| White gold jewelry can cause allergic reactions in | | | | factors make it a good choice for white gold |
| some people. This is due to the fact that the | | | | jewelry manufacturing. It also yields alloys with |
| majority of white gold jewelry is manufactured | | | | excellent mechanical properties superior in many |
| using alloys containing nickel as the bleaching agent | | | | respects to the nickel-whites which can be difficult |
| and a percentage of the population is allergic to | | | | to work with and contain pockets of gold and |
| nickel. For these individuals, contact with nickel can | | | | nickel because the two metals don't like to be |
| result in dermatological problems that range from | | | | mixed. Jewelry made from a palladium/gold alloy |
| a mild skin rash to severe open sores and | | | | will not result in allergic reactions. |
| permanent scaring. In Europe, there are laws | | | | You might be asking: "If palladium is so much |
| governing the use of nickel in jewelry. The | | | | better than nickel to make white gold, why don't |
| European law is known as "The Nickel Directive" | | | | all jewelers use it?" The answer is cost. Palladium |
| and states that no nickel can be used in a material | | | | is a bit more expensive to use. The cost of an |
| that sits in an open wound, such as after piercing, | | | | ounce of palladium is around $300 currently and |
| until healing is complete. | | | | consumers don't like paying higher prices for what |
| What is a jewelry buyer to do when faced with | | | | appears to be the same jewelry product. |
| this information? First of all relax, most people do | | | | However, once people know the facts about |
| not have severe reactions to nickel. And jewelers | | | | nickel white gold and the allergic risks it presents |
| are starting to use alloys that contain less nickel | | | | many are willing to pay a little more. |
| to develop white gold jewelry. | | | | Another white metal on the horizon is 950 |
| Some nickel-free white gold alloys were originally | | | | Palladium. Some jewelry manufacturers are |
| developed in the 1920s using palladium as the | | | | making product from new palladium alloys that |
| primary bleaching agent. Palladium is part of the | | | | can be cast into jewelry. This is a wonderful metal |
| platinum group of metals. It is a steel-white metal, | | | | because it is a bright white color, very similar to |
| does not tarnish in air, and is the least dense and | | | | platinum, but has a much lower price. It is still |
| lowest melting of the platinum group metals. | | | | relatively new so jewelers are still learning how to |
| Palladium has very good corrosion and tarnish | | | | work best with this metal. Keep your eyes open |
| resistance, and it mixes well with gold, offering | | | | though, because you will soon be seeing more of |
| almost complete homogenization throughout the | | | | this product, especially with the cost of platinum |
| range of gold-palladium compositions. All these | | | | currently above $1,000 an ounce. |