What Is Palladium ?

Palladium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, and named after the asteroid Pallas, first sighted in 1801. Wise designers have been using palladium to make jewelry since 1939. Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that, together with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium, form the group of elements known as the platinum group metals.

Found in Canada, Australia, Africa, and South and North America, the vast majority of palladium used in the United States is mined in North America. The Stillwater Mining Company, located in Montana, is the only source of palladium in the United States and has received awards for its green mining practices.

TOUGH: Palladium is strong and durable. It is low density, which means it weighs less than platinum - allowing bigger and bolder jewelry designs to be created and worn with ease. Palladium is from the same family of precious metals as platinum and shares its strength. Plus, since it's naturally white, there's no expensive maintenance to keep it brilliant for life.

SEXY: Palladium is becoming the metal of choice for a growing number of fashion-forward jewelry designers and is typically less expensive than platinum , making it the preference for savvy shoppers who want affordable luxury.

SENSITIVE: Those allergic to some other metals will love palladium's purity. Palladium is pure because it gets its color and luster from nature. Other metals that are not naturally white are mixed with nickel to appear white - and nickel can cause allergic reactions.

The fact is Palladium is pure, natural, less dense, hard, hypoallergenic, whiter, and most importantly, economical.  Worldwide in 2005 more jewelry units were sold in Palladium than in platinum. 

Palladium is not a "man made" or fabricated metal.  Its is mined in its natural state.  It is white, light, and strong.  It never needs rhodium and is a platinum group metal.  Palladium is less dense than Platinum and thus weighs less.  It polishes brighter than platinum and is harder than either platinum or gold.  Palladium is very affordable and more comparable to gold in its pricing.