Titanium

As far as the name goes, Titanium was not always known as it is today. Originally when it was discovered some 200 years ago in England, it had been given the name of "Menachite". Later it had been renamed titan, referring to the mythological Greek giants known as the Titans. Practical use of titanium began in 1948, when it's commercial production started in the United States, using the magnesium reduction process. In the next 50 years titanium found a wealth of industrial applications, primarily in the aerospace industry.

Titanium being the 9th element in the Clarke number is the 9th abundant in the crust of the earth.  Titanium is very Anti-Allergenic. It is completely neutral to the human body and is frequently used in the medical field to replace hearts valves and bones. Because of it's neutrality it is also excellent for the use of jewellery. It does not cause irritation or discoloration on the skin, making it a perfectly suitable material for the most sensitive skin types.

The grade of Titanium most commonly found in jewellery would be "Aircraft Grade". Aircraft grade generally being around 90% pure titanium, and 10% alloy (which may include aluminum and vanadium, for example). Aircraft grade titanium is still anti-allergenic, and an amazingly strong metal, much stronger than even steel. It has a small specific gravity (weight/volume ratio) which is half as low as that of copper, and about 60% that of iron. To top it off, titanium also offers a very high resistance to both corrosion and heat. 

This being said Titanium is obviously a superior metal in many ways. Does this superior metal have any downsides? From a jewellery perspective at least when it comes to rings, it just may. Being such a strong metal there is very little that can be done to a titanium ring that is stuck on a swollen finger. If a Titanium ring is to be sized our goldsmith's here at Independent Jewellers cannot do it - they simply don't have the powerful equipment that is needed. That being said, only the factories that made the rings have this equipment, so how does that help when your finger is swollen with a ring stuck on it?  For this reason and for your safety, we don't recommend titanium jewellery to those whose hands have a tendency to swell up (for example, those with arthritis).