Platinum & Palladium Wedding Bands: Compatibility & Appearance

Question
I have a Platinum engagement ring. I am now looking for wedding rings and we have decided on my partner having a palladium ring. Would I too be able to have a palladium wedding ring alongside my platinum engagemen ring? What would the difference in appearance be? Would the two metals rub against and ruin eachother?

Answer
Hi Kelly,

Palladium is very similar to Platinum in its visual properties. The big difference is the price (platinum - $1679/oz vs palladium - $573/oz). Platinum is denser and heavier but both will 'age' with the same patina and look the same over time. The denxity of palladium is 12.0 and the desity of platinum is 21.45 . Since Palladium is usually softer than Platinum the rings next to each other would definitely show wear. The palladium needs to be alloyed with platinum (0r another metal of higher hardness) to prevent this from happening. I am no metalurgist you need to go to someone who can alloy the metal correctly and is farmiliar with palladium. Good Luck

Peter