Palladium questions

[Aedin]

I'm not really sure how to explain my question, but I'll try to make it simple. I got a palladium ring from someone on ebay, and they said it was die-struck (it was a company that made their own rings they sell). When I got it, it was a pretty bright and shiny white color (almost chrome-like, if I remember correctly) but it wasn't think enough, so I returned it and got a refund. I then got a (thicker) palladium ring from Stuller, which I'm not exactly sure how their rings are made, but I remember reading that they're cast. This ring is quite a bit darker than the one I got from ebay. It's only in really bright lights, and daylight, that it looks white at all. Every other time, it looks a pretty dark gray, almost black. It also seems to like, have marks, much easier than the ebay one (marks meaning like, smudge marks, or dust, or whatnot, but not scratches). My question is, the ring I got from Stuller, is that normal with all palladium, and was the ring from ebay different (less marks happening, and brighter whiter finish) because it was die-struck, instead of cast? Should I have kept the ebay one, instead of returning it and getting one from Stuller? The ebay company offered to make some modifications to it (like make it thicker) but I decided not to do that, and just get the Stuller ring. Was that a mistake?

And also, just in case anyone was mention this, I can't get a refund on the ring I have now, because it was a custom thing from Stuller, and apparently they don't take returns on custom items (not sure why it's custom since it's only a plain band, but oh well).

 

[Aedin]

So noone has an answer?

 

[LGK]

I''m not familiar enough with palladium to address the specific differences. However a die struck piece is lighter by nature- but sturdier. The compression does something to the metal that makes it very thin, but very durable. I wouldn''t be surprised if it makes a difference in the finish a bit. I also seem to recall that palladium is difficult to work with as far as casting goes. I imagine die struck palladium would feel fairly light indeed, since it feels lighter than platinum anyway; that''d be normal however.

I would personally choose a die struck ring over a cast one any day. Die striking was the way many antique rings were produced. You don''t have to worry about porosity in a die struck ring either.

 

[Aedin]

Thanks. I keep hearing different things from different people, so it gets a little confusing lol. Do you have any experience with Stuller? Are their cast rings generally ok? I''ve also heard conflicting reports as to whether or not the construction method of a ring affects the polish or appearance.

You say a die-struck ring is lighter. Does anyone have any idea, what the difference of weight would be in two rings, same material, same width, same thickness, same everything, only one ring was cast, and one was die-struck?

 

[Imdanny]

Date: 12/8/2009 6:07:53 PM
Author:Aedin,
it was a pretty bright and shiny white color (almost chrome-like, if I remember correctly)

Could it have been rhodium plated? Just a thought.

 

[Aedin]

That''s what someone on another forum said. I think I asked the company, and if I did ask them, they didn''t say yes or no. They have a lot of feedback, and are members of the Better Business Bureau, with a high rating there, so they seem honest and trustworthy. I''d assume if it was rhodium-plated, they''d say so, but maybe they wouldn''t. And if it was rhodium-plated, then over-time, wouldn''t the plating wear off, and then it would look and behave, resistance and durability wise, the same as the ring I have now?

It''s just hard to know, cause some people have said being die-struck doesn''t do anything to help the polish or appearance or color of a ring, that it only affects durability and stuff (which I''m not even fully sure what that means) and some people have said otherwise.

 

[LD]

I have two palladium pieces. One ring and a pair of earrings. Next to white gold they look much greyer. Both pieces have had rhodium applied as I specificially wanted the finished items to be as white as possible. They''re white but with a grey undertone.

I think the very nature of palladium is that it will have a grey tone and I guess it depends on the mixture of alloy used and also if the piece has been rhodium plated or not as to how much grey you see.

I guess you could try to have your piece rhodium plated but I would add that it will never be as white as you probably want. I hadn''t realised that I was super sensitive to the greyness but I am.

 

[LGK]

Stuller is a huge company, so I''m pretty sure they put out a good product in general. I have three earrings that are set in Stuller settings, they''re very basic (leverback baskets, one martini stud) but well made. I have about three or four rings that have peg heads by Stuller (the settings were made by others but the head needed to be swapped out to fit a different stone), and they have held up well and were well made, sturdy, no bent prongs, no porosity, symmetrical etc. Reasonably priced too. I wouldn''t probably go with Stuller for anything fancy like an e-ring setting but they''re just fine for basic stuff IMO, like plain bands or simple earring settings; but then, I tend to like ornate settings for rings.

 

[lknvrb4]

My E-ring is palladium and it''s next to my platinum wedding band and they look the same to me.

 

[Aedin]

Thanks for all the responses. I feel like I''ve seen this answer before on the boards, but I don''t know where, so I''m just asking again.

Is there anything I can get to polish my palladium ring at home, instead of having to take it to a jeweler?