A Little Bit About Zirconium ....
Zirconium is a naturally occurring lustrous silvery white metal, which is commonly used in jewellery collections for its light weight, strength and long lasting durability.
Black Zirconium - When heat treated, the surface of zirconium forms a black oxide. This coating sets with a similar glossy finish to ceramic and is as hard as a Sapphire!
This black colouring is only on the surface of the metal and does not run all the way through, therefore this feature can be used to create the effect of dual colour Zirconium rings. The ceramic coating can be removed in localised areas to reveal the silvery white natural coloured Zirconium underneath. Other colours can be achieved using the same technique, but they do not share the same Sapphire hardness.
Material - Similar to Titanium in many ways, plain Zirconium without a ceramic coating will scratch and wear at the same rate. In direct comparison, Zirconium is heavier.
Care Advice - Black Zirconium is difficult to scratch or mark and should not, under normal circumstances, wear like a traditional metal. However, if knocked hard in an accident it is, of course, possible to chip your jewellery.
If you find that light coloured scratch marks are appearing on your jewellery, it is likely that these are surface deposits from other metals or materials that you have come into contact with. These should wear off over time and leave your Black Zirconium looking good as new. Alternatively you could try to buff off with a polishing cloth or a rubber.
Plain Zirconium is scratch resistant but not scratch proof - the finish will alter over time through normal wear and tear. After a few months of normal use, the overall surface texture will settle down and become more consistent across the product.
The amount and depth of surface marks will depend on the activities undertaken whilst wearing the product, for example, if worn during heavy activities the finish of the metal will appear more highly textured.
It is advised against exposing Zirconium to chemicals such as cleaning products and chlorine as this could lead to premature ageing. Care for your Zirconium by not exposing it to harsh chemicals and being cautious of activities that could damage the metal.
