lurking these days. No projects of my own going on until I loose enough weight to warrant a reset! I'm getting there!

Anyhoo, here is my .02 on palladium. I like it, I don't love it. The bottom of my ering is scratched to all holy hell...but...so is my platinum wedding ring which is only 3.5 months old. The palladium is lighter and I like that, it's dull, but that might be because in the 9 months I've worn it I've never had it polished. My platinum w-ring, even though very scratched up on the bottom still has a shine to it, but again, it's not very old. I can't say I prefer the palladium to the platinum or vice versa. Neither metal really bothers me and it's not something I really think about or even notice most of the time.

As I mentioned before, I am on a weight loss journey and my ring size is already changing. I'm not sure how far I can size down without damaging either rings integrity so it's possible I may be looking at a rest for both down the road. That being said I think I will give strong consideration to 18k wg with palladium alloy this time around, should I do a reset of my rings. I was scared of white gold and wouldn't even consider it for my ering. But, it stays shiny and doesn't really scratch like PD or PT. So while I'll consider it, if I can hand over my rings for a remake and reuse my metal and pay significantly less, I'll reuse the same metals. I hope this helps, though it probably won't because I think I'm contradicting myself.

Hi D&T!

 

[yssie]

Hey hey Novel! how are you sweetie!?

Well I wish I can advised by expirience but I cant sooooo.... are you having the prongs done in palladium? Do you remember I think it was stepcutgirl? she had a palladium ring made by JBEG with a blue sapphire. ANyways, I wonder if she is around to give her first hand experience with the metal. I think (again just from reading) that it would be fine if bezel or semi bezel, but with prongs, I would stick with gold or plat to secure your stone, just because of the brittleness of palladium, I just don't know how secure it would be if tiny prongs were made in palladium is my thoughts.

I'm here! I'm here! I'm here! Just generally lurking these days. No projects of my own going on until I loose enough weight to warrant a reset! I'm getting there!

Anyhoo, here is my .02 on palladium. I like it, I don't love it. The bottom of my ering is scratched to all holy hell...but...so is my platinum wedding ring which is only 3.5 months old. The palladium is lighter and I like that, it's dull, but that might be because in the 9 months I've worn it I've never had it polished. My platinum w-ring, even though very scratched up on the bottom still has a shine to it, but again, it's not very old. I can't say I prefer the palladium to the platinum or vice versa. Neither metal really bothers me and it's not something I really think about or even notice most of the time.

As I mentioned before, I am on a weight loss journey and my ring size is already changing. I'm not sure how far I can size down without damaging either rings integrity so it's possible I may be looking at a rest for both down the road. That being said I think I will give strong consideration to 18k wg with palladium alloy this time around, should I do a reset of my rings. I was scared of white gold and wouldn't even consider it for my ering. But, it stays shiny and doesn't really scratch like PD or PT. So while I'll consider it, if I can hand over my rings for a remake and reuse my metal and pay significantly less, I'll reuse the same metals. I hope this helps, though it probably won't because I think I'm contradicting myself.

Hi D&T!

stepcutgirl - would love some pics comparing the worn pt/pd/gold, if you could manage! That's not something there are many photos of - that I could find, anyway.

 

[Novel]

Hey hey Novel! how are you sweetie!?

Well I wish I can advised by expirience but I cant sooooo.... are you having the prongs done in palladium? Do you remember I think it was stepcutgirl? she had a palladium ring made by JBEG with a blue sapphire. ANyways, I wonder if she is around to give her first hand experience with the metal. I think (again just from reading) that it would be fine if bezel or semi bezel, but with prongs, I would stick with gold or plat to secure your stone, just because of the brittleness of palladium, I just don't know how secure it would be if tiny prongs were made in palladium is my thoughts.

I'm here! I'm here! I'm here! Just generally lurking these days. No projects of my own going on until I loose enough weight to warrant a reset! I'm getting there!

Anyhoo, here is my .02 on palladium. I like it, I don't love it. The bottom of my ering is scratched to all holy hell...but...so is my platinum wedding ring which is only 3.5 months old. The palladium is lighter and I like that, it's dull, but that might be because in the 9 months I've worn it I've never had it polished. My platinum w-ring, even though very scratched up on the bottom still has a shine to it, but again, it's not very old. I can't say I prefer the palladium to the platinum or vice versa. Neither metal really bothers me and it's not something I really think about or even notice most of the time.

As I mentioned before, I am on a weight loss journey and my ring size is already changing. I'm not sure how far I can size down without damaging either rings integrity so it's possible I may be looking at a rest for both down the road. That being said I think I will give strong consideration to 18k wg with palladium alloy this time around, should I do a reset of my rings. I was scared of white gold and wouldn't even consider it for my ering. But, it stays shiny and doesn't really scratch like PD or PT. So while I'll consider it, if I can hand over my rings for a remake and reuse my metal and pay significantly less, I'll reuse the same metals. I hope this helps, though it probably won't because I think I'm contradicting myself.

