Alternative Metal Guide
CAMO
Camo rings are made using licensed camouflage patterns created through sophisticated graphic design, high definition photography and photo-realistic printing. Modern camo is made to mimic virtually any environment in vivid, 3-D, high-resolution detail.
CARBON FIBER
Carbon fiber wedding rings are popular with the modern, stylish ring buyer. Carbon fiber rings are certainly the lightest ring on the market, but they are also very strong. This combination of high strength and light weight is what makes carbon fiber so popular with high tech designs from space craft to high performance sports. Carbon fiber is a symbol of cutting edge tech.
Carbon is the basic building material of our universe. It is element 6 on the Periodic Table with the chemical symbol of “C.” Carbon fiber rings are scratch-resistant and hypoallergenic. It is perfect for those who are allergic to any metal. This is because carbon fiber is not a metal at all but a combination of several thin fibers that are bounded together and twisted together. This is then woven into fabric.
The density of carbon fibers is low thus making it suitable for making lightweight materials. Carbon fiber is relatively easy to maintain. You can clean it by washing with water or non-abrasive soap. Like titanium and other alternative metal rings, carbon fiber cannot be sized, so keep that in mind when choosing a carbon fiber band. Carbon fiber wedding bands display high style and strength setting the wearer apart from the crowd.
CERAMIC
Ceramic is often said to have the best qualities of both Titanium and Tungsten Carbide; being both light-weight, scratch-resistant and more crack-resistant that Tungsten. The price is also another attractive attribute as they are relatively cheap in comparison. Due to the unique nature of the material, ceramic rings are not resizable.
Ceramic jewelry, like many of the “alternative metals” is lightweight, hypoallergenic, and tarnish resistant. Jewelry grade ceramic is also called titanium carbide. Ceramic titanium carbide is very hard and used as a heat guard in space shuttles. Ceramic jewelry measure around 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness which is comparable to tungsten carbide and sapphire.
Ceramic can be polished to a high shine, and it is very durable. You can clean it by wiping the jewelry with a damp cloth and drying it with a lint-free cloth. Ceramic jewelry is strong and scratch-resistant, but it can chip.
Like tungsten carbide, ceramic’s extreme hardness makes it impossible to cut off using standard ring cutters. However, also like tungsten, ceramic rings can be shattered in an emergency by applying pressure. Special tools are available for this purpose, but standard vise grips have also been used effectively. As you may have guessed, the same caveats about ring sizing tungsten (and other alternative metals) also apply to ceramic so be sure to ask about sizing exchanges before you buy.
Ceramic jewelry generally has a smooth glossy finish. It also can be made in almost any color possible. Ceramic rings are available in stunning black to very creative colors and can be found in a variety of finishes from matte to highly polish. Overall, ceramic jewelry is a great option with space-age tech for someone who wants a non-traditional wedding band.
Ceramic is a modern alternative to the traditional, gold wedding band and is among the hardest materials known to man. Only a few things in the world, including diamonds, can scratch this beautiful piece of jewelry - thus enabling an exquisite and permanently polished piece.
COBALT
Cobalt chrome jewelry looks more like white gold or platinum than the other alternative metals. It is just a little lighter in color than platinum and has the reflective look of rhodium plated white gold.
Cobalt Chrome is 4x harder than platinum, 5x harder than gold and 7x harder than silver.Cobalt Chrome rings have uncompromising strength, so not only are they highly scratch resistant, they should not shatter or crack. Like most alternative metals, Cobalt chrome bands are hypoallergenic and biocompatible. Cobalt Chrome has been used in the medical field for years, and the human body is compatible with implants using Cobalt Chrome.
Taken from the German kobold, which means “goblin ore,” cobalt was originally named by German miners. Because cobalt is not found alone in nature, it must be mined and reduced from other combined materials to gain the raw product. In most cases, cobalt is found during the copper or nickel mining process
Cobalt is an element number 27 on the Periodic Table. Cobalt jewelry employs the same cobalt chrome alloy from the medical industry which is used for its extreme strength and high resistance to scratching. Cobalt rings can be removed by cutting in case of any emergency just like other rings. However, like Titanium, the strength of cobalt makes it more difficult to cut off. Also like titanium, cobalt rings need to be cut in two places instead of one because they cannot be bent off the finger after one cut like precious metal rings.
