Titanium

No other engineering metal has risen so swiftly to pre-eminence in critical and demanding applications. The properties of titanium create a unique challenge for jewellers and designers alike,
with a strength unmatched by any comparable material titanium is transformed into a breathtaking combination of strength and style, designed and hand-crafted at Jewellery By Design

Never heard of it ?

Titanium is present in the ash of coal, in plants, and in the human body. It is no surprise that people wish to wear it as well ! Raw titanium occurs in a sponge-like form and is silver white in colour. But when oxidised the metal takes on a distinctive opalescent, violet-blue surface, suggesting New Age as much as Space Age. Titanium can also be brought to take on a golden yellow hue as well as light and dark iridescent blues and greens. Different surface preparations can also change the apparent colour.

Please continue through these pages to see more stunning titanium Jewellery made exclusively for you at Jewellery By Design and learn a little more about the properties that make Titanium a perfect alternative and compliment to other jewellery metals.

Solid titanium, Violet anodised, 3- 0.03ct diamonds,

Space Age?

Perhaps. Languishing in comparative obscurity until the 1960's until Lockheed built an aeroplane almost entirely out of titanium , the A-12 Blackbird spy plane. Soon , titanium was being used in space capsules and supersonic airliners.

The Earrings opposite are hand made from 18ct yellow gold , the tubular titanium inserts carved from a solid block of titanium.

New Age ?

Many modern designers and Jewellers work exclusively in titanium and produce commendable jewellery , at Jewellery By Design however we treat titanium like all other raw materials , as a part of the whole , not the be and end all. Jewellery By Design combine the unique strengths found in all of our materials and combine them to produce jewellery that is greater than the sum of its parts.

This said if a design is matched to one material and no other then we will have no hesitation to utilise any and all materials at our disposal be they considered precious or base.

Old Age ?

The problem with many fad materials is that today's fashion is tomorrow's junk , a lot of very expensive 'branded' plastic and acrylic jewellery is now worthless , this is another reason to enjoy the combination of interesting and contemporary materials with traditional design and workmanship supplied by reputable and established Jewellers.

Please continue on to the next page - remember you can click on any of the pictures for more information)

9ct yellow gold, solid titanium

Elemental.

Titanium is present in meteorites and in the sun. Rocks obtained during the Apollo 17 lunar mission showed presence of 12.1% TiO2. Analyses of rocks obtained during earlier Apollo missions show lower percentages. Titanium oxide bands are prominent in the spectra of M-type stars. As well as in these pages!

The stunning bangle shown opposite is made in 9ct yellow gold with a centrepiece of rainbow anodised titanium held together by solid gold rivets. The titanium band is carved to a half round profile to maximise the iridescent effect of the colouring.

Oxygen

The vibrant almost electric colours of Titanium arise from a very thin layer of surface oxidation at the surface - a very non reactive metal , titanium is persuaded by Jewellery By Design to oxidise into the incredible display you see here. To get titanium to oxidise one of two methods is applied , it is possible to achieve coloration by the application of a critically controlled heat source , or by the electrolytic process of anodising , care being taken to provide the correct current for a precise period.

9ct yellow gold, rainbow anodised titanium

Heat and Hammering

The manufacture of jewellery is rarely a pretty sight, gold and silver get battered , squashed , burnt and hammered into shape. Watching a 1ct Diamond being hammer set into a ring can be an unnerving sight from the Diamonds point of view. Titanium receives the same treatment only more so !. That the finished jewellery looks so beautiful and delicate is testament to the jewellers skill. Titanium is a very strong metal , ....very very strong , and coaxing it into a ring or earring takes skill and patience.

Rivets !

When you first think of titanium you probably build an industrial picture in you mind of rivets and welding. This is not far from the truth , Titanium is so unreactive a metal that it can not be soldered or joined using conventional methods, whilst it can be welded with specialist equipment , this is the realm of the engineer not the jeweller. Titanium is therefore often riveted to its gold or platinum host using solid gold rivets!- making for some incredibly modern looking jewellery

18ct yellow gold and solid titanium, princess cut amethyst

Why Titanium ?

This is a good question - what is wrong with gold, silver , platinum ? - nothing, is the answer however at Jewellery By Design we like to explore every possible avenue of Jewellery design. That is why you will find many unusual gemstones and materials in our Perth and Joondalup boutiques. Not that we put these ahead of more traditional jewellery we have lots of that as well!.

The ring opposite is an example of the best answer 'why titanium ?' not ' because we can' but because titanium and many other non-mainstream jewellery materials sometimes are the best answer to design questions , our customers expect that we search each and every possibility to create individual and unique jewellery , an expectation we hope to meet each and every time.

18ct yellow gold handmade titanium and blue topaz dress ring, princess cut blue topaz

That is all for this section at this time .

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