Jewelry testing on silver, platinum and palladium

Palladium, along with gold, silver and platinum, is a liquid asset . But in terms of application in the jewelry industry, the material lags slightly behind its competitors. Previously, it was used only as a ligature - it was added to alloys of other precious metals to strengthen and lighten the shade.

As little as 2% palladium in a gold alloy burns out the yellow color completely, which is why it is often mixed in to create white gold jewelry

Several years ago, Western designers became seriously interested in metal and began working with it as the main material. The pioneer was Vivienne Westwood , who, with the help of an unusual collection, wanted to draw attention to environmental issues. It turned out that palladium jewelry looks no worse than gold and platinum. Overnight, many of Vivienne Westwood's colleagues followed her example.

Silver samples

Pure silver is a metal so impractical that it quickly loses its shine and is easily scratched. Plus, any jewelry made of silver of the highest standard, when rubbed against clothing or touched, wears out and loses its relief.

Jewelers use alloys of silver with other metals to strengthen the product, making it durable and more beautiful. Typically, the alloy for silver jewelry is cadmium or copper. The latter is sometimes replaced with zinc, nickel or aluminum.

Cadmium improves the expressive properties of silver, but at the same time significantly increases the cost of the product. Therefore, the most popular additive is copper.

The higher the silver standard, the lighter and brighter the jewelry. If you are offered a product with a reddish tint, most likely it contains 50% copper or more.

What radio components contain

In radio engineering, palladium is often found in the following parts:

• connectors;
• capacitors;
• resistors.

First of all, this concerns devices that are important in the military and space industries. In civil engineering, palladium is used only in aviation.

How to distinguish palladium from platinum in radio components

At home, distinguishing two precious metals is difficult, but possible. The easiest way is to drop a small sample into a container of nitric acid. If the metal dissolves, you have palladium.

Another method involves using a touchstone, potassium iodide and aqua regia. A metal sample is passed along the edge of the stone until a scratch is formed. Then a mixture of potassium iodide and aqua regia is poured into it. If the scratch is painted red with a brown tint, we can say that the presented sample is palladium.

Ways to isolate metal

Options:

1. Electrolytic reaction. Refining involves the use of sulfuric acid, which will separate the palladium compounds, leaving the brass and copper elements intact. Aqua regia will help extract pure metal after the reaction is complete.
2. Ammonia solution and hydrochloric acid also help to isolate palladium. The color of the precious metal plays an important role in the refining process. For example, brown confirms the presence of palladium in the alloy.

Also watch the video below about what else you can get palladium from:

Platinum samples

Platinum has only one fineness in the metric system - 950. In the carat system, the metal has no fineness at all. Why? Because platinum is a strong metal that does not deform and will not lose its shine over time. It doesn't need to be mixed with anything.

Due to its density, platinum is slightly heavier than gold and weighs almost twice as much as silver. It is many times more expensive than these metals. Platinum is rarely used in jewelry.

How are palladium veins found?

Mineral inclusions are sought primarily in the locations of silver, copper and nickel ores. Occasionally there are small deposits with nuggets of pure metal.

Palladium satellites

In the bowels of the earth, palladium is found exclusively in the form of compounds with other minerals. Some of them have been little studied to this day and have no name. The most famous satellites of the precious metal are:

• braggite;
• palladite;
• potarit;
• stannopalladite.

It is also often extracted from gold and platinum veins.

Where does palladium occur in nature?

Under natural conditions of the earth's interior, the mineral is found in the form of compounds of different metals. Similar veins are found in Europe, the Russian Federation, and America.

Palladium samples

You will hardly find jewelry made from palladium anywhere, but this metal is still worth mentioning.

Pure palladium is lighter than gold, silver and platinum. Almost any mechanical impact can deform it. Even friction. In the metric system it has two samples, and in the carat system it has one. Palladium has a silvery-white color.

