Metal Education
CERAMIC
What is Ceramic?
Ceramic is made of titanium carbide, which is often referred to as high tech ceramic. It has many industrial applications and in recent years, has entered the fine jewelry market as an excellent alternative to precious metals. It has many attractive qualities that make it a great choice in jewellery design: it is scratch resistant, heat-resistant, fade-resistant, tarnish-resistant, durable, lightweight and hypoallergenic.
A Contemporary Look
Whether a ring, a bracelet or a set of earrings, ceramic jewellery offers an array of color, magnificent shine and modern style. Its flexibility allows for appearances that are sleek and graceful, or bold and edgy. Unlike precious metals, ceramic can be manufactured in any color and when polished, has a smooth, glossy finish.
Attractive Combinations
Depending on your personal style, you may want to consider combining ceramic with various accent materials including gemstones or other precious metals. Tungsten, stainless steel, pearls or diamonds can complement ceramic beautifully in any fine piece of jewellery. If you’re looking for a cut above the typical, ceramic jewellery is a brilliant choice.
Proper Care
Ceramic jewellery is highly durable, but there are still a few guidelines you can follow to ensure that your pieces are kept in optimal condition. To clean your ceramic jewellery, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth and dry it with a different lint-free cloth. Although resistant to so many other forms of damage, ceramic can be scratched so be sure to keep it in its original box or its own separate compartment in your jewellery case.
COBALT
About the Metal
Cobalt metal is commonly used in aerospace and medical applications but has recently become more readily available to consumers looking for a premier contemporary metal in fine jewellery. Cobalt is a basic natural element that when combined with other natural elements, becomes biocompatible and hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for wedding bands made to last a lifetime.
Color and Durability
Cobalt does not require any plating and is often compared to platinum because of its radiant white color. However, unlike platinum, cobalt is harder and scratch resistant. It does not chip, break, shatter or tarnish, making it a fine choice for everyday wear.
Proper Care
Just like platinum, cobalt jewellery can be polished on a regular basis to maintain its luster. Since it is a natural element, harsh chemicals such as chlorine and other household cleaning items can damage it. It is wise to remove your cobalt jewellery before coming in contact with any harmful substances and when you’re not wearing it, store it away in a cloth bag or its original box for maximum protection.
STAINLESS STEEL
About Stainless Steel
Stainless steel can be loosely compared to silver in terms of its appearance. For many, it is a superior precious metal due to the fact that it does not tarnish the way silver does. It is a hard, durable metal that is an increasingly popular choice in fine jewellery making today. Where other metals often contain an element of nickel (prone to causing allergic reactions in some people), stainless steel jewellery can often be made without it.
Its Unique Appearance
Stainless steel tends to lack the same shine and magnificent luster so commonly enjoyed in other precious metals, but for many, its more metallic, softer appearance is preferred. Particularly for men who are looking for something classy but not to flashy, stainless steel is a trendy choice.
A Smart Everyday Option
Although it isn’t commonly used in finer jewellery pieces with expensive gemstones, stainless steel suits the harshness of everyday exposures in the busiest of lifestyles. It can withstand the test of moisture, without tarnishing or corroding. It is a wise and affordable decision if you are on the market for a beautiful piece that still has a level of practicality.
Proper Care
To clean your stainless steel jewellery, soak it in warm water with soap. Gently rub it with a soft cloth, going with the grain and not against it. You can polish your jewellery with a special cloth and stainless steel polish. To preserve your stainless steel jewellery over time, keep it in its original box or a separate compartment in your jewellery box when you’re not wearing it.
TITANIUM
Light-Weight and Durable
In its purest form, titanium has a lustrous grey tone with extraordinary strength. It is just as durable and strong as stainless steel, but 45% lighter in weight. It is also a metal commonly used in military, aerospace and engineering settings, which only further proves its enduring characteristics.
Popular Jewellery Applications
In addition to its lightweight and durable qualities, titanium also holds its value, making it a popular choice for men’s wedding bands in particular. It is light enough to accommodate the active man’s lifestyle and robust enough to withstand the harshest of life’s daily exposures. Titanium is also commonly found in watches and other fashion jewellery pieces.
Proper Care
Throughout the lifetime of your titanium jewellery, you can easily polish it to renew its everlasting shine on a regular basis. Since it is a natural element, harsh chemicals including chlorine and other household cleaning products can damage titanium. It is smart to remove your jewellery before coming in contact with such substances and when you’re not wearing it, store it safely away in a cloth bag or its original box.
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE
A Hard, Durable Metal
Tungsten is a unique precious metal that is approximately 10 times harder than 18k gold and 4 times harder than titanium. This hardness creates beautiful, long lasting jewellery that is capable of holding its shape and resisting scratches and other damages.
Permanent Polish
Tungsten is the only metal that has the ability to be permanently polished, making it completely scratch proof. This makes tungsten a great choice for wedding bands and other everyday wear rings. Although it is not entirely impossible to scratch your tungsten jewellery, there is a good chance that these pieces last forever – scratch free. If you do scratch your jewellery, a repolishing process can easily be applied to restore your piece to its original radiance. Ice Gold Jewellery provides tungsten re-polishing services.
Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten carbide jewellery is a combination of two natural elements: 80% tungsten and 20% carbon, the latter of which is also alloyed with other metals. The end result of this powerful combination is a strong, highly scratch resistant, and hypoallergenic metal. Tungsten carbide rings and other jewellery pieces are ideal for those with active lifestyles, whether you are a professional landscaper, hiker or high performance athlete.
Proper Care
Tungsten’s natural qualities make it highly susceptible to harsh chemicals. Before coming in contact with any chlorine or household cleaning products, it is wise to remove your tungsten jewellery. When you’re not wearing it, store it away in a cloth bag or its original case. To clean your tungsten jewellery, soak it in warm water with non-detergent based soap and buf it with a soft cloth for best results.
