Titanium vs Tantalum Comparison Guide
Deciding between a Tantalum or Titanium ring? Both metals are very popular for men's wedding bands! On the outside, these metals may look the same, but they actually hold many different properties. In this guide, we'll cover the pro's and con's between these two metals so that you can decide which is best for you. Let's go!
Pro's and Con's Overview
If you'd like the quick comparison between these two metals, then start here:
Tantalum Pro's
- Hypoallergenic
- Shatterproof
- Can be resized (Titanium cannot)
- Very strong
- Resistant to Corrosion
Tantalum Con's
- More expensive than Titanium
- Not 100% scratch-resistant
- Very conductive (not good if you're an electrician)
Titanium Pro's
- Hypoallergenic
- Very strong
- Resistant to Corrosion
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
Titanium Con's
- Cannot resize
- Not 100% scratch-resistant
Now let's dive a bit deeper into these two metals.
What is Tantalum?
Tantalum is a chemical element with the symbol Ta. It's a rare, hard, lustrous metal that is most often extracted from something called ore columbite-tantalite. In raw form, it holds a blue-grayish color. It is then polished to the silvery sheen you see in most rings.
When exposed to the environment, tantalum, like other metals, creates a thin but thick protective oxide layer (Ta2O5). This oxide coating sticks securely to the metal's surface, functioning as a barrier to further corrosion of the underlying metal. Its strong resistance to wear makes it a great metal for wedding bands.
What about Titanium?
Titanium is probably a metal you are much more familiar with. A popular metal, it can be found in many applications ranging from golf clubs to construction materials. Titanium is the 9th most common element in the earth's crust - a big reason why Titanium is a more affordable metal.
Titanium is a shiny grey metal with a low corrosion rate and high strength. It can look very similar to silver and is a great budget-friendly wedding ring metal.
Color Differences
Both of these materials are very similar in color. However, Titanium is typically a shade lighter than Tantalum. Tantalum is a bit more grey in color while Titanium is more silver.
But both metals can be polished to nearly identical colors. Here are a few great examples of titanium rings:
SHIRE Titanium Ring from larsonjewelers.com
SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10% off with code LARSON10
The ERIS Titanium Ring from larsonjewelers.com
SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10% off with code LARSON10
Now here are a few examples of tantalum bands:
The Protagonist Tantalum Ring from manlybands.com
The Idol Tantalum Ring from manlybands.com
Price
Both Tantalum and Titanium rings can be found at reasonable prices. But Titanium will typically be more affordable. In fact, Titanium is one of the most affordable wedding ring metals there is!
You can expect to pay anywhere from $150 - $600 for a 100% titanium wedding band.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $250-$800 for a 100% tantalum wedding band.
We think that the best place to find a titanium wedding band online is Larson Jewelers. They have a huge selection of titanium rings at affordable prices and you can even Get 10% off sitewide with code LARSON10.
Durability and Strength
Overall, these two metals are both very strong. You won't need to worry about significant dents or dings in these metals. However, Titanium is technically "stronger" than Tantalum. In fact, the strength-to-weight ratio of titanium is the best of any metal.
However, strength and durability shouldn't be an issue with either of these metals. So we can't say to go with one metal or the other purely based on strength!
Allergy Proneness
If you are prone to skin allergies such as from Nickel, then you will be happy to know that both of these metals are considered hypoallergenic. So you shouldn't have to worry about any irritation on the skin!
Weight
One of the biggest differences between these two metals is their weight. Tantalum is one of the heaviest metals around - even heavier than Tungsten. Titanium, on the other hand, is extremely lightweight.
You will feel a slight weight difference when wearing these two metals. But this is purely up to preference. Some people like the sturdier, heavier feel of Tantalum. While others prefer to barely be able to feel their ring on if possible. So at the end of the day, the weight you want to feel in your ring is totally up to preference!
Scratch Resistance
Both of these metals offer very similar levels of scratch resistance. They are tough to scratch - but not impossible!
These two metals can scratch under the right circumstances - but overall still above average. They are much more scratch-resistant than gold, silver, and platinum. But less scratch-resistant than Tungsten.
If you are looking for the most scratch-resistant material, go with a Tungsten Band. But just remember, although Titanium and Tantalum can scratch, it's not as if you will scratch it on everything you touch. There are only a select number of materials that will scratch these metals.
Resizing
The ability to be resized is another big difference between these metals. Tantalum can be resized. While Titanium cannot.
Tantalum is one of the few alternative ring metals (metals other than gold and silver) that can be re-sized.
Conclusion
The biggest difference between these two metals is their weight, price, and the ability for Tantalum to be re-sized. Other characteristics such as color, strength, and scratch resistance are very similar.
If you know you, or your future husband, will prefer a lightweight ring over a heavier ring, then Titanium will be a better bet. If you have a strict budget you also may be better off going with Titanium.
Alternatively, if you know you will prefer a heavier ring or want the ability to re-size your ring, then Tantalum will be better for you!
We hope this guide has helped you discover the differences between Titanium and Tantalum!