Extraction methods

Work with palladium deposits is carried out in two forms:

1. closed (mine);
2. open (career).

In the first case, a system of underground tunnels - mines - is created for the extraction of precious metals. Small holes are created in the found ore layer, into which explosives are then placed. The soil loosened by the explosion is processed mechanically or manually to extract palladium particles. Once the initial refining is complete, the ore is transported to the surface and then transported to further processing.

In the second case, heavy earth-moving equipment and vehicles are used to transport the extracted ore. With its help, a soil quarry is developed, from which palladium is then extracted. It is then transported for processing to the appropriate enterprises.

What is important to know about sterling silver

You will definitely come across the phrase “sterling silver” or “sterling silver”. This alloy of 925 precious metal is the most popular material for making silver jewelry. Modern manufacturers create both decorations and cutlery from it. The products are bright, durable and practically not subject to mechanical stress.

There are several versions of the origin of the name “sterling silver”. Some researchers

It is believed that from this sample in the 14th century the British mint minted coins called sterling. The second version has German roots.

In any case, silver of this standard has proven its worth many centuries ago.

What kind of metal is palladium?

What kind of metal is palladium? Palladium is a metal that belongs to the platinum group and has its characteristic properties. Currently, it is considered quite popular and expensive. The metal has found its application in various industries, but it is most often used in mechanical engineering.

Under natural conditions, the pure substance is practically never found. It can mainly be found in combination with other metals, most often gold, platinum, copper and silver. It is very rare to find palladium in nugget form. In this regard, the extraction of material can occur in one of two ways:

1. In primary deposits (about 98% of the total amount of material mined). The metal is mined as a by-product during the processing of ores containing copper and nickel deposits.
2. In alluvial deposits (no more than 2% of the total production of the element). Here the metal can be found in the form of nuggets, the accumulation of which occurs over centuries. Most often, nuggets are found in areas where ore deposits are developed.

Worth knowing! One of the largest palladium deposits in Russia is located in the Urals. Unfortunately, at present it has practically exhausted itself. The material is mined in smaller quantities in the Far Eastern regions of the state. Mining is also carried out in Canada, the USA, Austria, South Africa and Colombia.

What kind of metal is palladium? Its properties allow it to be used in many industrial sectors. The main advantages include low density and chemical inertness. Among other characteristics, it is worth noting resistance to oxidation under natural conditions, resistance to reactions, and the formation of compounds with various chemical elements. But in appearance, palladium is very similar to silver.

You may be interested in: 999 silver – how much does 1 kilogram cost?

The melting point of the material is 1555 degrees Celsius. It is worth noting the good characteristics of malleability and plasticity, which allows the element to be used as a basis for creating jewelry.

If we talk about palladium in its pure form, it is a rather fragile and fragile material. It is easy to process. The only thing is that products made from it will not be durable, so even a slight mechanical impact can lead to breakage. As a result, in jewelry the material is used by creating an alloy, in other words, palladium is one of the components of the alloy, and not a pure metal. All this makes it possible to achieve wear resistance (with the right combination of components), resistance to external factors, and preservation of color and shine. A plaque forms on the surface of such precious items very slowly.

What industries use palladium? The scope of its use is quite large and involves the following industries:

• jewelry (products are in demand, especially if palladium is combined with gold, platinum and silver);
• electronic (the material has found its application in the manufacture of military aerospace equipment, the creation of a special coating to protect products from external factors, including oxidation);
• investment (we are talking about purchasing palladium in the form of bars to save money);
• chemical (vessels are most often made here, including various flasks used to separate ammonia, acetylene, chlorine and other substances);
• medicine (the main area of ​​use is the manufacture of elements for pacemakers, instruments and special medical utensils);
• production of catalysts for cars (the product is needed for afterburning exhaust gases, which no car can do without, and palladium helps reduce the amount of exhaust gases).

In addition, palladium is used as a hydrogen purifier. In this case, the substance is used in its pure form. By the way, metal is used to reduce the cost of production by combining it with various materials, mainly nickel.

