QuestionHello. I recently purchased a designer bracelet and was told it was palladium. I paid $100 for it and it's fairly heavy. I'd like to find out the 'wearability' of palladium as I'd rather not have to remove it while washing hands or doing dishes. I was told not to shower or bathe with it but not sure why. Will this bracelet hold up to wear and time or become tarnished and unattractive in no time? Finally, does it scratch easily? I appreciate your response and thank you for your time.
AnswerPenelope,
As I see many items of jewelry brought in for service everyday, I have found out that the ones not removed and cleaned often will wear the quickest and have the most dings and dullness on the metal. The worse are the engagement ring worn proudly and "never taken off" for years and years: These come into the shop severely loaded with years of soil and generally with a lost stone and very worn stone settings, all because the jewelry was not removed, cleaned and inspected regularly. I feel the same way about your bracelet, even with no stones. A bath will not clean but will often leave soap scum materials in the bracelet joints. Dish washing using a mild liquid detergent may clean the bracelet some but it is certainly subject to scratches and dings from items which are all harder than palladium metal.
Are you sure it is palladium? Palladium is a metal which is a sister to platinum but much less costly. Still, it will cost as much as if not generally slightly more than 14 karat gold. Could you get a heavy designer bracelet in 14k gold for $100? Very likely not...you need to speak again to the seller and also look for metal marks, being either PD900, PD950, or simply PD (another mark for 950 palladium).
I will dull over time with exposure to abrasives and bumping things in the environment. Even our hardest jewelry metals are soft compared to common sand and normal dust contains some of that very material in very, very fine particles. Normal facial make-up is also abrasive to jewelry. The best procedure is to accept that any jewelry will be a bit scratched or dulled over time with wear. This will not happen suddenly.
Palladium simply does NOT tarnish, being inert essentially to stuff in the environment causing tarnish. Very special chemicals would be needed to affect the metal. BE CERTAIN the bracelet is palladium! Otherwise, yes, you might find a plated surface wearing away and tarnish happening in an unattractive manner.
Best wishes with the bracelet. Listen to me or not on the dish washing and bathing since it is your choice. I do wish you to enjoy this bracelet for a long time.
Penelope, God bless and peace. Have a wonderful July. Thomas.
