Contemporary metal
Anodised zirconium
Colour made by voltage
Zirconium grows its own oxide layer under electrical current, and the thickness of that layer decides the colour. Nothing is painted, plated or dyed. The colour is the surface of the metal itself, produced by light interfering with a film a few hundred nanometres thick, which is why it shifts slightly as you turn your hand.
Right for
- Anyone who wants colour that will not wear off
- Hands that react to nickel
- A ring worn every day
Wrong for
- Anyone who expects to resize it later
- Buyers who want resale metal value
Honestly
It cannot be resized. Zirconium is too hard to stretch and heating it destroys the oxide layer that makes the colour. We replace rather than resize, free, for as long as you own it.
In this material
5 rings
Anodised channel
A band of real colour, set between natural metal edges.
Anodised bevels
Colour on the edges instead of down the middle.
Faceted, anodised
Cut into facets, then coloured, so each plane catches differently.
Hammered, anodised
Struck by hand, then given colour.
Diamond in colour
A single diamond, flush set into an anodised channel.
Weighing it up
Compare it against something else
Anodised zirconium questions
- Can a anodised zirconium ring be resized?
- No. Anodised zirconium cannot be stretched or cut and rejoined the way precious metals can, and anyone claiming otherwise is describing a replacement. We replace free for life instead, which is the same outcome stated honestly.
- Is anodised zirconium hard wearing?
- Its surface sits at Mohs 8.5. For comparison, airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, which is why anything below that picks up fine scratches from ordinary wear. This is comfortably above that line.
- Is anodised zirconium hallmarked?
- No, and it does not need to be. The Hallmarking Act applies to gold, silver, platinum and palladium. Anodised zirconium is not a precious metal, so no hallmark exists for it and none is required.
- How heavy is a anodised zirconium ring?
- 6.5 grams per cubic centimetre. Titanium is the lightest thing we make at 4.5 and platinum the heaviest at 21.4, so this sits at the light end of the range.
- Is anodised zirconium safe for sensitive skin?
- Yes. It contains no nickel, which is the metal that causes almost all jewellery reactions.