DAMASCUS STEEL
Damascus Steel rings are exclusively produced by master craftsmen. These craftsmen mimic century’s old metalsmithing techniques believed to have originated in the Middle East. They alternate two types of Stainless Steel then twist and fold the metal by hand to produce vivid patterns making your Damascus Steel ring a unique masterpiece.
ELYSIUM
Elysium rings are the only rings in the world made entirely of Diamond. 18-23 carats in each ring. A diamond press fuses millions of diamond crystals together under one million pounds of pressure with temperatures exceeding 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. Eighteen years of development, $32 million in research, and seven patents culminate in this revolutionary product – the hardest, most scratch resistant wedding band on the planet. These rings are hypoallergenic, extremely light weight, comfortable, need no special care, and will never fade, dull, change color, or scratch. It will quite simply outlast and outperform every other substance in its class. Traditional materials scratch and mar easily and struggle to hold up in any working environment - even in the mildest of conditions. Diamond in Black is forever!
GOLD (YELLOW)
Gold in its pure form is too soft to be worn as jewelry, as it would not withstand the everyday stresses that jewelry is exposed to. Instead it is mixed with other metals such as e.g. copper, zinc, silver or cobalt, to make a stronger alloy. A pleasant consequence of alloying gold with other metals is that it the end result is often a different color - so white and rose golds are now cherished in their own right.
The Karat system is used by the jewelry trade to indicate the proportion of gold in an alloy, and therefore makes implications as to the quality of a ring. Gold is stamped 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K. 24K yellow gold is often thought of as 'pure gold' - it is extremely rare to get jewelry any purer than this as it would not be practical for the purpose. As 24K gold has only a small proportion of other metals, you might find the ring is much softer than other karats.
10k yellow gold is the lowest that can be termed gold. 10K gold is 37.5% pure gold, with other metals making up the other 62.5%. People often prefer to have a higher percentage of gold than this, as it makes the metal more precious, but 10K is favored by some as the high proportion of other metals makes it more hard-wearing. If you want a more long-lasting ring, and don't mind it being less 'pure', then 10K is the choice for you.
18K yellow gold is often used as a happy medium between the pleasant color and status of 24K, and the durability of 14K.
Over time, the ring may dull from contact with detergents, moisturizers and other chemicals - ideally you would take the ring off as needed to protect it from such substances. If it does dull then even a quick buff with a soft cloth should brighten it up. Gold will show scratches from every day wear and tear; the first few will be the most obvious but over time it will develop a more pleasing patina. It can be polished/refinished to remove any particularly deep scratches.
The scientific name for gold is Aurum, and its chemical symbol is Au - from Aurora, which means dawn.
Gold’s qualities make it ideal for the jewelry trade, and it is also indispensable in industries as diverse as video technology, lasers, medicine & for spacecraft. Golds many uses stem from its incredible malleability & ductility, meaning it can be shaped and stretched easily; and because it is resistant to chemical changes so it doesn't tarnish as easily as some other metals. Of course, the color as well as the physical properties means gold has been used for decoration throughout history and amongst many cultures.
The first suggestion of gold being used for decoration was in Eastern Europe in 4000BC. In 1500BC, gold was used for trade for the first time by the Ancient Egyptians, and was first legalized as money a thousand years later in China. Between then and now, gold has been linked to many historical events and discoveries. Discoveries of new sources of gold in North America caused several infamous gold rushes during the 19th century, which hastened the colonization of the American West. Scientific developments in France in 1927 lead to the discovery that gold can aid recovery from rheumatoid arthritis.
GOLD (WHITE)
White gold was first used in jewelry in the 1920s, closely following the popularity - and rarity - of the similarly colored platinum. Since the 1920's white gold has been fashionable in jewelry as a more affordable alternative to platinum. This trend is particularly evident in art deco jewelry. White gold is currently the most popular precious metal within the U.S. During World War II, the use of platinum and nickel were prohibited outside the military. Palladium white gold alloys then became standard, and after the war, the cheaper alloys containing nickel prevailed.
As gold is normally yellow, the white sheen is achieved by alloying the gold with another metal such as nickel, palladium, platinum or silver; and then plating the ring with rhodium. The more gold that is contained in the alloy, the more yellow the 'white' gold will appear in color, meaning that 18K white gold is naturally more yellow than 10K. This is why white gold rings are traditionally plated with rhodium - to get the whitest possible finish. Rhodium also helps protects the ring from wear and tear - if silver is used in an alloy, it could become tarnished by the air, and rhodium is more resistant.
