Disagree with a few points in an article about palladium wedding rings.

   

The one thing that I can’t stand about the Internet and blogs is the ability to spread inaccuracies or lead a consumer down a wrong path with an opinion. While searching “palladium wedding bands” on Google, I found this article about palladium in the top ten results - Palladium Rings & Jewelry Versus Our Local Jewelers. It is an essay that basically explains why palladium may not be as popular as it should be. While there is some very good information about palladium within this article, there are some facts about platinum and palladium that are not necessarily true. Here are few examples that I disagree with:

"...platinum will cost tons more because of current customer awareness and popularity."

Not exactly true. Platinum is a rare and scarce metal that has other uses than with jewelry. Because it is not abundant, increased usage in the automotive industry will drive the price up. I hate to say this; but that comment to me implies that just because consumers may be buying more platinum is why the price is so high.

“Truly, this precious metal (palladium) offers customers a host of benefits that white gold and platinum can’t touch!”

I can’t agree with this comment, either. As much of a fan as I am of palladium, this comment leads me to believe that palladium is the better choice over platinum altogether. Personally, I honestly believe that palladium is the better choice over white gold if platinum is NOT an option. But platinum is the premium metal available for wedding rings, wedding bands, engagement rings and jewelry in general.

Here’s a comment that I can agree with:

“Palladium rings are both harder for jewelers to work with and on…”

I have found that many jewelers do not want to work with palladium, and shy away from it. For someone that does not have a lot of experience with palladium, it will be a tough task to repair a ring that has been created with it. One option is to request that the wedding ring or engagement ring be returned to the manufacturer for refinishing or repair. That pretty much lets the retailer off “the hook,” so make sure that you request this. All jewelry will show signs of wear and tear over time, anyway.

Read all of Palladium Rings & Jewelry Versus Our Local Jewelers.

Comments

[Rick]

Palladium is a naturally white metal that is affordable and really worth looking into. If you don’t know much about palladium, then you should research this metal.

[Gina]

I too agree that Palladium is a superior metal to white gold alloys but would always advise anyone to go for platinum if their budget allows. We have seen a huge surge in demand for palladium wedding rings and engagement rings and are pro-actively encouraging our customers to do their research on the metal and then decide for themselves if it's the right metal for them. Since palladium has been recognised by the Assay Office as a precious metal and given it's own hallmark, demand is high and steady. But I can also confirm that our workshops struggle a bit more with some jobs as the metal is tricky to work with. Re-sizing a ring without leaving a visible soldering line for example is a real challenge, an issue you do not encounter with gold or platinum. Is palladium the new platinum? http://www.weddingrings-direct.com/articles/is_palladium_the_new_platinum.php

[Wedding Ring Guy]

Not all manufacturers or jewelers struggle with palladium. Novell has been using palladium for wedding rings for years. And since they don't cut their wedding bands to size them (they are cut initially from extruded tubing, and compressed), soldering is not an issue.