You may be interested in: Review of amber jewelry: how to distinguish real amber from a fake?

Summarize

1. The higher the grade indicated on the product, the more precious metal it contains.
2. The more silver in the item, the more likely the jewelry is to wear out.
3. A real piece of jewelry can only be stamped with a standardized hallmark, without deviations in the numbers.
4. The bright color of the product indicates a minimal amount of impurity in the metal.
5. Platinum is a metal so hard that it does not require a ligature.
6. Platinum is heavier than gold and silver.
7. The most popular silver is sterling.

In the following material you will learn everything about precious and semi-precious stones. Learn to appreciate processed and untreated crystals.

Stay tuned for our next article!

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Areas of application

The element widely uses:

1. Chemical industry. Pd is a popular catalyst in oil refining and fat refining. Palladium chloride is also involved in the search for trace amounts of carbon monoxide in the air or gas mixtures. In electrochemistry, the same compound is an activating substance in the galvanic metallization of dielectrics. Palladium membranes are needed for hydrogen purification.
2. Electrical engineering. The metal is important as a coating that is resistant to sulfides: the manufacture of high-precision voltagometers. Its physical characteristics have led to its use in the production of ceramic capacitors.
3. Jewelry making. Palladium is added to products to create white gold. Even a small metal content in the alloy changes the shade of the item from yellow to silver-white. Occasionally, the mineral is used in the manufacture of commemorative coins.
4. Medicine. Palladium is added to drugs intended to combat tumors and cancer therapy. Another area where metal is used is dentistry. Here, dentures are made on its basis. Alloys with the addition of palladium are used to create individual parts of pacemakers and medical instruments.

Features of palladium rings

Palladium has been used in engagement rings for almost 100 years. It was known as an inexpensive raw material back in the 1930s. However, it was used mainly as an additive to platinum and gold.

As the price of precious metals rose and reached new records, many jewelers decided to make palladium their equal competitor. Its popularity is constantly growing.

White palladium gold of 500 purity is called “noble” by jewelers (contains 50% palladium, 35% silver and 15% other metals - ruthenium and nickel). It has a much whiter color than platinum, so does not require rhodium plating and contrasts better with yellow gold. Combines with any natural and artificial precious stones, Swarovski crystals and Murano glass.

Sometimes it is covered with multi-colored enamel and applied to the engraving surface. Products made from 950 palladium look more voluminous. They contain 95% palladium and only small amounts of tungsten, copper and ruthenium. Another practical advantage, besides durability, is the ability to adjust the size of the rings even after several years of constant wear.

Who is suitable for palladium rings?

The advantages of palladium once and for all convinced sophisticated connoisseurs of jewelry accessories of the originality and sophistication of collections of products made from it. In many countries, couples try to immortalize their love in palladium rings. They are suitable for those who:

• cannot wear other items made of precious metals due to allergies or darkening;
• looking for high quality jewelry at an affordable price;
• wants to wear the ring without taking it off and combine it with any clothes.

Recommendations

There is no universal recipe for how to choose a palladium engagement ring. The choice should be individual, taking into account the couple’s preferences and financial capabilities.

On women's hands, wedding rings decorated with diamonds or other precious stones look luxurious. But for men, they don’t have to have the same accessories, it will look a little strange. The main thing is not the similarity of the rings, not superstition, but the meaning that brides put into their choice. The decisive role will be played not by the cost of the ring, but by the sincerity of the lovers’ feelings.

It is advisable to choose these jewelry in person, that is, in a jewelry store. Visit one of the 120 stores of the largest jewelry store in Moscow, where products from 750 domestic and foreign manufacturers are presented.

To choose the right product with a stone, you need to place it on your right palm and cover it with your left. If you feel a feeling of warmth, you can safely purchase such a ring. If discomfort and anxiety appear, it is better to abandon this idea. Don't be afraid to get the wrong size! Since palladium can be easily corrected, our experienced jewelry craftsmen will fix everything quickly, inexpensively and efficiently.

