Niobium (Nb), a grayish-white metal, is classified as a rare precious metal. It possesses excellent toughness and ductility, is resistant to strong acids and alkalis, and has stable properties. Since the 1970s, niobium has been used in jewelry; although, due to its high melting point, it is difficult to weld at room temperature and can only be joined through cold linking, which limits its use to only a small group ofartists until today.
Titanium (Ti), a silvery-white metal, is lightweight and features exceptional specific strength and stability, along with outstanding corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Its applications are extensive, including aerospace components, dental implants and artificial joints, marine and chemical anti-corrosion equipment, and high-end consumer hardware products. Titanium is also an ideal material for jewelry—lightweight and highly stable—making it particularly suitable for large-scale artistic jewelry pieces.
