Cleaning question

[Stephan]

Is it safe to leave a 950 palladium ring in a 50/50 water/ammonia solution?
Thanks!

 

[tallchickbarbara]

Date: 1/17/2010 4:12:37 PM
Author:QueenMum
Is it safe to leave a 950 palladium ring in a 50/50 water/ammonia solution?
Thanks!

Hi Stephan -

You''re good to go. Shouldn''t hurt it no matter what the *other* alloy, either.

Have a good one!

 

[Stephan]

Thank you Barbara!

 

[WinkHPD]

I am not a fan of palladium, it often seems to become brittle after a short time.

However, since the most common alloy that it is made with is, I believe and reserve the right to be wrong, ruthinium, I think that Barbara is correct in saying that it should not have a problem being left in ammonia water. (Do NOT do that with 14kt white or yellow gold that contain silver for the alloy, after a short time the silver will begin to tarnish!)

Wink

 

[Stephan]

Hi Wink!

Thank you.
I also think the alloy is with ruthenium.
Time will tell me if the ring is brittle (if I keep it long enough).
It is there a logical explanation for this brittleness?
As for WG, I believe your experience, but I used to put a 18ct WG ring in water/ammonia every night and I didn''t notice anything.

 

[tallchickbarbara]

Date: 1/21/2010 1:56:24 AM
Author: QueenMum
It is there a logical explanation for this brittleness?

I think Wink and I stand on opposite ends when it comes to our opinions about Palladium. I respect Wink''s, of course, but I can only share my personal experience with the metal with regard to how it is wearing over both short and long periods of time.

My diamond and Palladium stack ring will be two years old in April. It''s a Benchmark ring - 95/5 (Pd/Ru) - and I wore it every day up until a few weeks ago when I entered my third trimester of pregnancy simply because it will no longer fit my lovely kielbasa-shaped fingers any longer. It has shown no signs of brittleness, and barely signs of wear other than the patina that it has developed which actually looks nice next to the platinum stack ring which has developed a similar look.

I''ve also recently had to size one of the first custom palladium rings our company ever sold - a Princess Cut engagement ring with round brilliant bead set sides, about 2.5mm in thickness, also 95/5 Pd/Ru. That ring was maybe four years old at this point and looked no different to how a four year old platinum or well made white old ring would have looked. It had normal signs of wear, but had not lost it''s shape and polished up beautifully once resized.

I''d love to hear how your ring wears over time, Stephan. Definitely keep us posted please.

 

[Stephan]

Hi Barbara!
Thank you for your detailed answer!

You are pregnant? That''s so cute!
I wish you many many happy moments!