All About Palladium

Palladium is a unique metal that is definitely an option when it comes to finding the perfect setting for your diamond engagement ring or diamond rings in general. This metal is very luxurious and has a unique history and story to go along with it.

Palladium is a member of the platinum group. Thus, the history of palladium begins with the history of platinum. Traces of platinum were found dating back to the seventh century B.C. in ancient Egypt. In Thebes, it is believed that craftsmen hammered and design jewelry from the metal, perhaps mistaking it for silver. In Northern Ecuador, the Esmeraldas were designing small pieces of jewelry that combined both platinum and gold.

As the Spanish entered South America on their quest for gold, they stumbled across another metal, which they called platina. By 1690, the Choco region became one of the most exploited areas for the metal. However, the Spanish were still on their quest for gold and all that were finding was platina. In 1753, they sent a small bag of platinum to Spain to determine what it could be used for. They determined that it was very easy to mix with gold, but they were afraid that it would become a danger to the government to allow it in the country. They were afraid of the potential for fraudulent use of the metal as god, and so platinum was prohibited for export to Europe.

Palladium was isolated from platinum in 1803. William Hyde Wollaston, a researcher, began working with platina. He began working with the metal by dissolving it in hydrochloric acid and nitric acids. He then added ammonium chloride and iron. When he added iron a second time, he obtained a new metal that different from what he began with. He had discovered palladium.

Wollaston kept his findings very low key. He noted the properties in printed notices and began to sell it in a Soho shop. Other scientists began looking at is as well. Many believed that the metal was merely a platinum alloy and not its own metal at all. Wollaston rebutted and offered a reward to any chemist who could synthesize palladium. With many failed attempts, it was determined that palladium was it’s own metal. In February of 1805, Wollaston went public with the metal. He was awarded the Royal Medal from the Royal Society for solving the mystery of malleable platinum. He sold the metal for several years without releasing the process used to create the metal until shortly before his death in 1862.

Palladium is lighter than platinum, making it a very popular choice for jewelry. Whether it is used alone or alloyed with silver or gold, palladium offers new options to jewelers as well as consumers. This metal is considered to be more precious than silver and whiter than platinum. It weighs nearly half the weight of platinum and is popular in intricate bracelets, necklaces and earrings. It is also capable of holding large gems, such as diamonds. It has also been used in watches. Custom palladium jewelry has also become very popular because the metal is so versatile and lightweight.

Palladium is also the standard for allowing with gold to produce white gold. It is hypoallergenic and does not cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes or dermatitis. Traditionally other metals such as nickel have been alloyed with gold, but these are known to irritate some individuals with sensitive skin.


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