Palladium rings, for the bride on a budget

From a recent article on palladium rings in the London Telegraph online:

Couples are turning to palladium for their wedding rings because of the rising cost of platinum.
As many as half of all engagement and wedding rings being sold now are made out of palladium, according to the jewellery industry. The metal looks identical to platinum and is due to be given hallmark status later this year.

It has been used for years by the automotive industry and mobile phone manufacturers. Its growth in popularity for jewellery is remarkable; three years ago no mainstream jeweller was using the metal.

A standard 6mm platinum wedding band costs £1,250 ($2 468), according to John Lilley, a leading jeweller in Hertfordshire, compared with £356 ($698) for an identical palladium design.

Martin McSorley, who owns one of the biggest jewellery shops in Leeds, says that he will sell about 1,800 palladium rings this year, compared with 600 last year. "Precious metal prices have gone through the roof this year, especially platinum," he said. "But with palladium, you've got all the qualities of platinum for a fraction of the cost."

It is mostly the groom that pushes for a palladium ring, said Mr McSorley. "Once a girl gets a platinum engagement ring, they want a platinum wedding band to match. But a gent doesn't seem to be too concerned. It can save them a lot of money on their wedding budget," he added.

Mokume Gane & Anticlastic Twist Earrings

Fashion Newsweek had an interesting article about Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry and some of the work he has done using the old Japanese art of Mokume Gane. He forges Gold and Palladium together to create a very interesting wood grain metal.

Stephen LeBlanc is a Metal Smith who is now making art jewelry and I am glad that he has made the transition. His work is stunning and the industry is starting to take notice. As Palladium becomes more focused in the jewelry world, we should see more innovations in it use. The Mokume Gane look is the tip of the artistic iceberg in Luxury Palladium use.

Check out the new look of the Palladium Alliance International website for more stunning developments in Palladium jewelry.

LuxuryPalladium.com gets a long-anticipated update

DJS Marketing Group, Palladium Alliance International's Miami-based branding agency of record, has been hard at work to give www.luxurypalladium.com a new look and an accessible, organized style for professionals in the Palladium industries. The newly redesigned trade site is nearing completion just in time for the JCK Las Vegas 2008 and Couture expos and promises to offer a private user forum in addition to easy access to Palladium suppliers and manufacturers and printable bench guides and videos offering training and demonstrations of best practices when working with Palladium in the watches, accessories, and jewelry manufacturing industries.

Following completion of the Palladium trade portion of the website, DJS will be working to complete the much anticipated consumer side of the website and completing the whole website overhaul by offering the website in both Spanish and Chinese.

Long Awaited FEM Casting Study results posted

PAI posted the FEM Palladium Casting Study Results Summary May 19, 2008 on their site, www.luxurypalladium.com. The press release for this landmark study can be seen here, and the report itself can be downloaded here.

Palladium: The other white metal

Over the past few years the demand for fine jewelry in white precious metals continues to rise. Traditionally the consumer has had two choices; Platinum or White Gold. While the demand for platinum jewelry remains strong, it can be price prohibitive with a current cost hovering around $1000.00 an ounce.

White gold has become the popular alternative. Although white gold is priced more agreeably, it has several drawbacks. First and foremost, white gold is not truly white, it has a slight yellow tint. Plating a white gold ring with rhodium (a relative of Platinum) has been the technique used to make the jewelry appear white. The problem is that the plating wears off in a short period of time, which often leads to consumer complaints that their jewelry is changing color. White gold is also not hypoallergenic like platinum.

The jewelry industry has been experimenting with several alternative white precious metal alloys, none of which in my opinion have not been all that desirable, until now. Palladium is 95% pure. Due to the purityof the metal, it is considered hypoallergenic and is resistant to skin irritations and allergies.

Palladium is naturally strong and durable. Even in its pure state. Palladium is as strong as platinum and more durable than white gold. Palladium can support intricate designs yet is easy to size and repair. Palladium, a member of the same group of metals as platinum and rhodium, has been around for a while. Palladium’s history is tightly linked to that of platinum, as they are found together.

Today, 73% of 18-24 year old adults and 40% of consumers in the 25+ age group prefer white metals for jewelry. As the popularity for white metals continues to grow, Palladium has become an excellant option. It offers many of Platinum's good qualities without the high price; it is a whiter metal than white gold but just as affordable. It demands less maintenance as it never needs to be plated. With a radiance that does not fade, a comfortable weight, and characteristics of dtrength, Palladium is a great choice for both jewelers and cosumers.

A brief primer on palladium

For over a hundred years, palladium was fairly rare. It had been produced in limited quantities from various sources. The Ural Mountains of Russia provided the vast bulk of the ores from which palladium was produced. Then in 1924, the great stores of South Africa were found.

Still, palladium could only be obtained from platinum ore by methods similar to Wollaston’s, or else by electrolytic refining of copper. But in 1930, the International Nickel Company of Canada began producing palladium in significant quantities from its rich ores, and the metal became more widely available.

For the first time, industry had affordable palladium, and was able to put its unusual properties to work. In 1931, a German company named Heraeus developed and patented alloys of palladium with silver and gold. These alloys were excellent materials in dentistry, and today are still used in bridges and crowns.

Modern catalytic converters rely heavily on palladium and its sister metal, platinum. These devices convert up to 90% of harmful gases in auto exhausts (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide) into less harmful substances (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor).

Today, each car or light truck sold in the USA must have a catalytic converter.

Since the 1970s, demand for palladium has skyrocketed in other industries as well. Modern electronic circuitry uses palladium in electrical switches and contacts, for its superior conductivity and resistance to oxidation. Palladium pastes are also used in electronic components such as capacitors.

Today, palladium is in a unique situation. The metal is in demand from a wide range of global industries, yet is supplied by only a few mines across the world. Thus, any interruption to supply can have a dramatic impact on prices.

Today, scientists are studying even more uses for palladium. The white metal is playing an especially key role in fuel cell research. The fuel cell is an exciting new technology: a device that combines hydrogen and oxygen, producing electricity, heat, and water, with virtually no pollution. The fuel cell promises to completely transform modern society, and palladium plays an important role in current research.

Truly, palladium is a metal for the 21st century!

legendary watchmakers sell out of Palladium designs before they even hit the market

According to a recent press release on palladium jewelry, consumer demand for luxury Palladium timepieces is so strong that legendary watchmakers from Paris to Geneva can’t keep up. Cartier is now sold out of the Pasha de Cartier 950 Palladium watch, and the entire run of Cartier’s other Palladium model, the Santos, has been spoken for before the line even hits the market.

Likewise, Switzerland’s Parmigiani is showing strong sales for all their stunning, gemstone-accented Palladium models, while robust lines and Palladium’s natural white shine have made Ulysse Nardin’s “Macho” series an instant success in stores and in the media. Chopard recently unveiled the LUC, the most elegant addition yet to the company’s esteemed men’s collection.

With surging interest from watch and jewelry manufacturers set to continue, Palladium is poised to break into the marketplace as a true luxury product. Further fueling interest is the fact that Palladium and Platinum are now among the world’s top-performing commodities this year due to a weak U.S. dollar, with each metal gaining roughly 50% since January.

Selecting The Right Ring

Choosing the right metal for your special day can be tough. Novell put together a great video helping the average consumer decide which metal will be the best choice for their wedding or engagement ring. These rings are meant to be a symbol of love and last forever.