#1 Palladium Necklace Buyer in Las Vegas & Henderson
History
Palladium is one of the most in-demand metals in the world, despite its short history as compared to other metals like gold and silver.
In mid-1802, English chemist William Hyde Wollaston discovered palladium while studying the residue found in the platinum ore brought back from South America in aqua regia (a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid).
Instead of immediately publishing his discovery, Wollaston anonymously marketed and sold the ores. Skeptical, a fellow chemist Richard Chenevix, experimented on the few samples he bought, which he dismissed as just an alloy of platinum and mercury, a reason why Wollaston only publicized his discovery in 1805.
Wollaston named the metal after an asteroid called Pallas that was discovered two months earlier.
Palladium was used in a lot of jewelry ribbons during World War II as platinum was considered an essential resource, a reason why years prior to2004, jewelers largely used palladium in creating white gold. Before 1939, jewelers used palladium in an amalgam called white gold due to its natural white color; a rhodium coating is no longer needed.
When prices of gold and platinum increased in early 2004, China started manufacturing palladium jewelry resulting in a consumption of 37 tons or palladium in 2005. In the manufacturing of gold, silver, white gold, and other high-end jewelry, palladium was used as a substitute for platinum.
Costlier than nickel and gold, palladium alloyed with gold are more biologically compatible with the human body and seldom cause adverse reactions. It is also more lightweight as compared to platinum, and, as with gold, it can be formed to the thinness of about 100 nanometers and used in white gold production.
Palladium 101
Palladium is a rare, gleaming silver-white metal belonging to a group of metals due to their similar properties called the platinum group of metals or PGMS: platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. Among these metals, palladium has the lowest melting point and is also the lightest and softest.
Where Palladium is Found
PGMs ore deposits are fairly scarce and the largest ones are found in the norite belt of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, and it’s located in the following regions:
- the Transvaal Basin in South Africa;
- the Stillwater Complex in Montana, United States;
- the Sudbury Basin and the Thunder Bay District of Ontario, Canada; and
- the Norilsk Complex in Russia.
Leading Producers of Palladium
The majority of the world’s palladium comes from Russia and South Africa, where Russia produces 44% of the world’s palladium while South Africa, 40%. Other major producers are Canada and the United States produce 6% and 5%, respectively. One of the sources of palladium comes from recycled scrap catalyst converters.
Palladium’s Characteristics
Aside from its rarity, palladium’s other hallmarks make it one of the world’s most valued metals. Below are a list and a brief explanation of palladium’s characteristics.
Purity
Palladium used in jewelry is pure, just like its PGMs cousins and other metals such as gold and silver, and its purity is determined using similar methods with platinum.
There are two types of palladium that jewelry stores trust when it comes to purity:
- A jewelry piece with 95% pure palladium and 5% other metals.
- A jewelry piece with 90% pure palladium and 10% other metals.
Palladium is usually mixed with ruthenium and other non-toxic metals to produce considerable hardness and stability.
Durability and Versatility
Palladium is more ductile and malleable than platinum, hence, making it one of the easiest metals to work with. It is the best metal to put gemstones on as it stays in shape after the forging process, and it can be formed to any shape or design.
Wear-ability
Known for being hypoallergenic, PGMs like platinum and palladium make the best jewelry of choice for people who have adverse reactions to other metals like nickel (which is known to cause allergic reactions) present in 14-karat gold jewelry. Compared to white gold jewelry, palladium is more resistant to damages.
Color
Palladium’s natural white luster lasts a lifetime, unlike white gold that will discolor after the rhodium plating (helps with prolonging the white finish in the jewelry) wears out.
Palladium Hallmarks
Palladium’s demand has experienced an upward trend in the past decade resulting in its price increase. Thus, the addition of palladium hallmarks to the precious metal hallmark group is virtually new. Metals like palladium, when used in its purest form, are very soft and are easily defaced. Thus, hallmarks are applied. The exact pure palladium content of jewelry is unknown, as its value is hard to estimate. Assay offices are the ones who give palladium hallmarks, as proof that an object has a certain percentage of palladium content.
Hallmarks are mandatory on gold and silver in the UK. In 1975, hallmarks became mandatory on platinum items, and it was not until January 2010 when palladium hallmarks became mandatory. Items containing precious metals are required by law to have hallmarks in the UK. This covers any palladium item weighing over 1 gram; over half a gram for platinum, 1 gram for gold, and 7.78 grams for silver.
Hallmarks are the numerical equivalent of purity and fineness in precious metals. It measures purity in parts per thousand, wherein 999.999 is the purest of metals. Palladium hallmarks have three fineness standard marks. These are 500 (50% pure), 950 (95% pure), and plus 999 (99.99% pure) for pure palladium. Palladium marked 500 is harder than those marked with 950 and is more suited for complex designs. And it includes diamond rings with elaborate designs. Palladium with 950 fineness is softer and is better suited for simple items like wedding rings or wedding bands. It is simply known as 95 palladium. Platinum and palladium rings are commonly plated with rhodium, as rhodium adds more strength.
Necklaces
Necklaces have been around since prehistoric times and among the earliest adornments worn by humans. Typically worn around the neck, these jewelry pieces often have meanings and purposes associated with them. They were worn in ceremonies such as funerals, religious ceremonies, and even in performing ritualistic “magic.” They also served as status symbols that denote one’s position in society.
Modern necklaces still serve as an adornment to accentuate a person’s features or to add glamour to one’s clothing. Nevertheless, there are different types of necklaces and are typically classified in terms of their length.
Choker
A piece of tight-fitting jewelry worn around the neck, it is the shortest of the necklaces ranging from 14 inches to 16 inches long. It only leaves a few millimeters of space between the accessory and the wearer’s neck; thus, the term “choker.” One iconic appearance of the choker in the recent film Birds of Prey, where Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) sported this necklace.
Princess Necklace
Rested just below the collarbone, it is the best length for a necklace as it is neither too low nor too high, it is perfect for all occasions and compliments low or plunging necklines. This style of necklace is commonly seen in black or white tie events. Celebrities walking the red carpet are often seen sporting a princess necklace.
Matinee
Usually, 22 to 23 inches long, this necklace rests in the middle of the chest area. Since it is mid-length, they compliment all body types. Because they lie near the bust, they are best paired with button-down shirts, turtlenecks, or any high neckline clothes.
Opera Necklaces
Typically 26 to 30 inches long, this necklace sits just below the bust and above the waist. This style will draw an eye to the bustline, a great accessory for plus-size women, and for anyone who has a tall frame.
Rope Necklaces
This necklace is longer than the opera necklace but is the longest necklace style around. Falling just above the waist, this necklace can be looped around multiple times on the neck to create a layer of multiple necklaces.
Necklaces are a classic piece of jewelry that will never go out of style. They make great family heirlooms that hold beautiful memories from past to present.
We BUY Palladium Necklaces
Do you have a pre-loved palladium necklace that you’re not using anymore and want out of your hands? We’ll be happy to take them from you and even pay you for it! Here at Nevada Coin Mart, we are the #1 buyer of palladium necklace, in Las Vegas and Henderson, even in the entire Nevada state!
We offer free in-store evaluation for your piece using state-of-the-art Thermo Scientific Niton X-Ray Spectrometer in order to accurately analyze and measure precious metal contents in your piece. This will ensure that you get top-dollar for your items.
We are open 365 times in a year from 9 am to 6 pm, so come visit us at Nevada Coin Mart® 4065 S. Jones Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103 or call us up at 702-998-4000.
