The Difference Between White Gold and Palladium

You know you want a white metal band, but which alloy is right for you? What’s the difference between palladium and white gold, and which one offers better durability? While palladium and white gold may look similar, they behave quite differently over time.

14k white gold and 14k palladium white gold both contain 58.5% pure gold, but are alloyed with other metals to make them more white in color. 14k white gold contains gold, nickel, copper, and zinc. Whereas 14k palladium white gold contains gold, copper, silver, and palladium. 14k palladium white gold does not contain nickel, which is a metal allergen for a lot of people.

950 palladium (also referred to just as palladium) is 95% pure palladium, and is a “white metal” that is slightly more gray than platinum or sterling silver. Palladium is in the platinum family, and shares many characteristics with platinum – durability, tarnish resistance, and is hypo-allergenic. It is about 1/3 the weight of platinum (it is comparable to the weight of 14k white gold), and about 1/3 the price of platinum. It is a precious metal, and in addition to being used in jewelry, has often been used in catalytic converters. Its use in jewelry is a newer application for this metal, so not all jewelers and jewelry repair shops feel confident working with it yet, but that is quickly changing. 

14k white gold is a hard and rigid metal that is more resistant to scratching than palladium or platinum. Even though palladium and platinum may show scratches and dings earlier than in gold, with palladium no metal is removed when scratched, just displaced. Whereas a gold band will become thinner over time because the metal is slowly rubbed away over time. By comparison, we would say that in the first year, a palladium band will show more signs of wear, due to the evidence of scratches and dings. But, in 20-30 years, the 14k gold band will be thinner than it was originally, whereas a palladium or platinum band would retain its original weight.

Update – 2025

We previously worked with palladium as one of our primary white metal options, but over sourcing this metal became increasingly difficult. For this reason, we no longer offer palladium jewelry.

Currently we work with platinum as our white metal alternative to white gold. Platinum offers a similar neutral color but is a bit brighter white than palladium. It is naturally hypoallergenic, and has a great weight and durability that make it ideal for everyday wear and wedding bands.