QuestionHello,
My fiance gave me a beautiful palladium engagement ring. It is stamped pd950 and I have no reason to doubt its quality except that while playing with my son recently,a magnet he was playing with became stuck to my ring. I would not have expected this to happen with palladium. I do understand palladium is not 100% pure but my understanding is that the 5% alloy would not typically include iron, but rather, higher quality metals, typically from the platinum family. Is my research correct? Should I be concerned about the quality of my ring or that my fiance did not get what he paid for? I am wondering if we should be going back to the jeweler to question this. Your expertise and response would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Christine
AnswerDear Christine,
If you have a 950palladium alloy with magnetic properties the other alloy metal would almost certainly have to be cobalt. Yet, this would be a first for me. I see this as possible in jewelry use but is an alloy I have not seen or heard of previously. The link below goes to a PDF document from one of the most highly recognized metal suppliers to the jewelry industry, Johnson Matthey. The list is the alloys they manufacture. Thus far, I have not been able to locate a palladium alloy supplier who makes a 95% palladium plus cobalt jewelry alloy. That does not mean it does not exist. I would certainly go to the jeweler, magnet in hand, demonstrate the magnetic attraction and ask if this is a palladium/cobalt alloy. Why cobalt? Cobalt is used with platinum regularly for jewelry items which are manufactured by casting. The addition of cobalt adds certain desirable characteristics in the casting process and may do the same with palladium. The jeweler should be able to easily contact the vendor and determine the alloy of your ring. Slightly different methods are used to work the cobalt alloys than the normal alloys containing ruthenium, iridium, etc.
If you are wondering why I mention cobalt, it is because cobalt is a magnetic metal. PT/CO alloys which are commonly used by manufacturers(such as Stuller Findings) show a definite magnetic quality. When working the metals, the jeweler must be careful not to allow any steel from the work bench to be on the metal when welding or brazing is done. Steel on the bench comes from wear of jewelers saw blades and files for the most part and is a "filing" or powder sized residue. The platinum/cobalt will not only react to a magnet but it will act as a weak magnet in attraction of steel powdery residue on the work bench.
Ask the jeweler. That is the quickest way to an answer directly for your particular ring.
Here is the link mentioned:
http://www.noble.matthey.com/pdfs-uploaded/2%20Platinum%20Jewellery%20Alloys.pdf
This page to Johnson Matthey has a "contact" link in quite small letters at the page top. You might want to e-mail them and simply ask if they know of a palladium/cobalt alloy being used in the jewelry industry. If you get an answer, it will be authoritative.
http://www.matthey.com/whatwedo/howweareorganised/preciousmetalproducts
Palladium for jewelry has gone through growing pains since first introduced to the consumer. When first marketed, I felt the cart was before the horse and manufacturers had not yet developed the best alloys and methods for producing palladium jewelry. A few manufacturers were clearly unprepared. Now, time has passed and the shake out is done. Palladium on the market today is generally excellent jewelry metal, one with characteristics making it a fine choice for better jewelry. Manufacturing processes are refined to directly consider palladium and produce the best results. An alloy with cobalt may be a new addition in the development of palladium jewelry, I honestly do not know.
Christine, best wishes with your discovery of the magnetic attraction. If cobalt is in the alloy, this in no way would take away from your ring.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