Hi D&T!

Hey, stepcutgirl! Thanks for adding your .02. I'd love to see your comparison shots, if you don't mind. Also, are you planning on a complete reset when you get to your weight loss goal or is it just if you have to for integrity's sake? And congrats on the weight loss.

My boyfriend ended up deciding that we should do platinum, since the diamond was free. I decided not to argue, even though I'd been interested in palladium, because it seems like most people would do platinum if they could in that situation, so platinum it is and the diamond will be in jBEG's hands tomorrow.

 

[stepcutgirl]

I just wrote myself a note and stuck it to my fridge to take pics tomorrow. I'd be happy to post, but Yssie-I don't currently have any wg pieces, only pd and pt. I take that back I have my aunts ering in 14k wg if you want me to throw it in for comparisons sake.

Novel-which Jbeg setting are you going with? I have to say the Gabbie is making me want to lose a whole lot of weight so I "have" to for integrity's sake! I have emailed Erica to see how many sizes I can safely size down, but I suspect by the time all is said and done I will actually have to reset. My ering is a 7.5 and right now I can wear a 6.5 comfortably and I've only lost 15 lbs of my 50lb goal. Even if I never make it to a 50lb loss I figure I will make it more than 2 ring sizes down and I believe, but have not confirmed, that 2 sizes is the extent of how much you can size down with a shank as thin as mine.

 

[Novel]

SCG - I'm going with a custom setting, a kind of melee-less halo with open sides of a sort. I have no idea how to describe it! But the Gabbie is gorgeous, I'm with you. I'm glad to hear that you'd go with jBEG again. I think you're right about the sizing. That would be a fun end to your weight loss journey!

 

[stepcutgirl]

SCG - I'm going with a custom setting, a kind of melee-less halo with open sides of a sort. I have no idea how to describe it! But the Gabbie is gorgeous, I'm with you. I'm glad to hear that you'd go with jBEG again. I think you're right about the sizing. That would be a fun end to your weight loss journey!

My ering is from Jbeg (it's the Laurel 3-stone) and my w-ring is from BGD. Both companies were lovely to work with and I'd do business with them again in a heartbeat. The thing I loved the most about Jbeg was Erica, I talked to her every single day! I loved our email chats and how I felt like she was as personally involved with my ring and cared as much about the details as I did. Love her!

I can't wait to see how your design comes together! Will you be involved in the CAD and all or is your bf doing all that?

 

[yssie]

I just wrote myself a note and stuck it to my fridge to take pics tomorrow. I'd be happy to post, but Yssie-I don't currently have any wg pieces, only pd and pt. I take that back I have my aunts ering in 14k wg if you want me to throw it in for comparisons sake.

Thanks! I'd def be interested to see those pics - and sorry, not sure where I got wg from in your post!

 

[stepcutgirl]

Well, I tried to give the pics their own post but it ate my new posting twice now....so I'll just post them here and hope for the best!

ETA-I have more than this but it keeps telling me the photo I'm trying to attach isn't valid. I need to go but I tried the cropped pic and the full size. I'll try again tonight.

 

[Novel]

SCG - I'm going with a custom setting, a kind of melee-less halo with open sides of a sort. I have no idea how to describe it! But the Gabbie is gorgeous, I'm with you. I'm glad to hear that you'd go with jBEG again. I think you're right about the sizing. That would be a fun end to your weight loss journey!

My ering is from Jbeg (it's the Laurel 3-stone) and my w-ring is from BGD. Both companies were lovely to work with and I'd do business with them again in a heartbeat. The thing I loved the most about Jbeg was Erica, I talked to her every single day! I loved our email chats and how I felt like she was as personally involved with my ring and cared as much about the details as I did. Love her!

I can't wait to see how your design comes together! Will you be involved in the CAD and all or is your bf doing all that?

I followed your process and loved how happy you were with Erica. She has been an absolute doll so far with me, and seemed super excited about my OEC. And not just trying to sell me something excited, but actually excited. I'm loving it.

I'll be involved in the CAD and cannot wait for them! Thanks for being excited, too. I'm nervous, actually (had an actual nightmare about the ring) and am enjoying he and I doing it together, you know?

And now on topic, thanks for the comparison pics, those are super helpful, even though my ering decision is done. I'm still tempted by palladium, partly because I like a more matte look. You can definitely see the color difference, especially in the shot with the wg, though I don't know that I'd know your ring was palladium without the platinum to compare it to. It doesn't look that much more scratched.

 

[yssie]

Thanks for the pics I too could not have determined palladium from plat from those pics.

 

[D&T]

Hey hey Novel! how are you sweetie!?


Hi D&T!

