Platinum alloyed with palladium...

[Laila619]

Is this an inferior type of Platinum? Everything I have read about this alloy says it is popular in Asia, but it is a very soft metal. It doesn''t appear to be used in the US at all. I''m hoping experts like John Pollard and others know about this. Thanks!

 

[tallchickbarbara]

Date: 9/24/2009 1:55:11 PM
Author:Laila619
Is this an inferior type of Platinum? Everything I have read about this alloy says it is popular in Asia, but it is a very soft metal. It doesn''t appear to be used in the US at all. I''m hoping experts like John Pollard and others know about this. Thanks!

Hi Laila -
What''s the alloy breakdown of the piece you''re looking at? Is it 950Pt with Pd or some other variation? Or is Cobalt used as well? There are a few lines out there that are being sold as *Platinum light*, which contain less Platinum, but if it''s 95% Pt, then Ruthenium, Iridium, or Palladium are often used as the other 5%. They are known as a Platinum Group Metals.

Palladium by itself is also being used now to make engagement rings, wedding bands and fashion jewelry and is often cast as 950Pd.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[Laila619]

Hi Barbara,

It''s Beverley K platinum--either 900 or 950 Plat alloyed with Palladium. Everything I have read said this is very soft (like 80 on the Vickers scale). It is readily available in China but not used here in the US.

 

[tallchickbarbara]

I know of no known issues with Pt and Pd alloyed together as far as it being too soft or inferior (with Pt dominating), but now I''m curious. I''ll do a bit of research and get back to you Laila with what I find out.

 

[tallchickbarbara]

Okay Laila, here''s what I have...

Pretty much what you have. I''m surprised to find out that none of my casters have alloyed these two metals for jewelry production. I even called some old school casting houses that I used to work with up in Philadelphia and they said the same thing... "I''ve heard that it can be done, but I haven''t worked with it personally".

Have you contacted the company that makes these rings - Beverly K - to see if a customer service associate could give you some feedback?

 

[Laila619]

Thanks for the info Barbara! I won''t be buying the Bev K mounting, because I don''t trust that alloy. I have heard of the Bev K platinum being soft and it going out of round. Oh well.

 

[oldminer]

During my recent trip to India I visited many large manufacturers. They are using some platinum and none is alloyed with iridium or ruthenium due to health concerns. It is not allowed in India to use these as alloys apparently. They tend to use cobalt, but find it is a darker looking metal than palladium alloyed platinum. They use either of these depending on the desires of the client, but I think they prefer cobalt for the hardness characterisitic being mentioned. No doubt, a tiny amount of another metal used in the alloy process can alter the hardness a great deal for either product. The palladium alloyed platinum is supposedly the whitest choice, although unitl it was pointed out to me I did not notice it./

 

[glitterata]

Why are iridium and ruthenium supposed to be bad for health? For the health of the metal workers or the jewelry wearers? Should I worry?

 

[stone-cold11]

I think more of a concern for metal workers.