Nov 10

Written by:
11/10/2011 3:43 PM 

In the past few years a plethora of metals have emerged in the jewelry industry.  In the past, wedding rings were always made of gold or platinum.  The precious metals were used to symbolize the precious union of marriage. These days many men are looking to alternative metals because of cost.  Here are the down and dirty facts about many of the metals out there.

Platinum 

Pros: Pure, rare, enduring, hypoallergenic.
Cons: More expensive.  Heavier due to density.
Hardness: Vickers hardness, 549 MP
Corrosiveness: Non- corrosive.
Rarity:  30 times more rare than gold.
Strength: More durable than other precious metals. It is not subject to the metal wearing away with use or wear.

Appearance: Smoky gray. Low sheen.  Does develope a patina with wear which can be polished.
Other Uses: Catalytic converters, lab equipment, electrodes, dentistry equipment.

Titanium
Pros: Doesn't bend, scratch or dent.
Cons: Difficult to cut, almost impossible to resize.
Hardness: Harder than aluminum. Scratch resistant. Good toughness.
Corrosiveness: Non- corrosive.
Rarity: The ninth most abundant element on earth.
Strength: Strength of steel, the lightness of aluminum.
Appearance: Smoky gray. Low sheen.
Other Uses: Bicycles, golf clubs, machinery. 

Palladium
Pros: Less expensive than PT,
Cons: Not as well known.
Hardness: Moh's 4.75 Vicker's 461
Rarity: As rare as platinum.
Appearance: Whiter and lighter than Platinum.
Other Uses: Dentistry, watch parts, spark plugs. 

Tungsten
Pros: Only harder material is a diamond.
Cons: Heavy, very hard, but brittle(Could Crack if dropped.)
Hardness: Moh's 7.5 Vicker's 3430
Corrosiveness: Excellent corrosion resistance.
Rarity: Most abundant of the refractory metals.
Strength: One of the highest tensile strengths of all metals.
Appearance: Steel gray, white - Virtually scratch resistant, and very unlikely to bend. Can shatter or break with extreme impact.
Other Uses: Golf clubs, helicopters, lighting. 

Stainless steel
Pros: Low cost, durable, hypoallergenic.
Cons: Man-made, lacks rarity.
Hardness: Moh's 5-8.5 240 Vicker's
Corrosiveness: its very name indicates it is less likely to corrode or stain than steel.
Rarity: lacks the rarity of the noble metals.
Strength: Good tensile strength
Appearance: Steel gray, white. Scratch resistant.
Other Uses: Cutlery, surgical instruments, the pinnacle of the Chrysler Building

Sterling Silver
Pros: Beautiful noble metal, great value.
Cons: Many people are allergic to earring posts of 925. Tarnishing.
Hardness: 65 Vicker's
Corrosiveness: Not very reactive, but as % of silver decreases in alloy, tarnishing
increases.
Rarity: Rare, with increase-ing rarity in the future.
Strength: Good tensile strength
Appearance: Bright, white metal.
Other Uses: Coinage, cutlery, tableware, electrical switches and contacts. 

14 K Yellow Gold
Pros: Beautiful metal, great endurance
Cons: Pits when exposed to certain chemicals.
Hardness: 125- 165 Vickers
Corrosiveness: Non-corrosive
Rarity: Rare, with increase-ing rarity in the future.
Strength: Good tensile strength
Appearance: Golden yellow.
Other Uses: Jewelry and watches. 

18 K Yellow Gold
Pros: Beautiful metal, great endurance
Cons: Not the perfect choice for some due to softness .
Hardness: 85-125 Vicker's
Corrosiveness: Non-corrosive
Rarity: Rare, with increase-ing rarity in the future.
Strength: Good tensile strength
Appearance: Intense golden color.
Other Uses: Jewelry and watches.