Black Zirconium - The New Contender For Men's Jewellery

Although largely unheard of by the majority ofdented by the young contenders. With the
jewellers at the time of writing, Zirconium, alongintroduction of Tungsten also as an alternative,
with Titanium, is fast becoming the latest in a linecontemporary men's jewellery has never looked
of trends to hit the UK and USA markets and beso appealing or fashionable. Stainless steel, once
taken by storm.only associated with engineering fasteners and
Consumers, hungry for alternative jewellerycutlery is also riding high on the popularity of
materials to traditional precious metals, areexotic metals.
embracing this 'new' metal with its fascinatingZirconium facts at a glance:
surface transformation ability and hypoallergenicElement number on the periodic table - 40
qualities and abandoning gold, silver and platinum inIn fine powder form, Zirconium will spontaneously
its favour.combust at high altitude.
Old established traditionalist jewellers who onceZirconium is a major constituent of modern day
balked at the idea of non-precious metal jewelleryfireworks.
are now embracing the products as the realisationThe diamond simulant Cubia Zirconia, or CZs, are
that the men's jewellery market is steadilymade from Zirconium by the same process as
expanding and being satisfied by metals that wereman made diamonds - high heat and high
once thought of as only being used on spaceshipspressure.
and aeroplanes. Where does this leave preciousThe natural black colour is achieved by heat
metals for jewellery?treatment and is the transformation of the oxide
Precious metals will never be replaced by nonlayer into Zirconia.
precious as the material of choice for theZirconium has been identified in the sun.
majority of couples planning their trip up the aisle,Zirconium is a greyish, white lustrous metal.
but their market share could become seriously