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Year 5 Issue 6 July 2006
Palladium - the new buzz word in jewelry
Birthstones by : Dr. A.Ayoob
 
 
       
Palladium - the new buzz word in jewelry
        Under the bedrock of the serene and natural landscape of southern Montana in the USA 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. "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 was recently a key panel speaker at the JCK Las Vegas show. Hosted by the Palladium Alliance International (PAI), a US-based organization focusing on the education of palladium to trade and consumers sponsored, the event filled the large ballroom with hundreds of attendees creating a standing room only situation within minutes of the opening. "The Palladium Facts" included experts and speakers from Stillwater Mining Company, Scott Kay, Hoover & Strong, and Precious Metals West.
 
        "I'm captivated by palladium's rarity, luxurious whiteness, and intense brightness," said Frank McAllister, CEO, Stillwater Mining Company, "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 palladium.
Left) Palladium bands by Lieberfarb Right) Cypress bracelet by Scott Kay Inc.    
        Palladium has only been recently tapped into by the fine jewelry industry. Unlike other platinum group metals, palladium is less dense which allows for more opulent shapes and volume to be formed. It is also currently priced at US$250350 an ounce, making it more economical than platinum or gold.
         "Palladium is 30 times rarerthan 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 luxurious metal that is naturally white and yet affordable," said Stewart Grice, lead metallurgist at Hoover & Strong. Daniel Ballard, national sales manager of Precious Metals West, said, "Palladium is extremely durable, flexible and easy to tvorkwith. Palladium is jewelers' and diamonds new best friend."
        Fine palladium jewelry is already available in stores, with 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. In China, sales of palladium jewelry have skyrocketed with increasing number of Chinese consumers seeking it 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 PAL. "With
palladium in its honorary place above platinum and white gold, it wouldn't make sense for consumers to pay more forany other metals when palladium is even more beautiful and popularly-priced than the rest. Palladium is going to me over as the creme de la creme in jewelry."

  
  Left) Palladium solitaire by Art Carved Right) Aspril Nifi (Greek for "White Bride") by Tenthio

        Additional information on palladium can be found at: www.LuxuryPalladium.com. The 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. It 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 has offices in the UK, the US and China. Membership is open to leading palladium producers, refiners and jewelry manufacturers.
 
Novell's palladium line    
Birthstones by : Dr. A.Ayoob
July : Ruby
Desire Fulfilling Stone
        The most coveted of all coloured gemstone is undoubtedly the ruby, the birth stone of July.

        In astrology, the ruby belongs to the planet Sun (the sign is Leo). The Sun gives energy and force to all life. It is the primeval foundation of all life. Ruby also denotes strength and enthusiasm, nobility and love.

        It is believed that those who wear ruby will be blessed with more and more wealth enabling to wear even more rubies. It also makes the wearer brave and valiant, destroying bad thoughts and ward off poisonous creatures and exert powerful forces.
        The people of Myanmar (formerly Burma), the chief source of rubies, call it'me nawmaay', the desire-fulfilling stone. Hindu belief credits the ruby with superlative qualities

.         Possessing a good ruby is as meritorious as performing the "Ashwamedha yaga". In India, it is highly recommended as an antidote to poison, as a sexual pep-up and for general vigor.

        Ruby is always associated with beauty. If you wear a ruby, it promotes your physical beauty. For this reason the lijby's association with love, marriage and royalty has held fast through the ages. Before diamonds were popularized as stone for wedding rings, ruby held that place.

        Ruby also symbolizes the Sun because it is believed to contain the blood of humans. Therefore, it is prescribed for the loss of blood and disorders in blood circulation. It is also prescribed for gastric troubles, heart diseases, diminished vision, indigestion, prolonged fevers and loss of appetite. It also prevents schizophrenia, a mental disease marked by disconnection between thoughts and actions with delusions and retreat from social life.



  
        In India, Ruby ash is utilized in the preparation of medicines to be taken orally, with suitable combinations of drugs for specific diseases. It is only the Burma Ruby which has been found to be useful for medicines.

        Burma Ruby, the blood - red shining ruby, is the superior variety. It belongs to the 'Pigeon's Blood' variety. Rubies are obtained in large quantities in Sri Lanka and Thailand.

        In India, rubies are found in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar and Kashmir.