Titanium or stainless steel?
Two metals, the same craftsmanship. Only if you’re allergic to nickel is titanium the better choice.
316 stainless steel or Grade 2 titanium, hand-polished to a mirror finish. Both are kind to the skin. Stainless steel contains nickel, so if you have a nickel allergy, choose titanium.
Clean with water and mild soap. Avoid abrasives, as they damage the hand-polished finish.
Grade 2 titanium
Grade 2 is commercially pure titanium. It isn't alloyed with anything and contains only traces of elements such as oxygen and iron, so there's no nickel in it.
Titanium weighs 4.5 grams per cubic centimetre, stainless steel about 8. The same piece in titanium weighs roughly half as much.
Polished, titanium looks slightly duller and greyer than steel.
316 stainless steel
316 is a stainless steel containing chromium, nickel and molybdenum. The chromium forms a thin oxide layer on the surface that protects the steel from rust. The molybdenum makes it more resistant to salt, such as in sweat, than common stainless steel like 304.
It's heavier than titanium, and polished it has a bright, chrome-like shine.
Nickel and allergies
316 stainless steel contains nickel, about 10 to 14 percent. It's bound into the steel, but a piece worn against the skin for a long time can release a small amount. If you're allergic to nickel, you may react to it.
If you have a nickel allergy, choose titanium. It contains no nickel.
Which should you choose?
Titanium if you have a nickel allergy or want a lighter piece. Stainless steel if you'd like to feel the weight, or want the brightest shine. Titanium costs more.
We make the round collar and the round cuffs in both, otherwise identical. You can compare them on the two product pages.