Like anything, white gold will develop small scratches. These will be most noticeable at first, but will fade over time to a more pleasing patina. If the ring picks up any surface dirt, you can rinse this off under cold water and dry the ring carefully with a soft cloth. The shine of the ring may dull from contact with detergents, moisturizer and soaps so even a quick buff with a soft cloth will improve the appearance of the ring. The rhodium plating will wear off over time, but this should happen gradually and fairly evenly. The item can always be re-plated.
GOLD (ROSE)
Our rose gold rings are made of a beautiful alloy of gold and copper - there is no such thing as 'pure rose gold'. Rose gold wedding rings are ideal for those with a taste for tradition and vintage style but who want to be able to have a ring made just for them to their own specifications.
The 'purest' form that rose gold can come in is 18K - this contains 75% gold with the rest being mostly copper and perhaps a small percentage of silver. The exact proportions of each metal can depend slightly on each designer.
Rose gold wedding rings may, over time, the ring may dull from contact with detergents, moisturizers and other chemicals - ideally you would take the ring off as needed to protect it from such substances. If it does dull then even a quick buff with a soft cloth should brighten it up. Gold will show scratches from every day wear and tear; the first few will be the most obvious but over time it will develop a more pleasing patina. It can be polished/refinished to remove any particularly deep scratches.
Rose gold has little use outside of jewelry and decorative items. It was most popular in the Victorian era, and the trend for all things Vintage means that rose gold items are now popular again - even those newly made. Rose gold became popular at the start of the 19th century, especially in Russia; which has led to it being occasionally referred to as 'Russian gold', as well as sometimes being termed 'pink gold' or 'red gold'. Technically, though, red gold, pink gold and rose gold are different things, as they contain different proportions of copper.
As with other types of gold, 18K rose gold is softer than 10K. This is because 10K has less pure gold and a higher proportion of harder metals. The color of rose gold is affected by the carat, 10K being pinker in comparison to 18K which appears more yellow.
METEORITE
Our Meteorite rings are made entirely in the United States using authentic Gibeon Meteorite from Namibia, Africa. Gibeon meteorite is well known for its striking Widmanstatten lines. These lines are formed over millions of years to create a crystalline structure exclusive to meteorite, making your ring unique in its pattern and a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
MOKUME GANE
Mokume Gane, is a Japanese phrase that means wood grain metal. Mokume was developed during the 17th century among Japanese master metalsmiths to add adornments to the samurai swords of the elite warrior class. Artists forge together different precious metal layers, then twist and hand-work the metal into stunning patterns resulting in one-of-a-kind rings.
First made in 17th-century Japan, mokume-gane was used only for swords. As the traditional samurai sword stopped serving as a weapon and became largely a status symbol, a demand arose for elaborate decorative handles and sheaths.
Over time, the practice of making mokume-gane faded. The katana industry dried up in the late 1800s when the traditional caste system dissolved and people were no longer able to carry their swords in public. The few metalsmiths who practiced in mokume transferred their skills to create other objects.
By the twentieth century, mokume-gane was almost entirely unknown. Japan’s movement away from traditional craftwork, paired with the great difficulty of mastering the mokume-gane art had brought mokume artisans to the brink of extinction. It reached a point where only scholars and collectors of metalwork were aware of the technique. It was not until the 1970s, when Eugene Michael Pijanowski and Hiroko Sato Pijanowski brought mokume works to the United States that the art form re-emerged in the public eye. Today, jewelry, flatware, hollowware, spinning tops and other artistic objects are made using this material.
PALLADIUM
Palladium is a very rare metal in the platinum group of metals and looks very similar in color to platinum but is much less dense - this means it is a great choice if you want the steely white color of platinum but not the weight on your finger. It is now cherished for its lustrous silvery-white finish and because of its similar properties to platinum. Palladium is resistant to corrosion and will not tarnish in air. It is relatively hard-wearing. One of its best attributes is being a low maintenance ring as it does not require plating.
Palladium will show some scratches over time but the metal is displaced - not lost - so the metal will not wear down. As the ring ages, the small marks come together to form a patina that most people find pleasant. If you want to restore a ring to its original high polish or matt finish, we can re-polish/refinish it for you. Follow Platinum’s care suggestions.
Palladium, like platinum, is used in many industries including car manufacturing, electronics and dentistry. Today, more than half of these metals are used for catalytic converters in cars. Interestingly, a disruption to the supply of palladium in the late 20th century lead to car manufacturers panic buying the metal to stockpile, which drove up the price enormously. The price subsequently dropped, meaning the car companies lost a vast amount of money.
