Palladium White Gold
Also: Pd white gold, Palladium-bearing white gold
Palladium white gold is a gold alloy in which palladium acts as the key alloying metal, giving the gold its characteristic silvery-white colour.
Palladium white gold is a gold alloy in which palladium — a metal from the group of platinum group metals — serves as the primary alloying element. Palladium decolourises gold highly effectively and creates a warm silvery tone that already looks appealing even without a subsequent rhodium plating. That sets it apart fundamentally from the older nickel white gold, which frequently provokes allergic reactions and faces significant restrictions under EU jewellery rules.
Composition and fineness
In practice, palladium white gold turns up above all in finenesses of 585 (14 carat) and 750 (18 carat). The precise Pd share depends on the desired white tone, the workability and the alloying partners (usually small quantities of silver, copper or zinc to tune hardness and casting behaviour).
| Fineness | Gold content | Palladium (typical) | Other metals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 585 (14 kt) | 58.5 % | 10-15 % | Ag, Cu, Zn |
| 750 (18 kt) | 75.0 % | 8-13 % | Ag, Cu |
The fine gold content is guaranteed by the fineness hallmark stamped on the piece.
Advantages over nickel white gold
- Hypoallergenic: palladium does not trigger nickel allergies and is considered dermatologically well tolerated.
- Stable white tone: the bright base colour reduces the need for rhodium plating, though high-polish pieces in the jewellery trade are still often plated.
- A precious alloying component: because palladium is itself a precious metal, its market price noticeably influences the material value of the finished piece. You can check the live palladium price at any time.
Price impact and material value
Because palladium is alloyed in, the raw-material share of a Pd white gold alloy rises whenever the palladium price or the gold price moves up. You can work out the melt value of a piece of jewellery with the melt value calculator — enter the gross weight and the fineness to estimate the metal value.
Melt value ~ gross weight x fineness x (gold price x Au share + Pd price x Pd share)
When buying or selling Pd white gold jewellery through a dealer, the price actually achieved deviates from the pure metal value through the spread and the premium. The purchase price calculator gives a rough guide.
Note: tax treatment and investment suitability depend on individual circumstances — this is not tax or investment advice.
In brief
Palladium white gold marries the prestige of gold with the allergen-free, naturally white look of palladium, and is today the preferred standard for high-quality white-gold jewellery across Europe.