Comparison
Anodised zirconium or Black zirconium?
Choose anodised zirconium if you want colour grown into the metal itself, not painted or plated on. Choose black zirconium if you want a black ring with a hard surface that is grown, not plated.
- Heavier: about the same
- Harder surface: about the same (Mohs 8.5 and 8)
- From: anodised zirconium £269, black zirconium £199
- Resizing: anodised zirconium, not usually; black zirconium, not usually
Checked .
| Side by side | Anodised zirconium | Black zirconium |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Colour grown into the metal | Heat-grown black oxide |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 8.5 | 8 |
| Density | 6.5 g/cm³ reference | 6.5 g/cm³ reference |
| 6mm band, size N | about 3.2g | about 3.2g |
| Resizing | Not usually | Not usually |
| Hallmarked | No, not a precious metal | No, not a precious metal |
| Our rings from | £269 | £199 |
Which is heavier, anodised zirconium or black zirconium?
They weigh about the same. A 6mm band in size N comes to about 3.2g in anodised zirconium and 3.2g in black zirconium.
| Width | Anodised zirconium | Black zirconium |
|---|---|---|
| 2mm | 1.1g | 1.1g |
| 4mm | 2.1g | 2.1g |
| 6mm | 3.2g | 3.2g |
| 8mm | 4.2g | 4.2g |
Worked out from the reference densities (6.5 and 6.5 g/cm³) with the same model as our ring weight calculator, where you can set your own size, width and thickness. A bigger size adds a little more metal: the size N page and the other size pages give the weights at each size.
Is anodised zirconium more expensive than black zirconium?
Black zirconium costs less: anodised zirconium rings start at £269 and black zirconium rings at £199 in our range. Neither is a precious metal, so the difference is the finish and the work in the band, not bullion.
Every ring is made to order in your size, and engraving is free on every ring whose page offers it.
Which is harder wearing?
They are close in hardness (Mohs 8.5 and 8), so they mark at much the same rate with daily wear.
Anodised zirconium. The colour is an oxide film grown on the zirconium by electric current, not paint, dye or plating, so there is nothing to peel or flake. Like any surface finish it wears first where a ring rubs hardest, which is why many designs keep the colour in recessed channels where it is protected. Wash it with warm soapy water and a soft cloth rather than buffing it: a dull patch is usually residue, and it rinses away.
Black zirconium. The black is a hard ceramic oxide grown into the surface by heat, around Mohs 8, far harder than gold, so everyday knocks that mark a gold band leave it looking the same. It is scratch resistant rather than scratch proof: a hard blow against stone or steel can mark it, and a pale line is often metal rubbed off something else, which cleans away. Take it off for gardening, climbing and the gym, and if it is ever marked, our maker refinishes black zirconium depending on the damage.
Can anodised zirconium and black zirconium rings be resized?
Anodised zirconium: Not in the usual way. The colour is a fine layer grown on the surface, and resizing the band would break through it. So the size is the part to get right, and the free ring size finder makes that a two minute job.
Black zirconium: Not in the usual way. The black is grown into the surface of the metal, so cutting or machining the band would show bright metal underneath. That is why the size is settled before the ring is made, and every ring is made to that measurement.
Either way, getting the size right first is the easy part: the free ring size finder measures it at home in a couple of minutes, and the resizing guide explains the differences between metals.
Sensitive skin and hallmarks
Anodised zirconium is hypoallergenic and a common choice for sensitive skin. Black zirconium is hypoallergenic and a common choice for sensitive skin. The metal allergy guide explains what causes a rash under a ring.
Titanium and zirconium are not precious metals, so there is no hallmark and none is required. Where a ring carries a solid gold inlay, that gold is hallmarked at Birmingham. The UK hallmarking guide explains each mark.
Our verdict
Anodised zirconium if you want colour grown into the metal itself, not painted or plated on. Black zirconium if you want a black ring with a hard surface that is grown, not plated.
Not sure on width? The band width guide shows what each width looks like and weighs, and the metal chooser weighs the metals up against how you will wear the ring.
In these materials
Rings to look at
Rings made in, or available in, the two materials above, each with its current price, widths and finishes on its own page.
Anodised channel
A band of real colour, set between natural metal edges.
Plain black zirconium
Black all the way round, and none of it is a coating.
Anodised bevels
Colour on the edges instead of down the middle.
Explore the fit and weight
Common questions
- Is anodised zirconium or black zirconium harder wearing?
- They are close in hardness (Mohs 8.5 and 8), so they mark at much the same rate with daily wear.
- Is anodised zirconium heavier than black zirconium?
- They weigh about the same. A 6mm band in size N comes to about 3.2g in anodised zirconium and 3.2g in black zirconium.
- Is anodised zirconium more expensive than black zirconium?
- Black zirconium costs less: anodised zirconium rings start at £269 and black zirconium rings at £199 in our range. Neither is a precious metal, so the difference is the finish and the work in the band, not bullion.
- Can both be resized?
- Not in the usual way. The colour is a fine layer grown on the surface, and resizing the band would break through it. So the size is the part to get right, and the free ring size finder makes that a two minute job. Not in the usual way. The black is grown into the surface of the metal, so cutting or machining the band would show bright metal underneath. That is why the size is settled before the ring is made, and every ring is made to that measurement.
- Are both hallmarked?
- Titanium and zirconium are not precious metals, so there is no hallmark and none is required. Where a ring carries a solid gold inlay, that gold is hallmarked at Birmingham.