Titanium vs Surgical Steel vs Gold
In this article we will do a full-on comparison of titanium vs surgical steel vs gold. This debate might be an unfair one as each of these metals comes in a different price range, but still its worth giving a try. So sit tight and enjoy the article.
Titanium
Titanium is a greyish colored metal known for its lightweight properties. It is a relatively new metal in jewelry making industry compared to other well known metals like silver and gold. Thanks to anodizing, it can be found in a variety of colors like red, purple, green etc. This brings a sense of wide range of customization options which might not be available in gold or silver.
Properties of Titanium
Most popular properties of titanium are:
1. Lightweight
Titanium is a lightweight metal. This low density feature specifically attracts people who love to get rid of heavy jewelries. For example, a 5 gram gold ring will weigh around 1.5 grams if made in titanium as gold’s density is around 5 times of titanium’s density.
2. Resistant to Scratching
Titanium is a highly resistant metal towards scratching. In fact, its hardness comes at 6 grade on Mho’s scale where 1 and 10 are being the softest and hardest respectively. This means that titanium will not be easily scratched by daily wear and tear as compared to popular metals like gold and silver.
3. Non-Corrosive
Titanium is one of the few metals which neither corrode nor tarnish. Corrosion is one of the common problems with impure stainless steel and iron jewelry. Whereas, tarnishing brings a big impact on alloys containing high amounts of copper such as sterling silver and low karat gold.
Surgical Steel
Surgical steel is a type of stainless steel known for its highly valued properties like high resistance to corrosion, durability, and hypoallergenic properties in jewelry making. It is a popular choice among first time piercers as it has a very few potential side effects.
Surgical steel is a combination of iron, chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. Nickel is typically avoided by most due to its non-hypoallergenic properties.
Properties of Surgical Steel
If you are interested in buying surgical steel jewelry, you must know the following properties.
1. Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic means that a metal does not react with skin. Surgical steel is a great example of a hypoallergenic metal. Generally, non-hypoallergenic metals react with sensitive skins leading to allergies or turning them green. Surgical steel is free of such properties. Sometimes low quality surgical steel jewelry contains minor quantities of nickel which lead to allergies. So, as a buyer you should be wise enough to make sure that you are buying nickel-free surgical steel.
2. Non-Corrosive
Surgical steel does not corrode. This might be one of the biggest advantages which other metals do not provide. Corrosion is a chemical reaction in which metal reacts with moisture in air leading to formation of unwanted dull layer.
Main reason for surgical steel’s non-corrosive nature is its outer chromium layer which never allows iron beneath to react with moisture.
3. Durable
Surgical steel is a highly durable metal. You can expect it to withstand stronger impacts like dents and scuffs. However, it might not be as durable as titanium. It can get scratches which might appear more prominent due to its whiter looks.
Gold
Gold does not need any introduction. It has been an integral part of jewelry making for centuries. Or may be even before than that. As pure gold is a soft and malleable metal which cant retain its shape, it is often mixed with other metals to make stronger and more resilient alloys.
It is found in different purity levels from 9k being the lowest. Apart from this, you can also found it in different compositions like rose gold, yellow gold and white gold.
Properties of Gold
Gold has a wide set of properties to offer.
1. Premium Feeling
Gold is a premium feeling known to humans from centuries. It has always been associated with richness, nobility and prestige in all of the history. No matter the civilization we study, it had that prestigious place in all times compared to other metals.
This brings a feeling of wearing a premium metal.
2. Shinier Appearance
We all have heard that not all glitter is gold. Right? But its not necessarily the truth. Gold has one of the best appearances in all of the metals being used in jewelry making. Yes, its subjective but people like it the most. That’s why after all of the cons like cost and tarnishing, gold is still in high demand.
3. Tarnishing
Tarnishing is a common problem with low purity gold alloys such as 10k or even 12k due to higher percentages of copper. In tarnishing, metal reacts with atmospheric chemicals leading to formation of a blackish duller layer. However, higher purity alloys like 14k and 18k does not tarnish easily. Tarnishing is not permanent and can be removed using commercial tarnishing removal chemicals but it will take periodic maintenance and cleaning practices.
So, its better to go with higher purity alloys if metal’s maintenance in a great concern for you.
Titanium vs Surgical Steel vs Gold – A Detailed Comparison
Here is a detailed comparison of titanium vs surgical steel vs gold.
1. Cost
Cost can be a big difference among all of these metals. For example, gold is a metal with premium price tag whereas surgical steel is one of the cheapest jewelry metals you can get. On the other hand, titanium is more of a mid range metal in between these two.
You can easily get a stainless steel ring for as low as $25 while the same ring in titanium can cost you around $120. Gold’s price can vary greatly depending on the purity level you go with. Low purity gold like 9 or 10 karat gold can cost around $200 while higher purity levels can cost you a minimum of $350.
2. Hypoallergenic
Titanium is the most hypoallergenic metal among the three mentioned here. It is not only the best piercing metal recommended by most of the experts, but also advocated for first time piercers as well. Another benefit of wearing titanium is its lightweight nature which never becomes a burden on piercings.
Surgical steel can also be a good choice for piercing, but there will be a need to confirm that whether its nickel free or not. If its not nickel free, then it can cause allergic reactions.
Gold is often not recommended for piercings as it has a high density. However, it terms of hypoallergenic properties, higher purity gold alloys are good to go with.
3. Durability
When it comes to durability, titanium wins the race again. Titanium is highly resistant to both scratches as well as damages. Surgical steel can be resistant to damages like dents but can get scratched easier than titanium.
Gold is a soft metal which can be easily damaged in terms of scratches and dents.
So, if you are one is a rough user of their jewelry, then gold is not for you.
4. Appearance
Gold stands out in terms of appearance in all of the three. Its yellow color gives vibrant looks which other metal cant. Another aspect of its brighter appearance is its shine which stands it out among almost every metal in race.
Apart, if you prefer silvery looks, then surgical steel can be a good choice for you.
5. Customizability
Customizability might be one of the most preferable options for some people. Gold can be available in a variety of colors including yellow gold, rose gold and white gold. Surgical steel, on the other hand can also be available in different shades like black.
But the level of customization you get in case of titanium is unmatched. Though its original color in greyish, it can be electrolyzed and turned into different colors like purple, green, red and the list goes on.
6. Anti-Tarnishing Properties
Both surgical steel and titanium do not tarnish. However, gold can tarnish if it contains higher percentage of copper as it is in 9k gold. But if you are going for higher purity level gold, tarnishing in never a problem. This will not only save your money in maintenance, but also your precious time as well.
Final Thoughts
Choice of the metal ultimately depends on one’s personal preferences and likes. If you are one who loves to go with traditional looks and can pay more at the same time, gold is the perfect choice. Apart from this, titanium is a good choice for ones looking for lightweight, non-tarnishing and more customizable options. Surgical steel can be a good choice as well for someone not aiming to compromise on appearance but have low budget on the cards.