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If you’ve been shopping for wedding bands, you may have seen titanium as a more affordable metal choice than platinum or gold. This abundant metal is increasing in popularity for use in rings (especially for men), but is titanium jewelry worth it? I’ll give you all the pros and cons of titanium rings to help you decide.
Also, although titanium rings are affordable, they’re not as easy to find as the more classic options of gold, platinum, and silver. So I’ve scoured the web to give you the best online jewelry stores for purchasing titanium rings. I’ve also included a guide on titanium body piercing jewelry and where to find some amazing collections.
What Is Titanium?
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Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It’s classified on the periodic table as a transition metal and is one of the strongest naturally occurring metals on Earth (along with tungsten). It’s also very lightweight, making titanium alloys ideal for aircraft, medical equipment, artificial joint replacements, tennis rackets, and many other uses.
Titanium is abundant in nature, which explains why titanium rings are affordable, as opposed to precious metals like platinum and gold. However, it’s typically more a bit expensive than silver because the extraction process is more time-consuming. Titanium’s natural color is grayish-white, and the finish can be altered through polishing, buffing, and brushing methods to make it more lustrous.
Black titanium is a popular option for men’s wedding bands. Jewelers use many different proprietary methods to chemically alter the natural color of titanium to black. However, make sure that any black titanium ring you’re considering isn’t coated with a black plate. These plates will chip away over time.
Titanium Rings: Pros And Cons
Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of titanium rings can help you decide if this metal is a good fit for you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Titanium isn’t malleable, so ring resizing is limited |
| Durable – they’re tough to dent | Limited styles and designs for engagement rings because the metal is so difficult to shape and mold |
| Lightweight | Not as shiny as other metals |
| Hypoallergenic, making it an excellent choice for people with skin sensitivities or allergies | Less valuable than other fine jewelry |
| Doesn’t tarnish, rust, or corrode, even in saltwater | May be difficult to cut off in emergency situations |
| More scratch-resistant than precious metals | |
| Requires little maintenance or cleaning | |
| Multiple finishes and colors available |
Titanium Rings For Men And Women
Titanium can be a great budget-friendly and attractive alternative to traditional wedding bands for both men and women. However, most titanium engagement rings are quite modern and simplistic in style. If you’re looking for more than a basic engagement ring and want that wow factor, you may be better off going with gold or platinum. Still, see my reviews below to find some simple yet stunning titanium engagement rings for women.
Where Can I Find Titanium Rings For Women And Men?
Titanium rings are far more popular for men than women, but several reputable online jewelers carry both. I’ve spent many hours researching your best online options, so here are some high-quality brands to consider. Some offer both men’s and women’s rings, while others only carry men’s.
TitaniumRings Review
I found TitaniumRings to be hands-down the best site for the variety of rings, settings, and pricing you can find — especially for women’s engagement rings and wedding bands (with over 120 different offerings). They also carry over 250 different titanium rings for men. All are stylishly elegant (compared to many other titanium rings) and are made from U.S. aircraft-grade titanium.
They have plenty of matching bands for couples, wedding and engagement sets, and an excellent customizable selection for many individual rings. For example, with the Helena Solitaire Engagement ring, you can choose your ring size and a polished, satin, or black finish. You can also go with the standard cubic zirconia or upgrade to several certified lab-created diamonds or a certified natural diamond.
TitaniumRings also gets excellent customer reviews on wedding-related sites such as The Knot and Wedding Wire. They offer a lifetime guarantee on all of their rings, which are manufactured in the U.S. They’re also known for fantastic customer service.
Vansweden Jewelers Review
From elegant engagement and stackable diamond wedding rings to a selection of over 300 women’s, men’s, and unisex bands, you can find some incredible titanium designs at Vansweden Jewelers. The wedding bands come in a wide variety of alloyed colors, embedded gemstones, and inlays (silver, gold, meteorite, antler, etc.).
I liked how easy it was to find what I was looking for. The site has excellent filter tools to help you find your ideal style, size, and price range. What’s more, Vansweden offers a lifetime guarantee and size exchanges for life. If you’re into more traditional designs or simplicity or want to go a bit more modern and bold, be sure to check out this high-quality jeweler.
Larson Jewelers Review
Larson Jewelers is certainly a site not to be missed for men’s titanium rings, with over 175 styles to choose from. I found the designs to be some of the most unique I’ve seen. You can find everything from bands with black diamond settings or mother-of-pearl inlays to different colored alloys or more simple, modern styles.
Larson only carries one titanium diamond engagement ring style, but I think it’s elegantly simple, which is my taste. I found the site easy to navigate, and it has excellent filters so you can find the band you want by finish, ring width, price range, and more. Larson has competitive pricing, fantastic customer service, and a lifetime guarantee.
James Allen Review
James Allen is a popular, high-quality online jeweler that gets amazing reviews for their products and customer support. While this site only has about 25 titanium band choices for men, the craftmanship is stellar. The priciest options are a black titanium band with channel set diamonds and two bands with 14K gold edges.
