Moon Jewelery earrings in titanium with silver and gold-plated brass elements. Photo: E. Fedko Over the past few years, titanium jewelry has become especially popular. Both men and women appreciate the practicality of this durable metal.
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Titanium jewelry is primarily produced by sophisticated machines that carefully cut and separate perfectly formed pieces. Titanium jewelry can include diamonds and other gemstones, but in general, titanium's hardness limits the choice of settings the metal can hold.
About titanium jewelry
When titanium was first discovered at the end of the 18th century, it was named after the great mythological titans - there could hardly have been a more appropriate name for such a strong and durable metal. At the time, working with such a durable material was not possible, so jewelry designers did not work with titanium until the late 1990s.
Rings were the first jewelry to be made from titanium, and new technologies were tested for metal engraving and gemstone setting. The success of titanium rings has created an opportunity for jewelry designers to experiment with necklaces, bracelets, and other pieces.
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Design ideas
After choosing the material, attention turns to the appearance of the ring. Modern jewelry offers a huge palette of different models, and newlyweds can choose based on various signs and traditions, as well as their own aesthetic taste.
Matte or glossy, with a single large stone or a scattering of small ones, with engraving or spraying - there are incredibly many interesting solutions. When choosing a specific piece of jewelry, it is worth considering that wedding rings are never taken off, so the design should fit the entire wardrobe, both everyday and festive , and also look appropriate on both a young and an old person.
On the other hand, traditions are changing. Some couples buy new rings for their anniversary, which allows them to choose an unusual design for their wedding. Titanium is an extremely convenient alloy in this regard, because you can play not only with the shape and decor, but also with the color of the ring itself.
Classic without stone
Minimalistic and elegant rings, round or square in cross-section, look great without patterns or additional elements. According to tradition, it is believed that any roughness on a wedding ring leads to quarrels, so the jewelry must be smooth.
A ring with a simple design is easier to combine with any style of clothing ; it is not too striking, but at the same time adds an aristocratic touch to the overall image.
Idea! Matte options without decoration look laconic and elegant, while they contain notes of tenderness, especially if you choose a pastel shade.
Smooth rings are easier to care for, and polishing only makes titanium brighter without reducing the weight of the product or thinning it.
With pattern
The pattern on a titanium ring is applied either by sputtering or engraving, or by inserting other metals.
An interesting Japanese technique is mokume-gane, in which materials are not fused, but seem to be glued together. The resulting abstract patterns will appeal to lovers of elegant and unusual jewelry. Of course, the cost of such an accessory will increase significantly compared to purely titanium analogues, but the appearance will be absolutely luxurious.
Platinum, gold of various colors, and silver are used as sputtering. Noble metals become less capricious from the proximity of titanium, but such products will still be inferior in properties to the pure alloy.
With stone
If you want to get a luxurious piece of jewelry, then an excellent option is inlay with a precious stone. It can be a single large crystal of one shape or another or a scattering of small pebbles.
The diamond edge looks interesting, creating charming shimmers with every movement of the hand. This solution is especially popular when using black titanium - the appearance of the accessory is elegant and at the same time unusual.
In addition to diamonds, other precious and semi-precious stones are used - sapphires, emeralds, rubies, pearls. Be sure to study the properties of the selected stone, as each of them requires certain care.
If titanium is not afraid of any vicissitudes of fate, then an emerald is quite capable of being broken or scratched from an awkward blow, pearls do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, and sapphire darkens. You can also pay attention to semi-precious stones - malachite, rock crystal, amethyst, amber.
Remember that each stone has its own energy and superstitions associated with it - take this into account. You can also select a crystal according to your zodiac sign.
With enamel
If the protective properties of enamel for ultra-strong titanium are completely useless, then, from an aesthetic point of view, such decor looks interesting.
There are two ways to work with enamel. Simpler, but less durable cold and more expensive hot. In both cases, it is possible to create unexpected and interesting patterns - good craftsmen are able to convey a detailed picture with the smallest details, since the palette of enamel colors is almost limitless. And since titanium rings are usually quite wide, the canvas for a unique pattern allows the imagination of the newlyweds and the jeweler to run wild.
Peculiarity! In the case of titanium rings, enamel is a more convenient method of decoration than engraving, so it is better to apply inscriptions or other patterns using it.
No less interesting are the thin lines of enamel running through the ring in a parallel or intersecting line. This laconic design is most often preferred by men. In this case, it is better to add precious stones not to the enamel itself, but to the space around it, so as not to overload the composition.
It is worth understanding that enamel is durable, but still glass, which in its strength cannot be compared with powerful titanium. Therefore, if you choose such a decoration, you will have to handle it much more carefully than with a pure alloy and protect the surface from impacts.
Unusual color palette
Butterfly ring: titanium, white gold, diamonds. Photo: E. Fedko
Titanium and silver bracelet by Jean-Yves Nantel. Photo: E. Fedko
When titanium is heated or exposed to electric current, the metal releases oxides and changes color. Depending on the temperature and length of time titanium is heated, colors range from yellow and pink to red, purple and even black. Thanks to this, we can admire jewelry of various fantastic shades, which arose not due to coloring, but generated by the properties of the metal itself.
Who are they suitable for?
Such material will appeal to self-confident people who keep up with the times and create their own unique traditions. Love, as eternal as the alloy used for spaceships, is certainly quite a beautiful symbol.
Titanium will be appreciated by young people who want something special, for example wearing sophisticated rings with a purple or black gradient.
A lightweight but impressive-looking alloy is ideal for men who want to emphasize their unbending character. On fragile women's fingers, such rings also look fabulous, regardless of the width and decor.