Palladium was discovered in the nineteenth century, and has very similar properties to platinum. It has been classified as one of the platinum group metals, which also includes rhodium, iridium and ruthenium. From this group, only palladium and platinum are rare enough to be traded on the world commodities market - and this is why you may see our prices change from week to week.
The word 'palladium' means a guardian or a charm to protect or preserve, so palladium rings are thought to be good luck for a lasting lifetime of marital happiness.
PLATINUM
Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable precious metals. Platinum’s rich, white luster enhances the brilliance and will maintain its shining luminosity forever, unlike other white metals which can, in time, turn yellow or tarnish.
Platinum belongs to the noble and precious metals family. It is resistant to tarnishing and discoloration due to chlorine and other chemicals. These factors, along with its strength and white luster, have made platinum an increasingly popular choice for jewelry, either on its own or as the setting for diamonds and other precious gemstones. Platinum jewelry does not fade or tarnish and keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum’s purity makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Platinum is rare, the coveted treasure of discerning individuals. Platinum is one of the strongest and most enduring metals. Some of the world’s greatest treasures are set in platinum, such as the Hope Diamond. It is also one of the heaviest, weighing 60% more than gold. The word platinum sometimes enjoys a cachet higher even than gold – witness all those platinum albums and credit cards.
Platinum jewelry is the perfect choice for a lifetime of everyday wear. Its density and weight make it a durable jewelry metal. Platinum does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly and securely. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, the scratch on a platinum piece is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost. In addition to its strength and density, platinum has another remarkable quality – pliability.
Platinum is a symbol of true love, purity, rarity and strength. These qualities of platinum are equivalent to the ideals of eternal true love. All over the world, engagement rings, wedding bands and anniversary rings made in platinum symbolize the everlasting endurance of love. Platinum is pure, an expression of integrity, a reflection of inner truth. Platinum’s purity endows it with a brilliant white luster. This helps to reflect the true radiance of diamonds.
Platinum has been used in jewelry only since the 19th century. So platinum engagement rings are fairly recent.
All the platinum ever mined would fit in the average living room. Rarer than many other metals, only about 133 tons of platinum are mined each year (compared to 1,782 tons of gold). it is said that if all the worlds platinum reserves were poured into an Olympic sized swimming pool, there would only be enough to cover your ankles. For comparison, all the world's gold reserves would fill three pools of equivalent size.
An asset like a platinum engagement ring needs the care and attention it deserves especially for its symbolic and sentimental value. Although platinum possesses excellent qualities, it is advisable to follow a few simple steps to help keep your platinum ring looking its best. You should avoid wearing it while doing manual work, at gym or playing sports or while working with abrasive substances. One ought to remember that platinum is not scratch proof. Similarly you should not wear it while handling strong acids. Store it in a fabric-lined box away from other pieces so that it does not get scratched. The patina (a satin sheen that develops on the surface of a ring produced by daily wear and tiny scratches) is considered by many to be a unique and often desirable attribute, however, If required, it should be polished once in a while by the local jeweler to restore its new look.
SERINIUM
Serinium is a beautiful, bright white, ultra-hard metal that is perfect for both men’s and women’s jewelry. Forged at extreme temperatures and pressures, this high-tech alloy will never oxidize, tarnish, change shape or change color.
Serinium is twice as hard as cobalt chrome, five times harder than titanium, six times harder than Platinum, and nine times harder than silver.
Serinium® is also the safest of jewelry metals, and can be quickly and safely removed in an emergency with commonly available tools, such as a standard ring cracker or even a pair of vice-grip pliers.
SILVER
Silver is a popular choice for jewelry because it polishes to a beautiful mirror finish and has one of the whitest and most reflective surfaces of metals. Another reason why silver is a favorite choice for jewelry is that it costs less than other metals - it is more abundant in nature and is easy to shape. It is also incredibly malleable and ductile; it is one of the few metals that can be beaten into delicate thin sheets of leaf or pulled to make strong wire.
People choose sterling silver for their wedding rings because of its high shine and low price. Silver is a soft metal that is easily scratched or tarnished. As individuals we all have very different skin types which don't react in the same way to substances that it comes into contact with. The acids will vary in your skin which can affect the speed at which the silver will tarnish when it comes into contact with you. What you eat, drink or smoke, and perfumes, soaps, hairspray, cosmetics you use can affect your skins acidity levels. For this reason the way a silver ring ages depends a lot on the wearer. You may find that your silver ring will cause an instant reaction, turning the skin underneath black/purple. The black that can be seen is the sterling silver oxidizing. Silver can be rhodium plated which protects it from the elements. Rhodium plating is used as a standard on all white gold to give it it's silvery white finish, as naturally white gold is in fact quite dull and yellowy. Rhodium is also hypoallergenic.
