The Pros & Cons Of Titanium Jewelry

Let's talk about titanium jewelry, we will cover the pros and cons and hopefully open up new options for you. Titanium was discovered in 1791, by William Gregor. On the Periodic Table, Titanium is symbolized by Ti. Titanium has gradually made a name for itself over the years, being used in a multitude of products. Titanium has been used in everything from aircrafts to human medical implants. It wasn't until the late 70's early 80's that titanium made its way into the fashion industry.

Titanium is very light and extremely durable, making it an ideal candidate for wearable jewelry. It is now made into eyeglass frames, bracelets, watches, rings, and earrings. Because it is so light, wearing titanium is almost like wearing nothing. The first titanium pieces were not overly attractive, as they were gunmetal gray in color. Granted, that specific color has its niche in the world; most buyers would not be attracted to its bland appearance. As with most products, time and technology improved on it.

Pros

One of the pros to owning a titanium piece is that less people seem to have an allergic reaction to it than gold alloys. This could be because it is not as mainstream as gold or white gold pieces. If you have not been able to wear gold alloy jewelry, titanium may be a suitable alternative for you. As I have said before, titanium is extremely lightweight. This is great for people who don't wear jewelry because of its weight or bulkiness. You cannot begin to understand how light it is until you have touched it for yourself. I suggest walking into your local jewelry store and asking to see a 10mm gold wedding band and a 10 mm titanium band at the same time. Once you have one in each hand you will feel the difference. Another pro is the durability; it is virtually indestructible through normal wear. Unlike gold alloys that wear down over years of normal use, titanium will hold strong showing very little wear over the years. Selection is another pro for titanium, as the styles have improved immensely since the first consumer pieces available. Titanium is now set with stones, die cut, paired with gold or white gold; so finding a suitable/fashionable piece is no longer an issue. Titanium is not rare, so the price is very affordable. Affordable, stylish jewelry is not always easy to come by, so this is a great alternative for the budget conscious buyer.

Cons

Since titanium is so durable, it is very difficult if not impossible to resize. This is bad for someone whose weight fluctuates. This is also a big drawback if you are using it for a wedding band. If you plan to own the piece for your entire life, your weight will change for the better or worse over the course of years. It is not possible to make the rings smaller, but it is possible to buff some of the excess metal away from the inside to make is a tiny bit larger. If it is scratched, not all jewelry stores are equipped to buff out scratches. Minor issues with the ring will most likely require the piece be sent out for repair. Titanium can be cut off in an emergency, but it may take a little longer than a gold or platinum ring. Most all hospitals and jewelry stores are equipped with a tool to handle such emergencies.

You could go on about titanium for days, and still not say all that could be said for it. With any luck at all this will help you make an informed purchase. Check out Overstock.com for inexpensive titanium jewelry. Their styles are limited but very inexpensive; they have some small pieces to get your titanium collection started.

By Zakeri Young

Titanium Wedding Ring - More Popular Than Ever

Just think of how many people out there has a titanium wedding ring on their hand after a wedding. There probable are not many that you can think of, because the titanium wedding ring is now starting to get a lot more popular in the rings today. If took a couple of years for the titanium ring to become a little more popular for everyone but now that it is you will see that there are more and more people choosing them for their own wedding rings.

The titanium wedding ring is one of the rings that have a silver look to it but it will not fad in the contrast as easy as the gold ones and it will even outlast more of the gold rings that are out there to wear.

When you are looking into buying a titanium wedding ring you are going to be a little surprised to see that you are going to be able to get the style and size that you would love for your better half and your self to wear all the time. You are going to want to make sure that you will have some kind of an idea to what style you would like to have before you head in to the jeweler to look for a titanium wedding ring.

That way there, you will not need to be in there for hours looking at all the different styles that are out there for a titanium wedding ring. Plus then you will already have an idea to what you are looking for, so that you are going to have someone try to sell you another kind of titanium wedding ring that you know your better half will not like. You know that you want them to be happy with the choice that you have made.

When you think that you are ready to make the move to buy a titanium wedding ring you will want to make sure that, you are prepared with the decision that you are going to make about your titanium wedding ring. Then you will know what you want and what you are willing to pay for it so you do not get a big surprise when you are ready to check out with your new titanium wedding ring.

You may want to think about taking someone with you to help choose a titanium wedding ring so that you are not going to get too stressed out when it comes to the final decision about a titanium wedding ring. That could be a great big benefit to you if there is someone there to give you a little bit of support about the big decision on a titanium wedding ring that is going to end up changing your life for ever.

By Oddvar Nilsen

Titanium Rings Show their True Colors

When choosing a ring for that special someone or to complement your own new look, it's natural to feel limited to a small range of color options. The metals we're used to don't offer a lot of variety. Most rings are gold or silver or slight variations on those colors. Even if you've considered titanium rings, the new phenomenon making its way into the market, it's probable that those you've seen will all have had the same muted grayish tone. Brightening up rings with gemstones only does so much when the basic color of the band is the same. What can you do if you want to achieve a really different look?