Titanium is an excellent option for newlyweds who do not want to overpay , because in this case budget does not prevent the product from maintaining excellent quality.
Biocompatibility
Even in its natural form, titanium is biocompatible with almost all types of human skin. This means that almost anyone can wear titanium jewelry without fear of rashes and other allergic reactions of the body. Often, even those people who are intolerant to gold or silver products can wear titanium without any problems.
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The main reason is that, unlike other precious metals, titanium is not mixed with other alloys and metals that can cause allergies. Titanium exhibits its best qualities in its “pure form”, so it is suitable for almost every person.
Recommendations
The titanium ring must be the right size, since it is impossible to melt it down. To avoid making a mistake in your choice, try trying on the jewelry twice - in the morning and in the evening, to remove the changing variable of swelling.
If you feel any discomfort, it is better to look for other options. In the end, you are choosing not just an accessory, but an eternal symbol of your love, which cannot be removed, but getting health problems because of it is extremely imprudent.
To make the ring look perfect, consider the size and shape of your fingers and wrist:
- Fragile long fingers are best combined with graceful airy shapes;
- On thin fingers with narrow wrists, wide rings are perfect, but in this case you should carefully choose the appropriate design;
- Short and thick fingers look better in classic rings with a width of 4 to 6 mm;
- If you choose a ring with stones, mother of pearl and enamel, remember that all these elements are more fragile than the base metal. They are susceptible to negative environmental influences, and therefore you should treat the product more carefully than a purely titanium ring.
Idea! Paired rings that have an overlapping pattern or two halves of the same inscription are very romantic. No less popular are completely identical jewelry, differing only in size.
Availability of purchase
“Wings” earrings: titanium, white gold, diamonds.
Photo: E. Fedko When jewelry designers began experimenting with titanium in the late 1990s, it was almost impossible to find this metal in jewelry. Today, titanium jewelry is quite popular and is available in many jewelry stores. Information about the benefits of this metal has been actively disseminated, and today many brave buyers choose titanium jewelry.
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General information and history of origin
Opened around the end of the 18th century. In those days, they didn’t know how to work with metal and had little idea where it was best to use it.
Refractory titanium got its name due to its properties. The ancient Greeks used this name for deities with enormous power. There is another version of the origin of the name. According to her, the metal began to be called in honor of the queen of fairies, Titania. She was practically weightless, “airy”.
It is believed that the discovery belongs to the clergyman from England W. Gregor. His attention was attracted by sand of an unusual, dark shade. The priest managed to isolate a white powder from it and gave it the name “menakin”, in honor of the place where it was found.
A few years later, in 1795, a chemist from Germany isolated white powder from rutile. It was he who called it titanium . 2 years after his discovery, the scientist came to the conclusion that the element he isolated from rutile - menakin (menaken earth) and the white powder are oxides of the same metal, called “titanium”.
Titanium is one of the most common elements of the periodic system. The scope of its application is also wide - the metal is used in jewelry and even in watchmaking, in shipbuilding, including aircraft.
Chemical, physical, optical properties of titanium, classification
It is an opaque metal with a silvery-white color. Titanium is characterized by a metallic luster. The element is refractory, which allows it to be used to create parts for watches, equipment, spaceships, and medical instruments.
Modern space stations can contain over 20 tons of titanium alloys. Titanium ignites easily and is explosive.
Below is detailed information about other properties of the metal:
Conclusion
What can be concluded?
Titanium is tasty (food without any aftertaste), durable, expensive, convenient, show-off. It’s hard to judge exactly how long titanium cookware will last, but it’s certainly longer than aluminum – there are few options for it. It can be washed with sand and powder, it can be folded inside the cylinder without scratching the anodizing (there is none), and it can be subjected to other tests. In traveling mode, everything always comes together in a hurry and anyhow, so for me this “stress resistance” is a big plus - the dishes will forgive some carelessness. Stainless steel also forgives negligence, but the weight is completely different. In nature, I now always have hot tea and food: previously I had to either carry a thermos (with a very limited supply of “stale” tea) and eat dry meat sandwiches. Or (at best) subsist on sausages from a stall on wooden skewers over a fire. Now, due to its compactness and low weight, I always have a minimal lunch set with me and I can organize an almost complete snack anywhere - on a bike or ski trip, while fishing or kayaking. And brewing fresh tea in nature in about three minutes (even with the BRS-3000T) is absolutely priceless: crawling out of a cool river and sipping a fresh cup of tea - there is nothing better for your health and mood. Expensive, and I’m not a tourist at all...
If you are far from tourism, but sometimes spend time in nature, I recommend that you still try to assemble a minimal set (BRS-3000T + stainless steel cup from a local store + gas cylinder from Decathlon or another travel store).
And the world of hot dishes will open its arms to you: put the cup directly on the burner, boil water for a couple of minutes, add rollton, crumble the sausage and voila. The envy of others is guaranteed. Prices for all mentioned items constantly fluctuate, and during the time between ordering and writing the review they changed both up and down five times. If you decide that “titanium” is what you need, don’t rush to order, monitor the price. And stock up on points. I wish everyone to be in nature more often, successful hikes and bon appetit!
Field and production
Titanium deposits are located throughout the planet. Russia is a country famous for its richest deposits. Titanium ore is mined mainly in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and on the right bank of the Angara.
20 deposits have been recorded. Research work continues to this day.
Mining is also carried out in:
- China;
- Brazil;
- Japan;
- Australia;
- India;
- South Korea.
A pure sample was obtained only in 1925. The discovery is associated with the names of A. van Arkel and I. de Boer. The amount of titanium in the earth's crust exceeds the content of other metals several times.