Cleaning cloths for silver are readily available in larger supermarkets. If you have a silver ring, it's worth buying a 'silver cloth' and rubbing the ring gently every now and then. If your ring becomes more severely tarnished, regular silver cleaning fluid should be able to remove the stains.
Silver's shine is what gave its name: (It was even named for its shine: Its chemical symbol 'Ag' is from the Latin 'argentum', which is in turn is from the Ancient Greek word 'arg?ntos' meaning 'white, shining'.)
There is a lot of silver mined every year, which is why it can be used in many industries other than jewelry - including dentistry, photography, medicine, electrical manufacturing and even in nuclear reactors. Even though it is important in so many different ways, man has used silver for decoration for thousands of years due to its unrivalled white metallic lustre and malleable nature. There is evidence to suggest that man learned to separate silver from lead as far back as 3000 B.C. Before the 1800s, possession of silver was limited to the very wealthy, but technological and economic developments from this time has led to silver being the popular - yet precious - commodity it is today.
STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel is slightly whiter than titanium and zirconium, but still has the contemporary metallic look and won't be quite as white as the precious metals such as platinum and silver. Stainless steel is a popular metal for use in wedding rings or dress/fashion rings alike because of its budget-friendly price. Other types of steel are either not as durable, or too tough for the craftsmanship required.
As well as being resistant to corrosion and tarnishing, stainless steel is relatively strong and durable. The metal is antibacterial and unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, although most grades of steel are not hypoallergenic - only surgical steel can be given this title.
Stainless steel is 100% recyclable, and a typical stainless steel ring contains 60% recycled product.
Your stainless steel wedding band can be kept at its best by frequent wiping with a soft cloth to ensure dust and dirt is removed regularly. Be gentle and follow the contours/grain to ensure moving the dirt doesn't scratch the ring. You can wash the ring in a mild soapy solution and dry carefully, again with a soft cloth. Stainless steel polish is readily available and can be used with care on jewelry.
Stainless steel is a generic term for a group of about 150 grades of steel, first used for cutlery but now widely used for steel in many industries.
TITANIUM
Titanium is an excellent metal for wedding bands. It is naturally silver-white in color, but it can be treated to different colors. Titanium is very light weight which is its hallmark feature and one of the reasons it is used so heavily in manufacturing. It resists scratching well, and it is both hypoallergenic and biocompatible. Titanium wedding bands are growing in popularity because they don't tarnish at room temperature and are very strong. Titanium is abundant in nature (which helps keep price down), but it is difficult to shape - the techniques needed to refine it enough to shape for jewelry have only recently been developed.
Titanium is stronger than steel yet lighter than aluminum. It comes in different grades which have different properties like hardness and ductility. There are more than 30 grades of titanium with Grade 5 (also called aircraft grade) being the most commonly used due to its incredible strength and workability. Titanium is widely-recognized for its versatility throughout many industries. You’re likely to find different grades of titanium in use from the golf course to the International Space Station, from high-rise skyscrapers to joint replacement. The lightweight strength of titanium means the metal has endless possibilities for use in our everyday lives.
Titanium rings are both hypoallergenic and biocompatible. Alloys of titanium are used in joint replacement meant to last several years inside the human body, so titanium has to not only be tough enough to survive the rigors over everyday use but be able to have long instances of contact to human skin and tissue without causing reactions. Titanium rings have no nickel in them. It is resilient against sea water and chlorine so is ideal for those who will want to wear their ring when swimming
Titanium rings can be cut off with a diamond-tip ring cutter, but because of their very high strength, Titanium rings are much more difficult to cut off than other metals. Also, while it is a hard metal, titanium may scratch and show signs of wear especially when compared some of the other super-hard alternative metal options like tungsten.
Overall, titanium is a splendid choice for a man’s wedding band. It is light weight, has the cool image of being made of aircraft metal, and is named after gods. It has a contemporary look, an affordable price, and comfortability making it an outstanding ring to wear every day.
