Platinum to Palladium Comparison For Jewelry
When it comes to buying jewelry, the modern consumer is bombarded with plenty of metal choices. And one of the metal comparisons that one may come across is measuring the benefits of platinum alongside palladium. While both are very similar and even related, only one can be considered the premium metal for jewelry. So should you ever face the platinum to palladium comparison, be sure to be well versed about the important characteristics for each. After all, an educated consumer is the jewelry industry's best customer!
Platinum should be thought of as the superior metal choice for both men's and women's jewelry of all kinds. Yet for each individual, the same metal can also be symbolic of very different things. For her, platinum represents the pure expression of love shared. It is precious, rare and eternal. For him, platinum is a magnificent, distinguished and resilient mineral that separates the man wearing it from those that do not. No other precious metal offers the same level of excellence.
Love lasts a lifetime, and so should your platinum engagement ring, wedding bands or jewelry. With the inflated costs of nearly everything associated with throwing a proper wedding (the cake, music, ice sculpture, cuisine, etc.), platinum is one of the few items that may actually increase in value as time passes. Your platinum jewelry can potentially become an heirloom, so you can pass it down to future generations. Imagine the face of your child, grandchild or great-grandchild lighting up as they inherit a genuine piece of family history.
Also consider the following information when considering platinum:
* Quite simply, platinum is one of Earth's rarest elements.
* Its naturally white color will not oxidize or decay over time. Platinum jewelry will never turn yellow. It also ages very well.
* Scarcity makes platinum highly prized, but its demanding nature also means that only the most skilled artisans can work with it. A single ounce of platinum not only requires exceptional effort to mine and refine, it involves weeks of expert handling to craft into a piece of jewelry.
Palladium is also a naturally white precious metal that is a member of the family of the platinum group metals. It is mined in some of the same places as platinum and shares similar scientific qualities with the other metals in this group. It stays white, is durable, and as time goes on, even more new jewelry applications for this metal are inevitable. Yet, the most exciting thing about palladium is that it is precious and pure, so you can make a fair comparison of its relation to platinum. Jewelry created from palladium can possibly stand the test of time.
Here are some additional palladium facts that you should keep in mind:
* Palladium is one of Earth's great white precious metals.
* Palladium jewelry offers some of the finer qualities of platinum but currently costs less. It even costs less than gold. Palladium is a great value if you are looking to buy precious metal jewelry, yet still save some money.
* While platinum will always remain the hallmark for white metal jewelry, palladium is a close relative that can step in and get the job done.
* Palladium is hypo-allergenic.
* Palladium is naturally white, so rhodium plating is not necessary. Rhodium plating is used on white gold jewelry, and eventually it wears off and exposes white gold's yellowish hue.
* Palladium is also fairly durable, so wedding rings made of palladium will stand the test of time.
* Palladium's purity and preciousness make it an extremely attractive value when compared to the lesser non-precious jewelry metals, like titanium and tungsten.
To sum up the platinum to palladium comparison, it can be stated that palladium is the better choice over white gold if platinum is simply not an option due to its price. However, also keep in mind that palladium is not necessarily an equal substitute for platinum, but another reasonably affordable metal choice that is also very suitable for jewelry. Platinum represents the pinnacle of all metals used in jewelry manufacturing; it is the premium metal choice. And since jewelry has meaning and value, you may wish to consider the most durable metal on the market today. Sure, you pay more for platinum now, but the benefits may last beyond your lifetime. Platinum is a worthy investment.