Q - Why 950 Palladium? A - Palladium will stay white, never requireing the maintinance of rhodium plating that 14k gold or platinium does. Q - Is it as heavy as platinum? A - The specific gravity of 950 palladium is close to that of 14k gold and nearly half the weight by volume of platinium. Q - What is Palladium 950? A - 950 comprises of 95% palladium and about 5% ruthenium with other trace elements based upon the refining process of it's scource. Q - Is Palladium durable? A - Very, it will hold up as well as platinum would. Q - Why have I never heard of palladium? A - Chances are, you may have some in your life already! Dentistry, Fuel Cells, Coins, Photography and, electronics all employ the use of palladium. Jewelry espesially, the Nickel Directive of the EU (our 3rd largest market) mandates all jewelry must be nickel free (a poor way of creating white gold) leaving only palladium sutiable to alloy with gold to create white gold for it's hypo-allerginic properties. Q - How long has palladium been used in jewelery? A - Palladium was first used in jewelery when platinium was declared a strategic metal and reserved for American Military use in 1939. Q - What are the advantages of palladium over platinium or gold? A - Alone or alloyed with silver or gold, palladium offers some of the same metal working properties as other jewelry metals, and remains tarnish free. It also offers us a sharply different pricing point than either gold, white gold or platinum. It is more precious than silver and whiter than platinum. Because it is also lighter than platinum, nearly half the weight, more intricate pieces can be made capable of bearing larger gemstones with no gain in overall weight.