Is palladium 950 or platinum 950 harder wearing?

Palladium 950, at Mohs 4.75 against 4.5. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.

Platinum 950, at 21.4 g/cm³ against 12. That is 1.8 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.

Yes, both. Either can be sized up or down by a bench jeweller, and we do it free.

Platinum 950, starting at £995 against £745. That is about 34% more before any stone or inlay.

Yes, both, at the Birmingham Assay Office.

Comparison

Palladium 950 or Platinum 950?

Palladium 950 is meaningfully harder, so if your hands take a beating the choice is largely made for you.

	Palladium 950	Platinum 950
Surface hardness	Mohs 4.75	Mohs 4.5
Density	12 g/cm³	21.4 g/cm³
Resizable	Yes	Yes
Hallmarked	Yes	Yes
Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes
Price from	£745	£995

What the difference actually feels like

Platinum 950 is 1.8 times the weight of palladium 950 for the same ring. On paper that is a number; on the hand it is the difference between a ring you forget about and one you are aware of every time you move. Neither is better. It is worth knowing which you want before you spend anything.

Palladium 950 sits at Mohs 4.75 against 4.5. Ordinary household dust carries quartz at Mohs 7, which is the line that matters: below it a ring collects fine scratches from nothing more than daily life. The gap here is real but not dramatic.

The straight answer

Choose palladium 950 if a white metal at less than platinum, or if sensitive skin.

Choose platinum 950 if a white metal that stays white, or if sensitive skin.

Still torn? The metal chooser asks six questions and picks one, and it will tell you if neither of these is right.

In both materials

Rings to look at

Plain

Flat court, palladium

White, hallmarked, and half the weight of platinum.

From £745 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 mm

Plain

Flat court, platinum

Platinum 950, and you will feel every gram of it.

From £1150 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 mm

Truly unique

Emerald bezel

An emerald, in a protective rim, and only in a rim.

From £2295 2 mm

Common questions

Is palladium 950 or platinum 950 harder wearing?: Palladium 950, at Mohs 4.75 against 4.5. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.
Which is heavier?: Platinum 950, at 21.4 g/cm³ against 12. That is 1.8 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.
Can both be resized?: Yes, both. Either can be sized up or down by a bench jeweller, and we do it free.
Which costs more?: Platinum 950, starting at £995 against £745. That is about 34% more before any stone or inlay.
Are both hallmarked?: Yes, both, at the Birmingham Assay Office.