Is sterling silver or titanium harder wearing?

Titanium, at Mohs 6 against 2.75. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.

Sterling silver, at 10.5 g/cm³ against 4.5. That is 2.3 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.

No. Sterling silver can be resized by any jeweller. Titanium cannot, so we replace it free for life instead.

Titanium, starting at £225 against £145. That is about 55% more before any stone or inlay.

Only Sterling silver. Titanium is not a precious metal, so no hallmark exists for it.

Comparison

Sterling silver or Titanium?

Titanium is meaningfully harder, so if your hands take a beating the choice is largely made for you.

	Sterling silver	Titanium
Surface hardness	Mohs 2.75	Mohs 6
Density	10.5 g/cm³	4.5 g/cm³
Resizable	Yes	Replaced free
Hallmarked	Yes	Not applicable
Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes
Price from	£145	£225

What the difference actually feels like

Sterling silver is 2.3 times the weight of titanium for the same ring. On paper that is a number; on the hand it is the difference between a ring you forget about and one you are aware of every time you move. Neither is better. It is worth knowing which you want before you spend anything.

Titanium sits at Mohs 6 against 2.75. Ordinary household dust carries quartz at Mohs 7, which is the line that matters: below it a ring collects fine scratches from nothing more than daily life. The gap here is real but not dramatic.

Sterling silver can be resized and titanium cannot. Fingers change over decades, so this matters more than it seems at the point of buying. Our answer either way is that we cover it: a resize on one, a free replacement on the other, for as long as you own the ring.

The straight answer

Choose sterling silver if a hallmarked precious ring on a small budget, or if pendants and earrings.

Choose titanium if first time ring wearers, or if anyone who dislikes the weight of gold.

Still torn? The metal chooser asks six questions and picks one, and it will tell you if neither of these is right.

In both materials

Rings to look at

Plain

Court, silver

Hallmarked precious metal at the lowest price we can do it.

From £145 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 mm

Plain

Flat, titanium

The lightest ring we make, and the least expensive.

From £165 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 mm

Truly unique

Wood inlay

Real wood, set into a titanium channel.

From £475 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 mm

Common questions

Is sterling silver or titanium harder wearing?: Titanium, at Mohs 6 against 2.75. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.
Which is heavier?: Sterling silver, at 10.5 g/cm³ against 4.5. That is 2.3 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.
Can both be resized?: No. Sterling silver can be resized by any jeweller. Titanium cannot, so we replace it free for life instead.
Which costs more?: Titanium, starting at £225 against £145. That is about 55% more before any stone or inlay.
Are both hallmarked?: Only Sterling silver. Titanium is not a precious metal, so no hallmark exists for it.