Titanium Earrings

Latest craze - titanium earrings

Titanium, otherwise known as “space age metal” is the latest metal to be used in making jewellery like earrings, necklaces and rings. It is very strong (even stronger than steel), low density, corrosion resistant to aquilegia, sea water, chlorine. It is lustrous and resembles silver in its appearance – the reason why it has gained importance as a precious metal. Titanium is also alloyed with other metals like vanadium, aluminium, iron etc., to make it more light, stronger and durable. It is ideal for auspicious occasions like wedding or marriage anniversary. Jewellery is what makes a wedding unforgettable. Titanium jewellery when complemented with diamonds looks simply astounding. Sapphires are a less expensive option for a diamond, which looks equally great on titanium. They are cosy, fashionable and diamonds are what make this jewellery so appealing and tantalising. Men's titanium bands are also available and the good thing about them is that – they are skin friendly and hypo allergic.

Titanium is the 9 th most abundant element in nature. Pure titanium is only as strong as raw steel, but is 45% lighter. It has the highest weight to strength ratio compared to any metal. It is better for a person who regularly swims in chlorinated water of swimming pools. Silver, bronze and brass is easily corroded. Titanium provides a better alternative.

Titanium also displays a fine property of anodization, which is not present in other metals. By virtue of this property, titanium changes colour along with the level of oxidation. This is a unique property that only titanium has, and is used in making some fine coloured fancy jewellery.

Earrings are one of the oldest jewelleries that we have seen. It started maybe about 3000 BC in Asia . Initially it was of two formats –

•  Simple hoop earring

•  Elaborate pendant earring

Several varieties of non pierced earrings also exist -

•  Clip-on earrings: the clip is a two piece component. The two pieces close around the ear lobe in place, due to mechanical pressure. It has existed much longer than any other variety of non-piercing earrings.

•  Magnetic earrings: these earrings look much like studded, pierced earrings. Actually a magnet holds the earrings in place.

•  Ear cuff: it is usually a curved piece of metal that is pressed to the helix of our ear. They actually stay in place by pinching the ear.

•  Spring hoop earrings: these are almost indistinguishable from normal hoop earrings. They use a spring to keep the earring in place.

•  Stick-on earrings: they use skin friendly adhesive to stick the earring to the ear. They are usually considered a novelty item.

•  Ear hook earrings: these earrings are like a fish hook that dangles down from the whole ear.

•  The hoop: a thin hoop is made to hang from just inside the ear. Other dangles are hung from it.

•  Ear screws: it is screwed on to the ear lobe. It has an advantage of precision adjustment – for those who find clips too painful.

There are a wide variety of piercing techniques used. Today most people pierce their ears at speciality jewellery stores or at accessory stores using special instruments called piercing guns, or at home using disposable ear piercing instruments. Initially the healing time for a earring piercing takes about 6 – 8 weeks, but doctors actually recommend not to take off the piercing for at least 6 months and in many cases about a year. Cartilage piercing takes 2 – 3 times more time than ear lobe piercing. There are minor risks of infections, but correct procedure is quite effective against infections.

The design of earrings also played an important role to the introduction of titanium. Queen Victoria wore a kind of earring called the “girandoles” which was actually a heavy pendant type earring. It was heavy with substantial amount of gold and precious stones. Because they were heavy, the people who wore these earrings suffered from elongated earlobes. These same earrings made of titanium were much lighter and still having all the benefits of using titanium. Titanium was much easily mouldable yet it was hard, durable and having a silver lustre.

The oldest earrings that were found were dated back to 2500 BC. 2000 BC jewellery was also excavated from Crete. People then believed in the custom to bury the jewellery with the dead. In 2 nd century Roman Empire also saw the diverse use of earrings. During the middle ages, earrings lost some value due to the use of headdresses. In Egypt a new fashion started which was called earplug, which fitted into a widely stretched hole in the ear lobe. In 16 th and 17 th centuries with the change of hairstyles, earring fashion also changed many times.

Although earrings were always popular with the wealthy people, poor people adopted their own styles of less elaborate inexpensive jewellery. 20 th century revolutionised the jewellery fashion along many other things. Different designs for different occasions became available. Women started wearing earrings on a daily basis. With greater designs and choices women also started making collections.

Titanium gave greater opportunity to make jewellery along with traditional metals. This is because of its inherent – lightness, durability and lustre. Titanium also has a property of changing colours with oxidation. The colours range from golden glow to white and deep blue. A classic example is the “Guggenheim Museum Bilbao”. This gives up vast opportunities to design ornaments using titanium.

Titanium is very much suited for jewellery as it is highly compatible with human body. But it tends to irritate fresh piercings. Black titanium and other varieties are slowly becoming very popular due to its scratch resisting abilities. Titanium performs better when given to weathering in outdoor activities like swimming and other work places. It can be combined with inlays of gold and silver. It is unique and unusual and so attracts a lot of attention and can be a special gift to someone.

It is the highest quality in most desirable fashions of contemporary jewellery at the most reasonable and affordable prices.