Titanium vs Sterling Silver Jewellery: Which Is Better?

In the world of silver jewellery, the choice between titanium and sterling silver jewellery is a common one. Both titanium and sterling silver are silver in colour, however bring their own set of pros and cons.

In this blog, we compared titanium vs sterling silver jewellery. We cover each one’s pros and cons and figure out the differences between the two. We then offer suggestions on which would be best suited for you.

What Is Titanium Jewellery

Titanium jewellery is made from the natural metal titanium dioxide. Using the Kroll process, this titanium dioxide is converted into titanium chloride through the introduction of chlorine. Magnesium or sodium is then added to remove the chlorine, resulting in pure titanium. This pure titanium is then used for creating jewellery. Jewellery made from titanium has a darker and less shiny appearance compared to jewellery made from silver precious metals.

Pure titanium is brittle and can break with enough pressure even at room temperature. This is why titanium is often alloyed with other metals including aluminium, vanadium, zirconium, nickel, copper, iron, chromium, cobalt, niobium, tantalum, manganese and molybdenum. The most common metal composition for titanium is 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium.

Pros

• Resistant to tarnishing & corrosion - titanium features a stable and protective oxide film. This forms automatically when titanium layers are exposed to air or moisture.
• Lightweight - titanium is considerably lighter than silver. When comparing the same amount of titanium and silver, silver weighs twice as much.
• Durable - compared to jewellery made from gold, silver or platinum, titanium jewellery is much more durable and harder to break and bend.
• Easy to maintain - titanium jewellery is easy to maintain as it has a titanium oxide barrier. All you need to do is wipe with a soft cloth or gently scrub with a solution of dish soap and water.
• Variety - titanium can come in multiple colours including, grey, blue and even black. This allows for a variety of different coloured jewellery to be made.
• Hypoallergenic - titanium is considered to be nickel-free, and therefore extremely hypoallergenic.
• Affordable - titanium is not a precious metal. Jewellery made from titanium is much more affordable than jewellery made from precious metals like sterling silver, white gold or platinum.

Cons

• Harder to resize & repair - titanium is a hard metal, making it hard to resize and repair jewellery.
• Appearance - Titanium has a darker and less shiny appearance compared to other metals like sterling silver or stainless steel.
• Scratch resistant - although titanium is durable, it is not completely scratch-resistant.

What Is Sterling Silver Jewellery?

Jewellery made of sterling silver consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. The other metal is usually copper. Alloying silver with copper and other metals makes silver harder and more durable. Jewellery made from sterling silver will have a white bright lustre to it.

Most jewellery will be made from 925 sterling silver. You can also find pure silver jewellery which is composed of 99.9% silver. 999 silver tarnishes much less however is extremely soft and delicate.

Pros

• Affordable - sterling silver is one of the more affordable precious metals used for jewellery. This makes it great for someone on a budget.
• Appearance - sterling silver features a beautiful white lustre that no other metal can imitate.
• Value - silver is a precious metal. Therefore jewelry made with this material is deemed as having higher value.
• Intricate designs - sterling silver is soft, allowing for more intricate and detailed jewellery designs.
• Easier to resize & repair - due to sterling silver being a soft and malleable metal, jewellery made from this material is easier to resize & repair.

Cons

• Durability - compared to other types of metals, sterling silver is much softer. This increases the risk of dents and distortion with wear and tear.
• Can tarnish - sterling silver jewellery will tarnish over time. This is because of the presence of copper within its composition. This tarnishing can lead to the jewellery becoming duller and darker over time if not regularly cleaned.
• Weight - although not the heaviest metal, jewellery made from sterling silver can be quite heavy when compared to a metal like titanium.
• Less hypoallergenic - sterling silver is less hypoallergenic due to the presence of copper within its composition.

Differences Between Titanium And Sterling Silver Jewellery

• Appearance - titanium jewellery has a grey, gunmetal look to it, Sterling silver jewellery has a bright white lustre.
• Composition - titanium is composed of 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. Whilst sterling silver is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals like copper.
• Durability - Titanium jewellery is more durable than sterling silver jewellery. This is because titanium is a much harder metal.
• Hypoallergenic properties - Titanium jewellery is more hypoallergenic than sterling silver jewellery. This is because the titanium doesn't contain copper or nickel.
• Maintenance - Titanium jewellery is much easier to maintain than sterling silver jewellery. Titanium jewellery can be wiped with a soft cloth irregularly, whilst sterling silver jewellery will need to be wiped and cleaned every 2-3 weeks to maintain its lustre.
• Resistance to tarnishing & corrosion - Titanium jewellery is more resistant to tarnishing and corrosion compared to sterling silver jewellery. This is because titanium features a protective oxide layer.
• Price - Titanium jewellery is much more affordable than sterling silver jewellery. This is because titanium is not a precious metal.
• Value - Sterling silver jewellery had greater value than titanium jewellery. This is because sterling silver is a precious metal.
• Resizeability & repair - Sterling silver jewellery is much easier to resize and repair. This is because it is a softer and more malleable metal.
• Weight - Sterling silver jewellery is much heavier than titanium jewellery.

Titanium vs Sterling Silver Jewellery: Which Is Better For You?

Whether titanium or sterling silver jewellery depends on your personal preferences, styling needs and budget.

Jewellery made from titanium has a lowkey appearance and is durable, tarnish-resistant and hypoallergenic. It is also relatively lightweight and requires less maintenance than other types of jewellery. Because titanium is not a precious metal, jewellery made out of it tends to be more affordable.

Whilst sterling silver jewellery has a more luxurious appearance and has a higher value being made from precious metal. This type of jewellery also offers a much heavier feel.

Conclusion

After comparing titanium vs sterling silver jewellery, you should better understand the pros and cons of each. The choice between these two silver metals depends on your preference, budget and styling needs.

Titanium jewellery has a grey appearance, is extremely tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic. Whilst sterling silver has a bright white lustre, whilst being higher in value and heavier in feel.

Remember, when choosing between these two types of jewellery, you should choose whichever one compliments your style and how it makes you feel when you wear it.

 

FAQ’s Can I shower with titanium jewellery? Yes, you can wear titanium jewellery when you shower. This is because titanium is an extremely durable metal and features a titanium oxide layer. This layer is protective and prevents titanium from tarnishing, rusting and corroding. Will titanium jewellery dull? No, titanium jewellery will never dull or change colour. The protective titanium oxide layer prevents titanium from losing its colour and shine when exposed to moisture or air. How do you take care of titanium jewellery? There is not much you need to do to take care of titanium jewellery. At most, you will need to clean your titanium jewellery with a soft cloth once a month. For a more thorough clean, you can use a mixture of lukewarm water and mild dish soap to clean the jewellery.