What Is Anodized Jewelry?

Anodizing is the electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts. That might sound complicated, but to summarize the process simply, running electricity through the jewelry while it rests in the right solution changes the molecules at the surface. The process alters the outer layer of the metal, changing the way it filters and reflects light and enhancing its color in beautiful ways!

Several metals can be anodized, but titanium and niobium are the safest and best for body jewelry. The reasons they’re the best are:

• The process doesn’t change the metal in ways that will affect your body’s reaction to it. No matter what color the titanium is anodized, the structure of the metal doesn’t change. The jewelry is not dyed, painted on or plated, which means that no other materials are introduced when anodized – keeping you protected from materials that may cause irritation. Anodized titanium is still fully titanium.
• It’s durable. Titanium is a strong material, but the surface becomes even tougher as a result of the anodization process. And while the anodized color can wear down over time, you won’t have to worry about the color flaking off as can sometimes happen with plated or coated metal jewelry.
• It’s inert. Titanium is as close to hypoallergenic jewelry as you can get. Everyone is different, so people’s reaction to metals will vary. However, titanium doesn’t contain any nickel which makes it great for people with sensitivities.

The process is pretty amazing. While we offer jewelry pieces that have already been anodized by the manufacturer, we also anodize in-house! This gives our customers even more color choices and it gives us full control of the process to ensure we provide only the highest quality anodization. 

We have a dedicated team member dedicated to anodizing our titanium jewelry. Several times a week, place the jewelry chosen by our customers in a special prepared solution. They set the anodizing machine to the voltage needed to achieve the desired color, and run the electric current through the jewelry until it reaches the desired color. You can check out a quick video of the process below:

Keep in mind that each piece of jewelry is unique and may react differently to the voltage it’s exposed to. Anodization is like a work of art; it can be tricky to replicate exactly. That means each batch of anodized jewelry we make can have very slight variations in hue, color or tone.

We did say that titanium is very durable, but that doesn’t mean it won’t experience regular wear and tear, especially if it’s your go-to jewelry piece. While it won’t peel or flake, the color can fade over time as expected with any jewelry piece that rubs against your skin. Don’t worry, the fading color will only expose the natural finish of titanium and it won’t negatively affect your piercings like other painted-on colors.

The vibrant colors of anodized titanium is what makes the jewelry so enticing. Here are some tips on what you can do to help keep the color vibrant:

• Avoid harsh chemicals that can irritate your piercing and affect your titanium jewelry. These irritants can include makeup, hairspray, facial cleansers, perfume, mouthwash or other caustic materials.
• Avoid swimming pools. The chlorine can cause the color to fade as well as dry out your skin around the jewelry. You should especially avoid pools or other bodies of water if you have fresh piercings.
• Gently clean your jewelry. Use warm water and mild soap when cleaning your anodized jewelry, and then pat dry with a soft cloth. Using other cleansers can cause the anodized color to fade quicker and even damage the polish of your titanium over time.
• Store your jewelry properly. Use a cloth pouch or a fabric lined box to prevent scratches, dust and moisture. If you’re using a plastic jewelry storage container, add a piece of cloth or fabric to help absorb any moisture.
• Avoid wearing your anodized jewelry if you’ll be sweating excessively. While body oils and sweat is normal, if you’re working out or staying out in the sun, avoid wearing your jewelry. Excessive sweat will add wear and tear to your jewelry. Instead, consider going without jewelry or wearing retainers when you’re hitting the gym or going on a run.