However, James Allen carries bands to fit any budget with attractive designs, polishes, and a few adorned with unique patterns. The only downside with this online store is the lack of choices. Still, you may just find the perfect band for your taste. James Allen also offers a lifetime guarantee and 30-day returns.
Looking For Titanium Body Piercing Jewelry?
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My adult daughter has multiple body piercings – nose, septum, belly button, etc. — but she has very sensitive skin. After some not-so-pleasant experiences with other metals, she was frustrated, to say the least. So I went into research mode and discovered that titanium makes an excellent option for body piercing jewelry because it’s 100% hypoallergenic. In fact, the most common metals used for initial piercings are titanium and surgical steel.
I also found some excellent online stores you may want to consider for some unique, high-quality, and implant-grade titanium body piercing jewelry. These sites carry all of your basic body piercing needs, including barbells, stems, nostril screws, and more — along with many striking jewelry enhancements.
My daughter’s tip: Etsy is one of the best sites to find some really knockout pieces by independent artisans. On Etsy, BodyClickers is a must (see my review below), and check out MissPunkJewelry and TSMetalBodyJewelry.
BodyClickers Review
My daughter and her friends love BodyClickers. This talented artist creates some of the coolest titanium belly button rings, clickers, septum, nostril, and many other types of body jewelry. On the site, you can find the type of titanium used in each piece (all high-quality), and many products are available in multiple finishes, alloys, and sizes.
101 Piercing Review
101 Piercing offers a wide variety of body piercing jewelry, from titanium nose rings to eyebrow, septum, nipple, tongue, and many other types of piercings. With nearly every product, you have a ton of customizable choices, from alloy colors and gemstones to sizes and finishes. Body piercing aficionados often recommend this site as one of the best you can find online.
Bodyartforms Review
A fantastic budget-friendly alternative, Bodyartforms has an enormous collection of body piercing jewelry, including many implant-grade pieces. Whether you’re looking for a titanium nipple ring and barbell or tapers and ear stretchers, this site has it all. With several thousand products, I found the site’s search features (by piercing type, gauge sizes, brands, materials, etc.) easy to narrow down what I wanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions shoppers ask most often about titanium rings. If you have other questions, hit us up in our comments.
How Much Is A Titanium Ring Worth?
The resale value of titanium is considerably lower than precious metals, like gold and platinum. So if you’re looking for an investment in an engagement ring, for example, titanium isn’t a good option. They also aren’t easily resizable, making them less attractive to buyers.
Why Are Some Titanium Rings So Cheap?
Titanium rings are cheap because the metal is naturally abundant and easy to manufacture compared to other metals. Generally, titanium rings cost anywhere from $10 to $400 but added gemstones will up the price.
Do Titanium Rings Scratch?
Although not entirely scratch-proof, titanium offers more scratch resistance than most other metals. Gold, platinum, and silver scratch more easily and deeper than titanium. Tungsten is more scratch-resistant than titanium; however, it cracks more easily.
Can You Resize Titanium Rings?
Yes, to a certain extent. Traditional resizing methods don’t work with titanium due to its unique properties, but it can be done. To downsize, jewelers can add materials, like a tightening rod, to the inside of the band. To go bigger, an experienced jeweler can shave off the ring’s inside surface. However, this is usually only effective to go up 1/2 a ring size. Some titanium rings aren’t ideal candidates for resizing, including rings with gemstone settings or inlays and ultra-thin “stealth” rings.
Can Titanium Rings Be Cut Off?
Yes, however, removal may require more than a normal ring cutter that works on gold, silver, or platinum. Depending on the titanium grade and ring thickness, it may be necessary to use a bolt cutter.
Are Titanium Rings Safe?
Titanium rings are a safe alternative for people with allergies to other metals or sensitive skin. People rarely have reactions to titanium, which is partly what makes this metal ideal for artificial joint replacements.
How Do I Clean A Titanium Ring?
If you’re wondering how to clean titanium rings, it’s super easy. All you have to do is soak your ring in a bowl of lukewarm water and mild dishwashing liquid for three to five minutes. Then use a soft cloth to rub off any dirt and rinse.
Tungsten vs Titanium Rings: What’s The Difference?
Tungsten is another modern, affordable metal that’s a popular alternative to precious metals. If you’re looking at both titanium and tungsten rings, check out this video to understand the key differences between the two.
See Our Guides On Wedding Bands & Engagement Rings
Buying an engagement ring and wedding bands through reputable online jewelers can save you money without skimping on quality. We recommend visiting some brick-and-mortar jewelry stores first to get an idea of designs you like. Then, go online to see how much you can save.
If you don’t understand the difference between the two, read our discussion on the differences between engagement and wedding rings. And if you’re a gay couple, see our guides to gay men’s engagement rings and lesbian engagement rings.
If you’ve ever purchased titanium jewelry online, how was your experience? Let me know in our comments.
Why Trust Safe Smart Living?
Sally spent countless hours researching titanium jewelry to find the best information for our readers. She and her team at Safe Smart Living have well over a decade of experience thoroughly researching and writing about the safest, most trustworthy, and highest-quality products you can find on the market for a variety of needs.
