Cobalt vs. Titanium Rings

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Lightweight, versatile, durable, highly scratch resistant; all words that have become synonymous with many rings and wedding bands in the recent alternative metal craze, and in particular cobalt chrome and titanium wedding bands. Like tungsten carbide, these two modern marvels of metalwork have caught on quickly in the jewelry industry and been the centerpiece of many wedding in recent years.

• Cobalt Chrome used in joint repair
• NASA uses Titanium to tell "temperature" 4 billion years ago

As the alternative metal wedding band experts, Tungsten World has put together a series of resources meant to assist men and women alike in finding the perfect wedding ring for their ceremony. And with all the recent talk regarding titanium and cobalt, up next in our "vs" series of wedding band resources is none other than: Cobalt vs. Men's Titanium Rings.

Quick Specs: Cobalt vs. Titanium:

• Periodic Table Symbol and Atomic Number: Cobalt (Co) - 27 Titanium (Ti) - 22
• Color: Cobalt - silver, similar to white gold Titanium - silvery-grey, metallic
• Melting Point: Cobalt - 2723° Titanium - 3034°
• Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness Rating: Cobalt Chrome - 7 to 8 Titanium - 6

Scratch Resistance:
The lure of all alternative metals is their durability. A wedding band should always be built to last. Compared to traditional silver and gold wedding bands, titanium and cobalt rings exhibit a resistance to scratching that is miles beyond all precious metals, even platinum. And while titanium rings are slightly less scratch resistance than their cobalt counterparts, both types of rings have the added benefit of being shatterproof.

Weight:
In past resource pages, we've noted the weighty feel of tungsten rings. In contrast, cobalt and titanium are both light on weight. Titanium it's frequently referred to as a featherlight material, and even is given the moniker "aircraft grade," noting its lightweight use in the aerospace industry.

With this in mind, many men enjoy the unencumbered feel of these lightweight metals. And for women that find tungsten carbide a bit on the heavy side, titanium and cobalt are a great alternative without having to compromise too much on durability.

Color:
So far, we've found that little separates these two metals in our cobalt vs. titanium rings debate, but color is where these two metals definitely diverge. Cobalt is a "white" metal. In most cases the polished version of cobalt chrome wedding rings and cobalt rings looks quite a bit like white gold or platinum. In contrast, titanium rings are best described as metallic or a silvery-grey. Titanium has a much darker complexion than cobalt, which could be the deciding factor in your choice between cobalt chrome and titanium.

Hardness:
As mentioned in the detailing of cobalt and titanium's scratch resistance, both metals have a similar hardness. But it was noted that cobalt was just a bit harder than titanium. As a result, it is able to have a much higher polish applied. Cobalt rings will exhibit a much brighter sheen than titanium bands, which can almost look dull in comparison.

Beyond the polish, the hardness of a ring greatly increases its scratch resistance. However, the harder a metal, the less malleability it exhibits. In laymen's terms, the more malleable a ring's material is, the more intricate of styles it can be crafted into. Due to their malleability cobalt and titanium can be made into almost any style of ring imaginable.

Posted by: Chris B, Tungsten World

Similar Resources:

Cobalt vs. Tungsten Rings
Argentium Silver vs. Sterling Silver
Tungsten vs. Tungsten Carbide

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