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Palladium has become a popular choice of white precious metals used in engagement rings. A recent addition to the UK Assay Office list of Hallmarked metals and since then an increasing number of engagement rings has been made in this metal.

This metal is mined at the same time as platinum therefore no new mining takes places, so it is often considered a more environmentally friendly choice.

Palladium is in the platinum group of metals, which has the highest melting point. It looks very similar to platinum but is a less dense metal, which means it is a great choice for heavier rings where the customer wants the steely white colour of platinum but doesn’t want the weight on their finger.

Palladium vs Platinum

Platinum is not an allergen, but we have heard reports that 30% of people who are allergic to nickel may also be sensitive to palladium. However, no cases have been reported to us from customers and we are not sure if there is medical research to back this up (we have noticed that people who report metal allergies are actually often sensitive to things like liquid soap getting invisibly trapped behind a ring). However, we advise that people with known allergies might be wise to choose platinum until further research is undertaken and we have more information.

Our experience is that with a plain wedding band, it is almost impossible to see the difference between palladium and platinum. Although, when it comes to a very intricate design (such as a ring with very delicate lattice work), this metal gives a subtly more ‘industrial’ feel to a form as the edges are slightly harsher on fine detail. So if you are thinking of a particularly intricate design we sometimes advise the use of platinum instead depending on the desired effect.