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 sterling silver 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.

Comparison

Palladium 950 or Sterling silver?

Choose palladium 950 if you want the colour of platinum at less than its weight and its price. Choose sterling silver if you want a hallmarked precious ring on a small budget.

Heavier: Palladium 950, about 1.2 times the weight
Harder surface: Palladium 950 (Mohs 4.75 against 2.75)
Resizing: palladium 950, yes, by a jeweller; sterling silver, yes, by a jeweller

Checked 12 October 2026.

Side by side	Palladium 950	Sterling silver
Surface	Palladium alloy	Silver alloy
Hardness (Mohs)	4.75	2.75
Density	12.0 g/cm³ reference	10.4 g/cm³ reference
6mm band, size N	about 5.8g	about 5.1g
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 sterling silver?

Palladium 950 is heavier, about 1.2 times the weight of sterling silver for the same ring. A 6mm band in size N comes to about 5.8g in palladium 950 and 5.1g in sterling silver.

Estimated grams, plain court band, UK size N, 1.6mm wall
Width	Palladium 950	Sterling silver
2mm	1.9g	1.7g
4mm	3.9g	3.4g
6mm	5.8g	5.1g
8mm	7.8g	6.7g

Worked out from the reference densities (12.0 and 10.4 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 sterling silver?

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?

Palladium 950 has the harder surface: Mohs 4.75 against 2.75 for sterling silver, so it picks up fewer everyday marks. Sterling silver marks sooner, and any jeweller can polish it back.

Palladium 950. Naturally white like platinum and hallmarked like it, but noticeably lighter on the finger. It wears much the same way.

Sterling silver. Sterling tarnishes as well as scratches, and those are two different jobs: a silver cloth lifts tarnish, polishing takes out marks. Both are quick and we do the polishing free.

Can palladium 950 and sterling silver 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.

Sterling silver: Yes. A plain sterling silver 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. Sterling silver 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. Sterling silver if you want a hallmarked precious ring on a small budget.

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.

Palladium 950 rings Sterling silver rings

Common questions

Is palladium 950 or sterling silver harder wearing?: Palladium 950 has the harder surface: Mohs 4.75 against 2.75 for sterling silver, so it picks up fewer everyday marks. Sterling silver marks sooner, and any jeweller can polish it back.
Is palladium 950 heavier than sterling silver?: Palladium 950 is heavier, about 1.2 times the weight of sterling silver for the same ring. A 6mm band in size N comes to about 5.8g in palladium 950 and 5.1g in sterling silver.
Is palladium 950 more expensive than sterling silver?: 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 sterling silver 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.