All about Zirconium

Do Black Zirconium rings scratch?

The natural colour of Zirconium is very similar to Titanium, but, when it is heat treated, it forms a black ceramic-like oxide layer called Zirconia.

The oxide layer is very hard and scratch resistant but not indestructable, in time scratches will appear on the surface. It isn't impossible to refinish a Black Zirconium
ring but, in reality, it is not economically viable and in most cases is cheaper to make a new ring.

Because the surface is so hard, what can appear to be a scratch is sometimes a deposit of another material that the ring has rubbed against eg. when worn next to a gold or silver ring.
This can be removed quite easily.

There are rings on the market made from solid Zirconia which are black all the way through. Zirconia, being a ceramic-like material, does however mean that it is quite brittle in it's solid form.

Care should be taken when wearing a Black Zirconium ring and situations that could scratch the ring should be avoided to get the maximum life out of the surface.

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