Comparison
Palladium 950 or Platinum 950?
Choose palladium 950 if you want the colour of platinum at less than its weight and its price. Choose platinum 950 if you want a white metal that stays white on its own, with no plating to renew.
- Heavier: Platinum 950, about 1.7 times the weight
- Harder surface: about the same (Mohs 4.75 and 4.5)
- Resizing: palladium 950, yes, by a jeweller; platinum 950, yes, by a jeweller
Checked .
| Side by side | Palladium 950 | Platinum 950 |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Palladium alloy | Platinum alloy |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 4.75 | 4.5 |
| Density | 12.0 g/cm³ reference | 20.1 g/cm³ reference |
| 6mm band, size N | about 5.8g | about 9.8g |
| Resizing | Yes, by a jeweller | Yes, by a jeweller |
| Hallmarked | Yes, by law above the exemption weight | Yes, by law above the exemption weight |
| Our rings from | See the range | See the range |
Which is heavier, palladium 950 or platinum 950?
Platinum 950 is heavier, about 1.7 times the weight of palladium 950 for the same ring. A 6mm band in size N comes to about 5.8g in palladium 950 and 9.8g in platinum 950.
| Width | Palladium 950 | Platinum 950 |
|---|---|---|
| 2mm | 1.9g | 3.3g |
| 4mm | 3.9g | 6.5g |
| 6mm | 5.8g | 9.8g |
| 8mm | 7.8g | 13.0g |
Worked out from the reference densities (12.0 and 20.1 g/cm³) with the same model as our ring weight calculator, where you can set your own size, width and thickness. A bigger size adds a little more metal: the size N page and the other size pages give the weights at each size.
Is palladium 950 more expensive than platinum 950?
Both are precious metals, so the difference is mostly how much gold or platinum is in the ring.
Every ring is made to order in your size, and engraving is free on every ring whose page offers it.
Which is harder wearing?
They are close in hardness (Mohs 4.75 and 4.5), so they mark at much the same rate with daily wear.
Palladium 950. Naturally white like platinum and hallmarked like it, but noticeably lighter on the finger. It wears much the same way.
Platinum 950. Platinum is naturally white, so there is no plating to renew. It does scratch, but a scratch moves the metal rather than removing it, so over time the surface settles into a soft patina instead of wearing thin. A jeweller can burnish it back to a bright shine, which GIA describes as the gentle way to restore worn platinum.
Platinum and patina. A platinum ring dulls to a soft satin over the years rather than wearing thin. Some people love that look; a jeweller burnishes it back to a mirror shine for anyone who does not.
Can palladium 950 and platinum 950 rings be resized?
Palladium 950: Yes. A plain palladium 950 band can be made larger or smaller by a jeweller, the way wedding rings have always been resized. The exception is a band set with stones all the way round, where there is nowhere to cut without disturbing a stone, so on those the size is settled when you order.
Platinum 950: Yes. A plain platinum 950 band can be made larger or smaller by a jeweller, the way wedding rings have always been resized. The exception is a band set with stones all the way round, where there is nowhere to cut without disturbing a stone, so on those the size is settled when you order.
Either way, getting the size right first is the easy part: the free ring size finder measures it at home in a couple of minutes, and the resizing guide explains the differences between metals.
Sensitive skin and hallmarks
Palladium 950 is hypoallergenic and a common choice for sensitive skin. Platinum 950 is hypoallergenic and a common choice for sensitive skin. The metal allergy guide explains what causes a rash under a ring.
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium are hallmarked by law above the exemption weights. The marks go inside the band, where you can read the fineness for yourself. The UK hallmarking guide explains each mark.
Our verdict
Palladium 950 if you want the colour of platinum at less than its weight and its price. Platinum 950 if you want a white metal that stays white on its own, with no plating to renew.
Not sure on width? The band width guide shows what each width looks like and weighs, and the metal chooser weighs the metals up against how you will wear the ring.
In these materials
Rings to look at
Rings made in, or available in, the two materials above, each with its current price, widths and finishes on its own page.
Explore the fit and weight
Common questions
- Is palladium 950 or platinum 950 harder wearing?
- They are close in hardness (Mohs 4.75 and 4.5), so they mark at much the same rate with daily wear.
- Is palladium 950 heavier than platinum 950?
- Platinum 950 is heavier, about 1.7 times the weight of palladium 950 for the same ring. A 6mm band in size N comes to about 5.8g in palladium 950 and 9.8g in platinum 950.
- Is palladium 950 more expensive than platinum 950?
- Both are precious metals, so the difference is mostly how much gold or platinum is in the ring.
- Can both be resized?
- Yes. A plain palladium 950 band can be made larger or smaller by a jeweller, the way wedding rings have always been resized. The exception is a band set with stones all the way round, where there is nowhere to cut without disturbing a stone, so on those the size is settled when you order. Yes. A plain platinum 950 band can be made larger or smaller by a jeweller, the way wedding rings have always been resized. The exception is a band set with stones all the way round, where there is nowhere to cut without disturbing a stone, so on those the size is settled when you order.
- Are both hallmarked?
- Gold, silver, platinum and palladium are hallmarked by law above the exemption weights. The marks go inside the band, where you can read the fineness for yourself.