Reviews

From my great-grandmother I inherited a gold wedding ring from the times of the Russian Empire, weighing almost 10 grams. The engraving on it says 950, which I've never even heard of. And the color was questionable, an unnatural bright yellow. I thought the ring was made of some kind of copper alloy until I showed it to the jeweler. It can be seen that the metal is soft, the ring has multiple damages, but not a single pawnshop accepts such a product.

Oleg Sh. Dnepropetrovsk

Milena R., Stavropol

I once heard about dishes from past centuries with handles made of different materials, but I didn’t believe it until I saw it myself. A collector I know bought an unusual silver service. The inside of the container is gold and the handles are wooden. There is an engraving with the name of the master and a stamp with hallmark. The set was made in Paris from 950 silver, and it costs incredibly a lot of money, but in appearance it doesn’t stand out in anything special.

I only encountered the 950 sample when I was choosing a gift for my wife. It turns out that platinum is also expensive. Its advantage is considered to be the minimum content of impurities in the alloy, which means it will not oxidize and darken. Its steely white finish will remain that way forever. In addition, many platinum jewelry are exclusive due to the rarity of the metal and its high cost.

Vasily Petrov, Moscow

Symbolic meaning

The history of this metal is short. It was discovered only at the beginning of the 19th century, and the first palladium rings appeared much later. So he didn’t have time to acquire legends.

Although there were bright spots in his biography. Thus, this metal experienced a wave of popularity during the First World War . Despite all its horrors, people continued to live, love and marry. But precious metals were used for military purposes, so there was an acute shortage of rings. Then mass production of palladium wedding rings began to be established.

Interesting! The aura of war times still hangs over palladium. For knowledgeable people, he personifies love that conquers all circumstances.

It should also be remembered that the metal was named after Pallas Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. In ancient times, figurines of this inhabitant of Olympus were called palladiums. The city in which such sculptures were located was considered impregnable.

You can try to put meaning into the ring through the properties of the metal. Its extraordinary strength promises an equally durable, unaffected marriage. And flexibility symbolizes the ability to adapt to each other and make concessions in order to create a family as beautiful as wedding rings.

Similarity with 985 sample, how to recognize

High-grade gold consists of 95% precious metal, 5% additives of silver and copper. Such impurities give the alloy hardness, which makes it similar to 985 standard. Both alloys meet the physical characteristics of pure gold due to their low additive content.

Such a simple composition makes the alloys soft, which is why products are susceptible to rapid deformation. At the same time, objects made of pure precious metal are not subject to corrosion. Both samples are distinguished by their characteristic natural bright yellow color.

Only a professional can distinguish them, since the difference in impurities is minimal.

Ring 985 gold

Popularity of the sample during the years of the USSR

Today it is quite difficult to find gold with the rare 950 marking. These products have been items in private antique collections for several decades. Metal with this mark was used for making jewelry in the Soviet Union for only a few years. You could only see such markings on a wedding ring made in the 60-70s.

The decoration was quite thick, could weigh at least 8 grams, but was not particularly practical or hard.

Wedding rings in those days were a valuable attribute, which is why they were made from almost pure precious metal, despite its physical properties.

Soviet era gold jewelry

The cost of 1 gram of 950 gold today

1 gram gold

Is it profitable to sell jewelry of 950 standard?

Today, the 950 marking refers specifically to platinum, which is becoming more and more popular every year. The white color of the metal with an unusual shine allows it to be used in combination with precious stones. Platinum jewelry with diamonds looks unsurpassed. Platinum itself is less fragile, so products do not break and are rarely deformed.

It is worth noting that platinum is an expensive metal, the price of which is significantly higher than similar products made of white gold. Its rate is growing daily, which makes the precious metal more profitable for investment.