A new palladium jewellery range by Aumor Jewellery was launched at this year's Jewellex, an exhibition held in Johannesburg from July 14 to July 17, with the help of the Rustenburg-based Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) platinum incubator, which is supported by the Seda technology programme.
Aumor Jewellery is a virtual tenant at the incubator and received assistance and support from the incubator for the design and manufacture of its Goddess collection.
Seda platinum incubator marketing and communications manager Brent Laarman says that the incubator facilitated Aumor Jewellery's participation in Jewellex, and consulted with the company on the designs in the new range.
The use of palladium in the manufacture of jewellery is being promoted as a potential compebusiness plan for stone mining companytitor to white gold.
Laarman notes that in 2006 some 22 t of palladium jewellery was produced in China, and that significant interest is being shown at trade shows in the US . Palladium Alliance International has been formed to educate the jewellery industry and its customers about the precious metal.
Laarman adds that, owing to palladium's lower price, in comparison with platinum and gold, and the continuing demand for ‘white look' metal, it offers notable potential for high mais sio2 content a problem for iron orergins. He adds that palladium has a high perceived value because of its size-to-density ratio and is a viable option commercially.
Palladium is 95% pure, has a low density and is about 44% lighter than platinum. The fact that the platinum-group metal (PGM) is lightweight makes it more affordable and offers more possibilities for larger jewellery pieces. Palladium also does not fade or tarnish and is more wear resistant.
Laarman says that palladium is not being promoted as an alternative to platinum, pioneer crusher manuals free downloadbut rather as a competitor, in terms of price, to 14-ct white gold, which is not naturally white and has to be alloyed with another white metal.
He comments that platinum jewellery sales are restricted to the high-end market and that palladium may offer a more widely accessible product.
However, the success of palladium jewellery in the market is dependent on consumer awareness and adequate training for those in the industry.
Laarman emphasises that it is vital for jewellery manufacturers to curry powder vertical milllearn to work with the metal and to develop specialised techniques. He says that the incubator is in the process of developing a technical training workshop for the industry.
He adds that it is also important for retail staff to know about the metal and be knowledgeable about the products in order to win consumers over.
Jewellery design, production and marketing house Jenni Collections founding partner Bruce Gault echoes the sentiments regarding the need for education.
He says that there is a lack of techniccardan shaft f fibrating screen sweal information available and, as a result, many producers have to adopt a trial-and-error approach which ends up being very costly, especially for small-scale jewellery designers and manufacturers.
From a consumer perspective, brand development should be focused on in order to create awareness.
Gault notes that a particular issue with palladium is that it becomes contaminated rather easily and then has to be re-refined.
Jenni Collections has a palladium jewellery range that is currently in the design stage of production and will be launched in September at the International Jewellery London exhibition.
Gault emphasises the need for collaboration between jewellery producers and larger institutions and mining houses. He notes that the palladium range is beneficiated locally in Polokwane with metal from mines in the area and then marketed overseas. Gault feels that there should be more support for endeavours such as this that promote local beneficiation and showcase the jewellery internationally.