Cost, scratch resistance, and other details….is 14K gold best all around? and is 18K gold just softer but costlier than 14K?

Palladium, Silver, or Platinum? Also which is the most expensive?

What is the real deal? I keep hearing conflicting information… some say palladium is softer than platinum, some say it is harder. I can’t wear gold (yellow or white) due to allergies, so don’t even bother suggesting i save my money and get gold.

Which is better? is palldium really just a poor man’s platinum? I want value, but I also want a ring that will last a lifetime. Temporarily I am getting a plain wedding band for a few years, and then I will be getting a different one that has small diamonds going around the ring. I want both rings to age well.

Does anyone have correct information on the comparison? Don’t bother answering if you are going to quote wikipedia. wikipedia is a great starting point, but should never be relied on as having correct information.
my engagement ring is platinum. while it "whitens" over time from scratches, they polish right out. So, i am familar with the care of platinum. Recently a few jewlery stores i have been in to see styles for wedding bands have been pushing the palladium. I think it is because they don’t normally carry platinum…

So, i am just curious of the differences. I don’t plan on wearing my engagement ring once we are married, so i am not worried about the metals matching.