What is Palladium?

Tough. Sexy. Sensitive.

What makes a good piece of jewelry a spectacular piece of jewelry? What elevates a handful of fabulous designs into favorites? Obviously, they must make you feel alluring when you wear them! But there are other reasons you reach for them so often—like the luxurious quality of the metal from which they were crafted. These same qualities make palladium tough, sexy and sensitive.

TOUGH: Palladium is strong and durable. It is low density, which means it weighs less than platinum - allowing bigger and bolder jewelry designs to be created and worn with ease. Palladium is from the same family of precious metals as platinum and shares its strength. Plus, since it's naturally white, there's no expensive maintenance to keep it brilliant for life.

SEXY: Palladium is becoming the metal of choice for a growing number of fashion-forward jewelry designers and is typically less expensive than platinum or gold, making it the preference for savvy shoppers who want affordable luxury.

SENSITIVE: Those allergic to some other metals will love palladium's purity. Palladium is pure because it gets its color and luster from nature. Other metals that are not naturally white are mixed with nickel to appear white - and nickel can cause allergic reactions.

History

Palladium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, and named after the asteroid Pallas, first sighted in 1801. Wise designers have been using palladium to make jewelry since 1939. Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that, together with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium, form the group of elements known as the platinum group metals.

Found in Canada, Australia, Africa, and South and North America, the vast majority of palladium used in the United States is mined in North America. The Stillwater Mining Company,

located in Montana, is the only source of palladium in the United States and has received awards for its green mining practices.

How Does Palladium Compare to Other Precious Metals?

Where Can I Find Palladium Jewelry?

Ask your local jeweler if they carry palladium designs. Palladium is becoming the luxury metal of choice for a growing number of fashion-forward jewelry designers and many offer palladium as an option for designs you see in white gold and platinum. You can also find numerous jewelers on our Where to Buy page.