A little known secret in the jewelery business is that titanium rings can in fact be made in a range of dramatic colors, shades you just wouldn't expect to see in a metal. This can be done without painting them and without weakening the metal at all. Titanium rings are known for their strength and colored titanium rings are no exception. Colored titanium rings are still very rare, but they're not particularly expensive to make, so you should find them affordable if you're able to track them down. They offer so many new options that you can choose or design a colored titanium ring to create a truly unique look.

How are colored titanium rings made? The secret is in the metal itself. Titanium can be oxidized to create a sheen across the surface of the metal. The refractive index of this oxidized layer is such that it can shine in a range of different colors. The secret to which color the metal takes on depends on the arrangement of the oxidized crystals at its surface. Like the metal itself, titanium oxide is hypo-allergenic, so titanium rings made this way won't lose their famous property of being safe and comfortable for anyone to wear.

Using the oxidizing process, titanium rings can be made in several different shades. Many people admire the subtle bluish-grey tones reminiscent of storm clouds or ultramodern industrial landscapes. These stylish pieces of jewelery retain the understated, sophisticated appearance of classic titanium whilst adding something just a little different to help you make a personal statement. Titanium rings can also be made in a brighter blue color which looks truly unusual and can contrast impressively with gold bands or etchings or carefully chosen gemstones.

Titanium rings are also available in a deep purple twilight shade which complements darker skin or dark clothes; and for a really striking look, you can even obtain titanium rings in black. Black titanium rings retain the shine of classic titanium rings and shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow across their dark surfaces. You can guarantee that rings like this will be noticed and remarked upon. There's no better way to provide the personal touch than by choosing a colored titanium ring.

By Henry Schweizer

10 Things You'll Want to Consider When Buying Your Wedding Ring

There is a certain criteria that applies to all fine jewelry, but there are even more tips you need to follow when selecting the wedding rings you plan to wear for the rest of your lives. Here are ten easy rules to follow when looking for, financing, and taking care of wedding rings.

1. Narrow Your Choices

Before setting out, make some preliminary decisions. After all, this is the most significant piece of jewelry that the both of you will own. Decide if you prefer yellow or white metal? Perhaps he would like a white metal, but all your jewelry is yellow gold. Consider a compromise. You can find beautiful wedding bands that contain both white and yellow metals. How elaborate do you want your bands? They can be simple in design or have colorful gemstones or diamonds.

2. Set Your Price Limit

Set your budget before you begin. When shopping, you will find that on average a set of simple gold bands will run between $125 and $200 a piece, while platinum will run from $400 to $600 each. The average of diamond wedding bands is $742.00, as related by the Diamond Information Center. If you choose to have your band engraved it will cost between $1 and $8 per character depending on font style and if it was engraved by hand or machine.

3. Allow Plenty of Time

Start shopping early so that you will have plenty of time to find the perfect ring before the wedding. You should give yourself at least two months. Take more time if you want a special custom item. You could wait up to 30 days for the engraving alone.

4. Think Practical

You should always keep your lifestyle in mind because there's no point to buying something, no matter how pretty it might be, if you won't be able to wear it. You need to remember that this band will be worn everyday. It is important to choose a ring that will fit in well with your lifestyle. People who enjoy sports or music, or make their livings that way, should choose rings that are slimmer and rounded on the edges. An engagement ring that cannot trap dirt is a better choice for someone who works with their hands. Invest in platinum if you are allergic to metal alloys. It is hypoallergenic for many people because of its purity.

5. Consider the Future

You can try something different but you should think about whether or not you will feel comfortable wearing in 20 years time.

6. Size Wisely

You should choose your wedding band sizes carefully since fingers can swell with heat, cold, weight gain, and hormonal changes.

7. Quality is Important

It is very important to check for quality. This applies to all jewelry purchases. The manufacturer's trademark and a quality mark needs to be inscribed inside the band of the ring. If your ring has more than one metal, there should be a quality mark for each.

8. Cleaning Your Ring

Cleaning a wedding ring is easy to do. For simple bands without stones, simply rub a ring with a soft, lint-free cloth or use a chamois. Dip the band in alcohol to remove grease. You can remove tarnish by soaking it in a solution of soap, water, and a few drops of ammonia, followed by a rinse of clean water rinse and drying with a soft cloth. If your ring has stones, you can clean it with a soft toothbrush or an eyebrow brush with some warm sudsy water. Soak it, brush, rinse, and then pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

9. Protect Your Investment

Protect your investment because all metals are vulnerable. Although you cannot avoid the occasional ding or scratch from ordinary daily life, you can avoid wearing your ring during extremely rough physical activities or when working with concentrated chlorine. Nicks or scratches will be most obvious on matte finishes, and will most easily occur on platinum, since it has a softer surface than gold. A jeweler can change the finish on your ring to restore its beauty.

10. Wear It

Keep your wedding ring on your hand. It is so easy to lose your ring. Pick one that you don't usually take off but if it is absolutely necessary to take the ring off, then you should put it in a safe place away from any sinks. Your ring is likely to get knocked down the drain either by you, a child or your playful pet. The worst possible time to take your ring off is when you're away from home. When traveling, rings are easily lost or misplaced. According to the insurance industry, you have the greatest chance of losing or damaging your wedding rings and stones during your first year of marriage.

By: Tiffany L’orfevre