Palladium is a very rare metal in the platinum group of metals and looks very similar in color to platinum but is much less dense - this means it is a great choice if you want the steely white color of platinum but not the weight on your finger. It is now cherished for its lustrous silvery-white finish and because of its similar properties to platinum. Palladium is resistant to corrosion and will not tarnish in air. It is relatively hard-wearing. One of its best attributes is being a low maintenance ring as it does not require plating.

Palladium will show some scratches over time but the metal is displaced - not lost - so the metal will not wear down. As the ring ages, the small marks come together to form a patina that most people find pleasant. If you want to restore a ring to its original high polish or matt finish, we can re-polish/refinish it for you. Follow Platinum’s care suggestions.

Palladium, like platinum, is used in many industries including car manufacturing, electronics and dentistry. Today, more than half of these metals are used for catalytic converters in cars. Interestingly, a disruption to the supply of palladium in the late 20th century lead to car manufacturers panic buying the metal to stockpile, which drove up the price enormously. The price subsequently dropped, meaning the car companies lost a vast amount of money.

Palladium was discovered in the nineteenth century, and has very similar properties to platinum. It has been classified as one of the platinum group metals, which also includes rhodium, iridium and ruthenium. From this group, only palladium and platinum are rare enough to be traded on the world commodities market - and this is why you may see our prices change from week to week.

The word ’palladium’ means a guardian or a charm to protect or preserve, so palladium rings are thought to be good luck for a lasting lifetime of marital happiness.