• Titanium maintains its shape and shine longer than other precious metals.Men's Titanium Bracelet image by Sujit Mahapatra from Fotolia.com
  
  Titanium jewelry is easy to take care of, maintains its shine and stands up to daily tests that softer precious metals can't. The element isn't as costly compared with other types of metals, such as platinum. Its attributes and strength also make it more common to see intricately designed pieces made from titanium than those made from silver or gold. Titanium holds its shape better than other metals and will never tarnish or distort.
  
  

Durability

• It's difficult to scratch titanium. The element is a 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which measures how easy or difficult a material is to scratch. (A diamond ranks at the top of the Mohs scale, at a 10.) Unlike gold or silver, which can scratch easily with everyday wear, titanium is the most durable material available for jewelry. The element is three times as strong as steel, which means it can withstand more rigorous wearing conditions than other metals. Those who engage in a lot of outdoor activities or who are a bit more harsh on their jewelry will find that a titanium piece lasts longer and remains in better condition through time. It is this strength that makes titanium a top choice for items in other industries as well, including aerospace, sports, medicine and engineering. Many surgical tools and body implants such as pace makers and artificial hips or joints, for example, are made of titanium. This strength is what makes titanium sometimes difficult to work with as a metalsmith but it also, in turn, allows for bolder designs. For example, tension setting rings, which allow a gemstone to sit between two sides of a ring as if it were suspended in midair, are frequently made from titanium. The element's tensile strength (the point at which it breaks) and elasticity allow for less movement in the ring and more security for the stone than other metals.
  
  

Allergies/Reactions

• Those with sensitive skin usually find they can easily wear titanium. Jewelry allergies usually occur because different metals are mixed to make an item harden--for example, nickel is commonly mixed with silver and gold. The skin reacts with these added alloys, leading to allergies or, in some cases, leaving a green or blackish tint on skin. Titanium needs no other alloys combined with it to harden into a piece of jewelry, and titanium on its own won't react with any substances the body emits, lessening the chance of a reaction. Titanium also does not react with sunlight or chemicals, which can normally cause some jewelry to tarnish. Titanium might diminish in shine (nothing a polishing won't fix), but it will never change colors.
  
  

Comfort/Style

• Titanium is a refractory metal, meaning it can be individualized to suit a person's style in ways other metals can't. While gold, silver or other types of metals typically remain the same color, titanium can undergo a process called anodization. Anodization involves heating or applying electricity to the titanium to release oxides from within the element, changing its color. What color the ring turns depends on how long and at what temperature or voltage the titanium heats. Anodized titanium comes in colors ranging from yellow, pink, red or rainbow to darker shades such as blue, purple and black. Titanium's lighter weight--it's only a bit heavier than aluminum--means it is more comfortable to wear, whether it's a pair of earrings, a larger necklace or a ring on a finger.