Anodised zirconium or Platinum 950?

Which is heavier, anodised zirconium or platinum 950?

Platinum 950 is heavier, about 3.1 times the weight of anodised zirconium for the same ring. A 6mm band in size N comes to about 3.2g in anodised zirconium and 9.8g in platinum 950.

Worked out from the reference densities (6.5 and 20.1 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 platinum 950?

Anodised zirconium rings start at £269 in our range. Plain platinum 950 bands are not in the range at the moment, and the platinum 950 material page shows what is. Platinum 950 carries the cost of the precious metal itself, which is why it starts higher; anodised zirconium is priced on the making, not on 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?

Anodised zirconium has the harder surface: Mohs 8.5 against 4.5 for platinum 950, so it picks up fewer everyday marks. Platinum 950 marks sooner, and any jeweller can polish it back.

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.

Platinum 950. Platinum is naturally white, so there is no plating to renew. It does scratch, but a scratch moves the metal rather than removing it, so over time the surface settles into a soft patina instead of wearing thin. A jeweller can burnish it back to a bright shine, which GIA describes as the gentle way to restore worn platinum.

Platinum and patina. A platinum ring dulls to a soft satin over the years rather than wearing thin. Some people love that look; a jeweller burnishes it back to a mirror shine for anyone who does not.

Can anodised zirconium and platinum 950 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.

Platinum 950: Yes. A plain platinum 950 band can be made larger or smaller by a jeweller, the way wedding rings have always been resized. The exception is a band set with stones all the way round, where there is nowhere to cut without disturbing a stone, so on those the size is settled when you order.

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. Platinum 950 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. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium are hallmarked by law above the exemption weights. The marks go inside the band, where you can read the fineness for yourself. The UK hallmarking guide explains each mark.