Platinum or Palladium

While this debate does not usually come up too frequently in the antique ring business we have been appalled at the outright lies spread across the internet about these two metals, and therefore felt compelled to give you the correct information.

The most common misconception we have found is that Palladium is the same strength as Platinum. This is wildly inaccurate as while Platinum and Palladium are broadly part of the same family of metals they are considerably different densities. Platinum has a higher density value than Palladium and this explains not only the weight differences but also the different in metal hardness and durability. So while they are from the same family of precious metals, Platinum is considerabily harder and more durable than Palladium.

Another mistruth is that Palladium is simple to resize, in fact the majority of jewellers, and I include all the jewellers I have personally worked for in this, will simply not resize Palladium. Because Palladium is a weaker metal it takes great skill and a fair amount of luck for Palladium to withstand the heat and forces that the soldering of a resizing places it under. Furthermore, even if the metal withstands the resizing the risk of breaks along the band or of external or internal fractures is greatly increased, and the metal will be able to tolerate much less than it could be for. That is not to say it is impossible or that it cannot be done well, but it is not a simple process and due to this it is not a frequently done one, and is therefore rather expensive.