Platinum and Palladium are both incredibly popular precious metals that belong in the same group. These rare precious metals have been around for a really long time and have been used for several different purposes throughout the years. In more recent years, these metals have begun to rise up into the mainstream precious metals bullion industry as well.
About Platinum
Platinum has been a very popular precious metal in several different industries for thousands of years. This metal has been used in the automotive industry, jewellery, as a bullion investment, and much more. When it was first discovered in 17735, the metal was considered a bother as it was found lining the gold mines in South America. We know now that the metal is in fact incredibly rare. As a matter of fact, platinum is even rarer than the all-mighty gold!
The majority of the world’s platinum supply goes off into other industries, mainly the automotive industry. This rare and valuable metal is used in many different car parts, especially in catalytic converters or other forms of vehicle emission control devices. This metal is also quite popular in the jewellery industry, which consumes about a third of the platinum production annually. Platinum is used in several other industries, including the bullion industry.
About Palladium
Palladium is yet another precious metal used in a wide variety of ways. Palladium is a platinum group metal, meaning that they share a lot of similar physical and chemical properties. Palladium is also used for several of the same purposes as platinum as the two metals both share very similar qualities. In many instances, the two metals are used as a substitute for each other in many industries. Palladium too is used in the automotive industry, being used in an industrial catalyst. Palladium is also a popular metal for jewellery and bullion investments as well.
Palladium is a very rare metal as well, being even more scarce than gold. We are unable to predict how much palladium there actually is in the world. Throughout history, palladium had always been cheaper than platinum.
Difference
Although these metals are both very similar, they have their own key differences. The main difference between these almost identical metals is their density and their value. Platinum is typically more expensive than palladium because it’s much denser. This also allows for some key differences in the industries in that they’re used. For example, platinum is used more for men’s jewellery as the durability of the heavier metal is ideal in “masculine jewellery”.
These two metals are practically identical and have continued to rise in popularity in more ways than one. Platinum and palladium will definitely play a huge role in our future.