500
Palladium 500 · 50% pure
500 means 50% palladium — a low palladium standard, half palladium and half other metals, recognised in the UK and parts of Europe and struck as “500” or “Pd500”. It's the entry grade of palladium hallmarking, well below the usual 950, and seen far less often than fine palladium.
Hallmark Translator
Translate a purity you know into how any country marks it — gold, silver, platinum, palladium — or compare two countries side by side.
Why 50%?
Palladium is hallmarked at three grades — 500, 950 and 999. 500 is the lowest, recognised when palladium hallmarking was formalised (in the UK, from 2010).
Much more alloyed than the standard PD950, it's a budget or specialised grade rather than a fine-jewellery one — you'll meet it rarely.
Alloy 50% palladium · 50% alloy
And the standards around it
- 500Pd 500
- 50% — the entry palladium grade.
How 5 countries strike 500
The number means the same metal everywhere — but every country marks it differently. Some strike a national emblem beside it; others, like the United States, mark it in type alone. Tap a country for its full system.
Independent assay
Mandatory maker's mark
Voluntary marking
What people actually ask
Is 500 real palladium?
Yes — 50% palladium, the rest other metals. It's the lowest hallmarked palladium grade.
How is 500 different from 950 palladium?
PD950 is 95% palladium — the standard for fine jewellery. 500 is half palladium, a budget or specialised grade.
Where is 500 palladium used?
It's recognised in the UK and parts of Europe; the UK began hallmarking palladium in 2010.
What is 500 palladium worth?
Half its weight is palladium, so its value tracks half the palladium price by weight.
A reference guide, not an authentication service. The same number can appear on different metals, and the mark beside it varies by country, date and maker — consult the relevant assay office or standards body for definitive identification.