Palladium: The New Luxurious Buzz Word In Jewelry
Jewelry’s Best-Kept Secret To Revitalize Industry, Sales & Profits - Under the bedrock of Southern Montana’s serene and natural landscape lies one of the world’s most precious and rarest metals, Palladium. An invaluable commodity, couture and fine jewelers alike have turned to this kin of the platinum family for its natural white luster, elegance and strength.
Billings, MT (PRWEB) August 7, 2006
Under the bedrock of Southern Montana’s serene and natural landscape lies one of the world’s most precious and rarest metals, Palladium. An invaluable commodity, couture and fine jewelers alike have turned to this kin of the platinum family for its natural white luster, elegance and strength.
“Palladium is going to explode onto the fine jewelry market like no other metal ever has,” said Scott Kay, celebrated bridal jewelry designer and CEO of Scott Kay Inc. “With its superior pure, natural, rare, and brilliant white and strong qualities, Palladium provides a stunning backdrop for diamonds and precious stones. Palladium not only feels and looks amazing, but its versatility makes it a jeweler’s dream and a consumer’s treasure.”
Scott Kay, a strong advocate of precious metals and whose 20-year-old jewelry business remains America’s most requested bridal brand, was recently a key panel speaker at the most prominent jewelry show in the United States. Hosted by the Palladium Alliance International (PAI), a U. S.-based organization focusing on the education of palladium to trade and consumers sponsored the event that filled the large ballroom with hundreds of attendees. It was so highly attended there was standing room only within minutes of the door opening. “The Palladium Facts” seminar was held in Las Vegas on June 5, and included experts and speakers from Stillwater Mining Company, Scott Kay, Hoover & Strong, and Precious Metals West. Currently, there are also PAI offices in the United Kingdom and China.
“I’m captivated by Palladium’s rarity, luxurious whiteness, and intense brightness,” admitted Frank McAllister, CEO, Stillwater Mining Company, (NYSE: SWC). “It’s just as rare as platinum, it’s bright, white and its density is just right, and we expect the metal to become a significant growth factor in the jewelry industry.” Based in Billings, Montana, Stillwater Mining Company is one of the world’s largest producers of precious, quality Palladium.
Palladium, a platinum group metal (PGM) with similar fine properties and more, has only been recently tapped into by the fine jewelry industry. Unlike other PGMs, Palladium is less dense which allows for more opulent shapes and volume to be formed. It is also currently priced at US$250-350 an ounce, making it more economical than platinum or gold.
In addition to soaring platinum and gold prices, the jewelry industry is also in need of a natural, permanent solution for a luxurious and performance-reliable white metal.
Since white gold is not a natural material, and is in fact 75% or lower percentage of yellow gold plated with 25% or more of other white metals, most retailers and consumers face the problem of their white gold jewelry ‘‘tarnishing’ into a yellowish tint. As for platinum, its usage has been limited by its exorbitant price tag, heavy density and design restrictions.
“Palladium is 30 times rarer than gold and doesn’t need plating or bleaching. Palladium’s whiteness is brighter than platinum or white gold, and with such attractive prices per ounce, it is perfect for purveyors who want a pure, precious, strong and luxurious metal that is naturally white and yet affordable,” informed Stewart Grice, lead metallurgist at Hoover & Strong, at the panel conference.
Daniel Ballard, national sales manager of Precious Metals West, agreed. “Palladium is extremely durable, flexible and easy to work with. Palladium is jewelers’ and diamonds new best friend.”
Fine Palladium jewelry is already available in stores, with renowned brands such as Scott Kay, Frederick Goldman, Novell and Lieberfarb leading the Palladium jewelry movement. Luxury house Cartier has also recently introduced a new collection of Pasha De Cartier watches in Palladium. Particularly in China, sales of Palladium jewelry have skyrocketed with increasing number of Chinese consumers seeking only the purest, most natural and whitest for their white jewelry purchase.
“Palladium isn’t an alternative to platinum or white gold. Add all of Palladium’s assets together, and it will exceed the expectations of jewelers and luxury jewelry purveyors,” said John Stark, Chairman of the Palladium Alliance International. “With palladium in its honorary place above platinum and white gold, it wouldn’t make sense for consumers to pay more for any other metals when palladium is even more beautiful and popularly-priced than the rest. Palladium is going to take over as the crème de la crème in jewelry.”
Whether it is for luxury, beauty or price reasons, consumers will very soon be expressing their love and joy with palladium. On every level, Palladium is an incomparable, unique beauty that has begun to change and rejuvenate the jewelry industry, and will continue to capture the hearts of many at weddings and within the fine fashion jewelry sector.
Additional information on Palladium and facts can be found at http://www. LuxuryPalladium. com (http://www. LuxuryPalladium. com).
About Palladium Alliance International
The Palladium Alliance International (PAI) is an organization committed to establishing Palladium as a luxurious, precious and distinctive metal. The organization provides education, marketing and technical support and a vision for the promotion of palladium - a superior, pure, white, bright and light metal. The PAI aims to position to professionals and their consumers a metal that they can value as a luxury and equate with quality and excellence. Formed in March 2006, PAI offices are located in the UK, U. S. and China. Membership is open to leading palladium producers, refiners and jewelry manufacturers.
Editor’s Note: For additional information on the surge of Palladium in the jewelry industry, key numbers and images on palladium, or to speak with key influencers, please call Vivien Teo at 646-723-2320.
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