Hiya SCG!!!? hope all is well

sorry Novel... end threadjack.

thanks for the pics... I've been wanting to do something in palladium. does help to hear your thoughts.

 

[stepcutgirl]

SCG - I'm going with a custom setting, a kind of melee-less halo with open sides of a sort. I have no idea how to describe it! But the Gabbie is gorgeous, I'm with you. I'm glad to hear that you'd go with jBEG again. I think you're right about the sizing. That would be a fun end to your weight loss journey!

My ering is from Jbeg (it's the Laurel 3-stone) and my w-ring is from BGD. Both companies were lovely to work with and I'd do business with them again in a heartbeat. The thing I loved the most about Jbeg was Erica, I talked to her every single day! I loved our email chats and how I felt like she was as personally involved with my ring and cared as much about the details as I did. Love her!

I can't wait to see how your design comes together! Will you be involved in the CAD and all or is your bf doing all that?

I followed your process and loved how happy you were with Erica. She has been an absolute doll so far with me, and seemed super excited about my OEC. And not just trying to sell me something excited, but actually excited. I'm loving it.

I'll be involved in the CAD and cannot wait for them! Thanks for being excited, too. I'm nervous, actually (had an actual nightmare about the ring) and am enjoying he and I doing it together, you know?

And now on topic, thanks for the comparison pics, those are super helpful, even though my ering decision is done. I'm still tempted by palladium, partly because I like a more matte look. You can definitely see the color difference, especially in the shot with the wg, though I don't know that I'd know your ring was palladium without the platinum to compare it to. It doesn't look that much more scratched.

Oh yay! I loved the CAD process! I would check my email every hour waiting on tweaks and what not. It was such an exciting thing to be a part of. I'm glad you will be involved in it....I hope you share with us!

I didn't give my impression of them but you're right, the palladium is a touch more matte, though I would not call it matte. On the top and sides where it is not scratched up it has a nice shine to it. Not as shiny as gold but I'd say the same as my platinum ring was before it got scratched up. The palladium is also a touch more gray in person but it's something I have to be looking for to notice. I look at them together multiple times a day and I never really notice it unless I'm thinking about it and even then I have to look for it.

I'm glad this helped and I'd love to hear about your project D&T!

 

[Novel]

Oh yay! I loved the CAD process! I would check my email every hour waiting on tweaks and what not. It was such an exciting thing to be a part of. I'm glad you will be involved in it....I hope you share with us!

I didn't give my impression of them but you're right, the palladium is a touch more matte, though I would not call it matte. On the top and sides where it is not scratched up it has a nice shine to it. Not as shiny as gold but I'd say the same as my platinum ring was before it got scratched up. The palladium is also a touch more gray in person but it's something I have to be looking for to notice. I look at them together multiple times a day and I never really notice it unless I'm thinking about it and even then I have to look for it.

I'm glad this helped and I'd love to hear about your project D&T!

Its interesting to hear that they were about the same shinyness before, as now I've got myself worried that I would have liked palladium better. But its true, from your rings, I really can't tell. These pics are so helpful!

I want to share the CADs when I get them... but I have a fear of the dreaded silent thread, because I think my taste might not be well-liked and I know that the inspiration ring looked very bulky in pics, whereas it wasn't IRL. I'll (wo)man up, though, and do it when I get them!

 

[stepcutgirl]

Its interesting to hear that they were about the same shinyness before, as now I've got myself worried that I would have liked palladium better. But its true, from your rings, I really can't tell. These pics are so helpful!

I want to share the CADs when I get them... but I have a fear of the dreaded silent thread, because I think my taste might not be well-liked and I know that the inspiration ring looked very bulky in pics, whereas it wasn't IRL. I'll (wo)man up, though, and do it when I get them!

No silent thread. Everyone has their own tastes! I've quite liked a lot of the plain halo (no diamond) rings I've seen. Can I see a pic of your inspiration ring? There is one ring that had a scalloped no diamond halo that JbEG had that I drooled over for months!

ETA-Yes, brand new they were both shiny and with the exception of the slightly more gray ting to the PD I'd be hard pressed to tell you which was which if I didn't know. I was told the PT will patina and scratch up quicker than the PD. I wear my PT wedding ring 24/7, I wear my PD ering prob 3-5 days a week during the day only (I just forget to put it on some days) and I'd say the PT is a little more scratched up, but it gets far more wear. So if you're more drawn to the patina and the slightly less shiny look, I don;t think it will take it long to get there. And even with the scratches it doesn't look bad at all and both still have shine to them.

I'll take some more pics tomorrow if you'd like of the top and sides to show how PD looks when it's not on the abused underside! It's hard to compare the PT to it that way though because there is so little metal on the top of the wring because of all the bezels.

 

[Novel]

Ok, SCG, you've talked me into it! Its not modeled after a jBEG design, but off the head of this setting. Side and front view below. Will be with a plain shank.