If you’re trying to decide between silver jewelry or palladium jewelry, then you’ve come to
the right place. This information website has been designed to give you the best unbiased
information about these two metals as used in jewelry, so that you can make an informed
choice.
While silver and palladium may look quite similar, they are very different in their benefits
and drawbacks (as well as their prices!).
Silver Jewelry
It’s important to note that silver jewelry is not 100% pure
silver, but is actually 92.5% silver, with other materials making up the remaining 7.5%. This
is due to the fact that silver is quite a soft metal, and pure silver jewelry would be too
soft to wear. You might have seen jewelry stores advertise “925 silver”, and this references
the 92.5% that we’ve just discussed.
One of the benefits of silver jewelry is that it is relatively inexpensive. Silver as a metal
is (at the time of writing in August 2011) worth about $38USD per ounce, whereas gold for
instance is trading around $1663USD per ounce. This shows how inexpensive silver really is.
The benefit that this particularly provides is the ability for a much larger pool of
designers throughout the world to create unique pieces of jewelry that they may not have the
ability to provide with a more expensive material. Silver, being soft, is also very
malleable, which means greater possibilities in design as well. A beautiful piece of jewelry
you have seen in silver, may not be possible to produce in other materials.
Some of the drawbacks of 925 silver aren’t due to the silver itself, but rather the other
materials that make up the 7.5%. Copper is the main additive that is used to strength the
silver, and it has the unfortunate effect of tarnishing the jewelry. It is the copper that
means that 925 silver jewelry will react to not only salt water, chlorine, and sweat, but
even oxygen. This is why tarnishing is inevitable for 925 silver jewelry.
Additionally, silver jewelry also contains nickel. Nickel can causes skin reactions to 15% of
the female population (and growing) and is becoming a major issue. Jewelry containing nickel
is not necessarily a major problem in itself, as it depends more on how quickly the metal
containing it releases the nickel into a person’s bloodstream. Silver jewelry unfortunately
is not particularly hypoallergenic, and those with sensitive skin can react to it.
So now that we’ve discussed the highs and lows of silver jewelry, let’s move on to palladium
and then compare the two.
Palladium Jewelry
Palladium is a silvery white metal, that is quite similar in appearance and makeup to
Platinum, although it is slightly whiter.
Although it has been used in the past to to turn gold into white gold, pure Palladium jewelry
is now available, and increasing in popularity. Unlike 925 silver, palladium jewelry does not
react to oxygen, and therefore doesn’t tarnish as easily.
Another reason for Palladium’s increased use in jewelry is the improvement of casting
techniques in the last decade. This, and its drop in price over this period, has made it a
viable alternative to Platinum.
Palladium is also more hypoallergenic than gold, as it does not contain as much nickel, and
does not release nickel as quickly as gold or white gold jewelry does. It is also much
harder, which makes it more durable. Palladium jewelry is also 40% lighter than platinum,
which makes it extremely comfortable.
Finally, Palladium is not only a rare metal, it is also holds a unique place in the
marketplace.
So to determine which metal is best for you, ask the following questions. What is your
budget? How long does the ring need to last (eg. is it a wedding ring? Or a present for a
friend?), do you suffer from sensitive skin? Do you like to exercise while wearing the
jewelry? By answering these questions, you can easily determine whether Silver jewelry or
Palladium jewelry will be best for you.