TUNGSTEN
Tungsten comes from a Swedish term meaning “heavy stone.” Tungsten has a high melting point at an astounding 6,191 degrees Fahrenheit. Tungsten is rated at about a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness which is the same as Ruby or Sapphire and just below diamond (which is 10). Like these gems, tungsten is very scratch resistant and will not bend out of shape, but it will break if enough shock or pressure is applied to it. Tungsten is a dense metal which is what gives it the high quality feel of gold or platinum and also what led to its use in armor piercing tank ammunition. Tungsten rings cannot be resized.
Naturally tungsten carbide is a mute, grey color, but after being high polished with diamond paste and other finishing processes, the rings have a luster and shine like a mirror.
Tungsten as an element and an alloy has numerous uses. These uses span many fields from industry and military, to commercial and of course even jewelry with tungsten carbide rings, watches, pendants, and tungsten carbide bracelets. Tungsten might even be in your house, as the filaments in many household incandescent light bulbs are made from a small tungsten wire because of its ability to resist heat. Tungsten carbide does have some other novel uses. Tungsten carbide is used in the tips or ‘balls’ in ballpoint pens and in surgical instruments due to its wear resistance and precision grinding ability. Tungsten carbide is also used in many industries as extruding and drawing tools and masonry drill bits. Tungsten carbide is used in weights and counter weights. It is used instead of lead for bullets and shot and also as the weights for fishing.
Because they are so hard, Tungsten rings cannot be cut off by standard jewelry cutters, but they can be removed in case of an emergency. The trick is to apply pressure instead of trying to cut the ring. When the correct pressure is applied, the ring breaks into pieces. This can be done with specialized tools or standard vise grips. This is in fact better for the patient in many cases because tungsten’s hardness stops the ring from bending and damaging the finger.
Jewelry industry experts think that nearly 1 out of every 4 grooms-to-be will choose a tungsten carbide ring. As tungsten carbide rings gain in popularity, there are many unique styles and designs being made to choose from. Coupling these numerous styles with customizations such as laser engraving, stone setting, polishing, brushed finishes, and custom sizes and widths, the possibilities of finding a perfect tungsten carbide ring for him or her are near endless.
WOOD
You may not think of wood when you are considering an alternative metal for your wedding band, but today there are some excellent options that are definitely worth checking out.
Bloodwood makes stunning rings that are strong, scratch resistant, hypoallergenic, lightweight, and very comfortable to wear. Bloodwood comes from any of a number of hardwood trees with deep red timber. It is extremely dense and finishes to an exceptional, lustrous, red surface.
Burl wood rings are another creative use of nature and modern design. Burl wood is created when a tree growth has deformed. This fashions a beautiful, one-of-a-kind pattern which is very hard. Burl wood is often used in tobacco pipes due to its density, fire resistance, and distinctive patterns. It can be worked to a very smooth, polished, and durable finish which makes it great for everyday jewelry like wedding bands.
Many rings are made with inlaid bloodwood or burl wood. Titanium, cobalt, sterling silver, and other metals can be inlaid with wood to create a modern look with a touch of nature.
ZIRCONIUM
Zirconium is great for weddings rings because it is durable and has a strong resistance to corrosion - it is used in a lot of chemical industries where something is needed to contain or transport chemicals. It is so tough and chemically stable that it is used to build nuclear reactors! Zirconium is non-toxic - so much so that it is often used in fillings and other dental work - so is a great metal for those with allergies or sensitive skin..
Zirconium is a natural element which begins with a silver color. Zirconium is then heat treated and exposed which oxidizes it to a rich black color. The oxidization layer feels much like a ceramic and is as hard as sapphire. The black layer of Zirconium can be crafted to create two-toned designs, and it pairs well with gold and other materials for a very creative look.
Black Zirconium rings are shatterproof, but they can be cut off of the finger if necessary. However, like titanium and other alternative metals, it is much more difficult to cut a zirconium ring than a precious metal ring and two cuts are necessary since the material is so difficult to bend. Again like other alternative metals, Zirconium rings cannot be sized.
Zirconium is not a 'native metal', i.e. is not found in the earth in the form we see it in. Instead, it is obtained from other minerals, usually by purifying zircon with chlorine. This is an inexpensive process, another reason that zirconium can be so widely used. Its first practical use in history was as the first camera flash that didn't also create smoke - when burned it produces a bright white light. Zirconium is also used in fireworks - it burns as bright as magnesium. It has been used in the space, aeronautic, and even the medical industry.
Zirconium is not to be confused with Zirconia, as in Cubic Zirconia (commonly called CZ), which is a very different, man-made material.