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Monday, January 21, 2008

Titanium Wedding Ring For Men

Titanium has been on the market for ring bands for only a few years now. Yes, some of the bands combine gold with titanium. Titanium is an extremely light weight but quite durable and hard metal. Still, titanium will eventually scratch a little. Gold as an inlay or added "band" to the ring will wear much more quickly but may be more easily restored than can the titanium.

First, make sure you have white gold and not yellow. Both colors of gold are used as additions on titanium rings. To check, you need to clean any possible tarnish from the gold to see what the color truly is. White gold can turn a yellowish color but generally not so yellow as yellow gold. Use a paste of baking soda or a good jewelry polishing cloth of the type to remove tarnish and rub the ring. If white gold, the yellowish tarnish should come off and show the true color.

If not, likely the gold is yellow to start. Yes, the gold will look differently against titanium than with metals of other colors. I cannot say that white gold would look yellow since the rings I have seen look either yellow or white, depending on the original color of gold. White should look whiter, in my opinion.

Still, the white may be tarnished to a yellow tinge especially if of low karat such as 375. Generally, the gold applied to titanium in the usa is at least 14k, 585 and not the lower 9kt you mention. I assume you are in a British part of our world. If made for sale in the UK, 9kt is a possibility but generally the gold is of higher karat on titanium rings.

Refinshing the ring. Unfortunately, with the innate hardness of titanium even in jewelry alloys, home polishing will not restore the ring. You will need to visit a jeweler and ask that the ring be refinished. This is possible using aggressive buffing compounds on a motorized buffing machine. The compound must be aggressive to remove scratches from the hard metal. The jeweler must be quite careful to avoid too much polishing of the gold since that metal is much softer and could be buffed to a thin condition.

The jeweler will likely use a hard felt buffing wheel which will allow proper cutting of the titanium and is sharp edged enough to control the contact of the wheel with the gold section. The aggressive polishing is followed with finer compounds and lastly perhaps with a "green rouge" which will polish both the titanium and gold at the same time.

If the gold is white but tarnished to a yellow tinge, you may ask the gold area be plated with rhodium, a very hard and durable white metal often used to preserve white color in white golds. The jeweler may plate the gold only and avoid the titanium since you certainly do not want it to be plated with a white color!

This is done by masking or covering the titanium with a lacquer, red fingernail polish preferred since it is easy to see the start and end of the protective mask of lacquer. Then, using a simple electroplating bath, the rhodium is applied and will help keep the white gold white for a longer period of time. If after the first buffing to restore the luster, you may decide not to have the rhodium plate done. That is also a fine choice.

I am sorry there is not an "at home" remedy to repolish the titanium. The metal is simply too hard to polish without motorized buffing with the proper buffing wheel and polishing compounds. I do hope you enjoy the ring. Resizing is a problem and the titanium may be stretched or perhaps compressed about 1/2 finger size at the maximum. Cutting and adding or cutting to size down is not possible for the jeweler.

By Victor Epand

Titanium vs. Gold, Silver and Platinum

Either you are buying it as a gift or for yourself, there are many reasons why titanium jewelry can be a better choice than jewelry made in traditional precious metals like gold, silver and platinum.

Firstly, titanium is highly corrosion resistant and therefore does not tarnish easily. Especially for high-polish finished jewelry like gold and silver wedding band rings, it is expected that the jewelry will lose its color and shine over time. Even if they are stored properly in jewelry boxes or safe, the oxygen in the air reacts with the metals and turns the color. This process is of course accelerated if the jewelry is worn daily because the sweat combined with body temperature, acts as catalysts to the chemical process.

Also, titanium is hypoallergenic, which means that very few people have skin that is sensitive to it. People who are allergic to gold, silver or, more commonly, nickel, which is found in most gold and silver jewelry, don’t have to worry about outbreak when wearing jewelry made from titanium and its alloys.

A widely known property about titanium is its durability. It is this attribute that makes it perfect for active individuals who frequently engage in outdoor activities, even water sports. It is not uncommon that people find their gold or silver jewelry damaged, or even lost, after a day of exciting outdoor events. These disappointments can easily be avoided if titanium jewelry is worn instead. In addition, titanium has a high strength to weight ratio. In other words, although it is much stronger than gold and silver jewelry, even steel, it is much lighter and hence more comfortable to wear.

Finally, it is fashionable and trendy to wear titanium jewelry. The metal is relatively new in the fashion industry with many new ideas being applied on it. Titanium is so versatile that it not only can be combined with gemstones, gold and silver, engraved and finished like traditional jewelry; it can also be anodized to create eye-catching colored titanium jewelry.

Common titanium jewelry includes wedding band ring, men's titanium rings and men's titanium bracelets. There is every reason to explore the vast possibilities and express your personality in a whole different way

By Scott Murff

The Wonders of Titanium

Titanium Jewelry

Jewelry designers and wears prefer Titanium due to it's strength and brilliant sheen. Because of the strength, designers are able to create delicate designs never before thought possible with other metals.

The future concept of aesthetics lies in the use of Titanium, the material that has been proven to be the solution to future technology as well. Titanium is totally hypoallergenic, non-destructible, non-tarnishing and lightweight, while generating a richness of color that allows it to be combined with the traditional jewelry metals for exciting and subtle effects.

Titanium, isolated over two hundred years ago is the versatile metal widely used in aerospace industry. It was named for the Titans, the mighty race that inhabited the earth before the creation of man. Today titanium has been adapted to other uses. Its luxurious texture and look make it an innovative and eternal medium for today's jewelry. Titanium rings, titanium bands and titanium bracelets in unique and classic design are a definition of precision.

A luxurious effect can be made by combining titanium with silver. Many wedding and engagement rings are combined in this manner.

Titanium jewelry presents a look of tomorrow with the strength of eternity. Polished titanium resembles platinum with only a quarter of its weight and twice the strength of the hardest steel. Beautiful wedding bands can be created by combing titanium with precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum. Many couples have chosen to strengthen their wedding bands with titanium rings. Inspired by the Greek god of love these rings are lovingly made with sentiments engraved in the ring. Bracelets weaved with titanium display the rhythm and flow to the joining strands.

Titanium is especially popular among men. It's a symbol of strength and masculinity. It is not only extremely strong, but it's also very lightweight. And titanium looks fabulous! Titanium can be easily crafted and molded into different shapes. Color can also be added to titanium to give titanium jewelry an even broader range of designs and styles. Black titanium men's wedding bands are all the rage right now--and black titanium is simply stunning. Wedding rings fashioned from titanium can also come in a variety of finishes, from satin to matte to polished. Gems can easily be added to titanium to expand its design capabilities even more.

However, titanium is a costly metal. Be prepared to pay a premium on titanium jewelry because titanium is harder to mine than gold. But titanium jewelry is well worth the price for both its luscious beauty and endless style. Jewelry made from titanium will last a lifetime with minimal care.

By Hommer Titaniue