Titanium
We use chemically pure grades one and two titanium, which are the purest forms of the metal. Unlike the 6/4 alloy or aircraft-grade titanium, we can resize the ring if ever needed and the ring can be more easily cut off in an emergency. Our metal meets ASTM specifications for CP grades one and two: B265.
Titanium is the “other white metal.” While gaining recognition and popularity in jewelry and consumer products such as eyeglass frames and watches, it takes a specialist to create a titanium ring. Why? Because it’s so difficult to work with! Most jewelers and other metalsmiths avoid it because its strength makes it hard to cut and form, and you can’t weld or solder it in an ordinary atmosphere.
Titanium doesn’t irritate the skin. Even 18 karat gold can irritate sensitive skin. Titanium is completely inert, not alloyed with anything such as copper or nickel which are found in karat golds (9, 14, 18, and 22 karat). It is used widely in the medical field to replace heart valves, hips, and other body parts. Niobium is equally inert.
Titanium is more durable than precious metals. In fact, it is three times stronger than steel. We’ve made replacement rings for several people whose jobs made heavy-duty demands on their hands and caused them to wear out their gold rings.
Titanium is lightweight. Some people like the heft of solid gold or platinum. If you’re one of those, you probably won’t choose titanium. But lots of people would prefer to feel as though they’re wearing nothing on their finger. Titanium is about half the weight of steel.
Niobium
Niobium is another element, similar to titanium in coloring ability, but more malleable. It is too soft for an entire ring but is suitable for deep textured inlays. It is just as safe to wear as titanium.
Gold
We use 14k, 18k, and 22k yellow gold, as indicated under specific styles. Rose gold and palladium are available upon request.
White gold is available in all the rings that show yellow gold.
Platinum
The platinum we use is 95% pure. For added strength we weld rather than use solders to complete the inlays. We never use the “585” alloy, which contains only 58.5% platinum.