Questions about metals

[mirre]

I have a question about the metals for the ring. I think this will be an easy one to answer.

For as long as I can remember (well since I found out about platinum many years ago) I have been dead-set on getting a platinum e-ring and wedding band. While looking for settings I came across the palladium and that it''s similar to platinum but the cost is quite a bit less. So, keeping in mind that I wanted platinum but we don''t exactly have a fortune to spend on a ring I thought palladium would be nice to have. A friend of mine has white gold and is trying her hardest to get me to pick that... not that there''s anything wrong with white gold or that I wouldn''t be happy if that''s all my BF could get... I just love the idea of platinum and have decided that palladium is just as good for me in my opinion. My question is:
Is palladium as similar to platinum as what I''m thinking?
And is white gold a better idea?
By looking at the rings can you tell a difference in platinum and palladium?
Would you be able to "mix and match"? For example: would palladium match well enough with platinum to have an ering in one and wedding band in the other if they are worn together?

I am very sorry for all of the questions I am just pretty new to this and want to get better ideas so that I can make a better decision that I will be happy with in the long-run.

 

[oldminer]

In the long run you will find palladium tends to become more grey in color than platinum or white gold. My mother was married at the very end of WWII and her palladium wedding ring did not exactly match her white gold engagement ring. I don''t think she ever made much fuss over it. She seemed okay with the difference, but I could see the difference pretty easily.

Possibly the newer palladium alloys will stay more platinum-like over time. I''m not sure on that. Palladium is a lot lighter in weight than platinum. I personally like the heft of a platinum ring, but the diamond ring I wear every day is set in 14K white gold.....Looks very good to me.

 

[mirre]

Thank you oldminer! The heft you talked about in the platinum, do you get that with white gold? I assume that it holds up to everyday wear pretty well. Or would that just depend on how thick or thin the band is?

 

[chrono]

White gold is a lot lighter than platinum, but I like how WG never develops a patina like PT. It also holds up very well for daily wear and remains shiny white for quite a while. However, some ladies' body chemistry is such that their WG rings tends to yellow after a few weeks of wear and needs frequent replating. It would take umpteen years for WG to wear down to the point of being unsafe to wear (too thin).

 

[Julianna]

Date: 9/25/2007 4:05:36 PM
Author:mirre

Is palladium as similar to platinum as what I''m thinking?
And is white gold a better idea?
By looking at the rings can you tell a difference in platinum and palladium?
Would you be able to ''mix and match''? For example: would palladium match well enough with platinum to have an ering in one and wedding band in the other if they are worn together?

I am very sorry for all of the questions I am just pretty new to this and want to get better ideas so that I can make a better decision that I will be happy with in the long-run.

Palladium is 95% pure and is a part of the platinum group; it''s silver-white, and is actually somewhat "whiter" than platinum. It weighs about the same as white gold (neither palladium nor white gold weigh as much as platinum), and wouldn''t match well with white gold because of its color. As stated by Chrono and oldminer, white gold gets "warmer", almost buttery, over time as the rhodium wears down, whereas palladium, like platinum, would go greyish. However, palladium these days wears a lot longer than platinum without greying. This is because it''s a stronger alloy and the metal is less likely to displace. In conclusion: it''s lighter, brighter, less expensive, and stronger than platinum and longer-wearing than white gold.

 

[mirre]

Thank you all very much for sharing your knowledge and advice! It has helped me with my decision.

 

[horatio]

Mirre, you did not ask for sources or retailers on palladium rings and bands, but from my research, there is still a lack of sites offering a comprehensive selection of palladium products. I know some of the B&M offer them, and the company artcarved has a line.

I have just placed an order for my palladium band (5mm CF) from weddingringhotline.com and they say production takes 2-3 weeks. I emailed them to clarify whether production time includes shipping or not.

My fiancee ordered her 3 mm platinum band from eweddingbands.com

Prices are fairly similar though weddingringhotline beats them by a bit, though I highly suspect weddingringhotline does NOT carry much of their stock.

 

[olympia]

After much research and looking my BF and I decided to choose palladium for my Ritani setting. We have two gemologists in the family (lucky, huh!?) and they both recommended it. I have a teensy fear of the unknown but they both assure me that I''ll love it.
Hope this might help a little bit! Good luck with the decision!

 

[mirre]

Olympia, thank you! Yes I''d call that lucky! Before you decided on palladium had you wanted platinum? And by you looking at them did you you like the "look" of the palladium as well as platinum?

 

[olympia]

Hi Mirre,
I hadn''t really wanted one metal over another. I am particularly acidic though so I knew I would eat through the rhodium on wg so that wasn''t my first choice. I also picked a dainty setting that wouldn''t really showcase the helf of platinum so that didn''t matter. I think I felt more secure about palladium as well becuase my setting features micropave - I''ve read that palladium is 13% stronger than platinum so it made me feel less fearful of loosing a stone. I hadn''t see anything by Ritani in palladium but from everything I''ve read it''s extremely similar in appearance to platinum. I hope that helps a little!
Olympia

 

[mirre]

Thank you Olympia! Good Luck with getting your ring!