Palladium is a chemical element that has a silvery white shiny appearance. It was discovered in 1802 by a chemist in England. Palladium is a very rare metal, belong to the Platinum group of metals. This group includes other base metals such as Rhodium and Iridium. Palladium has a very low melting point and is less dense than Platinum.
At least half the world’s supply of Palladium is used in manufacture of catalytic converters for the automobile industry. It is also used in electronics, dentistry and the medical industries, as well as in Hydrogen Purifiers and other chemical applications. It is also used to produce some aircraft components. The most extensive deposits of Palladium are found in the Transvaal region of South Africa, however by 2022 Russia was the top producer, followed by South Africa, the USA and Canada, and also Zimbabwe. The metal is also widely recycled from old catalytic converters.
Palladium is similar in appearance to Platinum. It is a soft metal when heated and becomes harder and stronger when cold. It does not tarnish when exposed to air and therefore is frequently used in the jewellery industry. Palladium has also discovered to be present in meteorites.
In the Ural Mountains Palladium is found as a free metal alloy with Gold and other Platinum group metals, as well as in Australia, Ethiopia and North and South America. These countries produce only small amounts of Palladium. Other sources are contained in Nickel and Copper deposits found in Canada, Siberia and South Africa.
Palladium can also if necessary be extracted from nuclear waste fuel, although this method is not used owing to the radioactive content of such.
As well as its use in making jewellery, more common uses of Palladium are in watch making, in the manufacture of some surgical instruments and even some musical wind instruments.
As far as jewellery making is concerned, Palladium has been in use as a precious metal since 1939 as an alternative to Platinum. It is similar to Gold in density, being much less dense than Platinum, and can be beaten easily into very thin layers or sheets. Palladium can discolour at high temperatures, unlike Platinum, which renders Palladium quite brittle, therefore in the jewellery industry it is heated under carefully controlled conditions. Palladium is also a component of White Gold, one of its most popular of alloys. Palladium Gold is however more costly.
During World War II when Platinum became important for uses in war machinery, Palladium was used as a substitute to shape wedding rings, although this was not recommended due to the critical heating technology in casting. Nowadays however the methods have improved and Palladium has been increasingly used for this purpose.
China produced large quantities of jewellery made from Palladium, but as Platinum became more readily available, the use of Palladium has decreased. Its demand as a catalyst however has increased the price some 50% higher than Platinum.
Hallmarks for items made using Palladium were introduced by assay offices in the United Kingdom, and it became essential for all jewellery said to contain pure or alloyed Palladium.
A further use for Palladium is in the coating of Gold nibs of fountain pens which are plated with Palladium to produce a shiny silver colour. Sheaffer pens have used this type of plating for many years. Palladium is also used by the Brand name Hermes as one of the metal coatings for handbag clasps, for instance.
We will buy any unwanted, broken or damaged items of jewellery, watches, fountain pens and other items you may have containing Palladium. Please contact us for advice or to discuss your items if you think they may contain either Platinum or Palladium. Or you can ask for a Sellers envelope to post such smaller items to us. We will also be pleased to visit you in your own home if appropriate, to examine any such pieces.
