Zirconium is great for weddings rings because it is durable and has a strong resistance to corrosion - it is used in a lot of chemical industries where something is needed to contain or transport chemicals. It is so tough and chemically stable that it is used to build nuclear reactors! Zirconium is non-toxic - so much so that it is often used in fillings and other dental work - so is a great metal for those with allergies or sensitive skin..

Zirconium is a natural element which begins with a silver color. Zirconium is then heat treated and exposed which oxidizes it to a rich black color. The oxidization layer feels much like a ceramic and is as hard as sapphire. The black layer of Zirconium can be crafted to create two-toned designs, and it pairs well with gold and other materials for a very creative look.

Black Zirconium rings are shatterproof, but they can be cut off of the finger if necessary. However, like titanium and other alternative metals, it is much more difficult to cut a zirconium ring than a precious metal ring and two cuts are necessary since the material is so difficult to bend. Again like other alternative metals, Zirconium rings cannot be sized.

Zirconium is not a ’native metal’, i.e. is not found in the earth in the form we see it in. Instead, it is obtained from other minerals, usually by purifying zircon with chlorine. This is an inexpensive process, another reason that zirconium can be so widely used. Its first practical use in history was as the first camera flash that didn’t also create smoke - when burned it produces a bright white light. Zirconium is also used in fireworks - it burns as bright as magnesium. It has been used in the space, aeronautic, and even the medical industry.

Zirconium is not to be confused with Zirconia, as in Cubic Zirconia (commonly called CZ), which is a very different, man-made material.