Palladium Characteristics

• Palladium alloys for jewelry manufacturing are pure, like platinum alloys used for the same. They are alloyed predominantly with other platinum group metals.
• The alloys consist of 95 percent palladium and are typically alloyed with ruthenium with trace amounts of other non-allergenic metals that contribute to hardness.

• Like platinum, palladium wears better than white gold. Palladium jewelry a 15 percent greater wear resistance when compared to white gold.
• Palladium is comparable in weight to 14-karat gold, making it very comfortable to wear even larger pieces. 950 palladium has a specific gravity of 12.0. The specific gravity of most 14-karat white gold alloys is 12.7. With the specific gravities being almost the same, individual pieces of jewelry in 950 palladium and 14-karat white gold will weigh about the same.
• Palladium and other platinum group metals are hypoallergenic. Many 14-karat white gold alloys contain nickel, an element which commonly causes allergic reactions.

• Palladium is malleable making it easy to bend, form and manipulate and has little or no memory, a characteristic conducive to the setting process of gemstones.

• Palladium jewelry does not require rhodium plating to make it white. It is naturally bright white so it doesn't turn a yellowish color with wear.