QuestionMy fiancee is facinated by the metal iridium and is interested in this metal for our wedding rings. Is iridium used as the focused metal in jewlery? Specifically wedding bands?
Thanks,
AnswerHello, Edith.
Iridium is one member of the platinum family of metals, an essentially inert metal and second only slightly to osmium as the densest element. That means iridium is quite heavy. The metal is also quite difficult to work and is brittle, tending to break rather than bend.
Is iridium alone used for jewelry? The characteristics of the metal make it unsuited to be used alone for jewelry. For instance, the metal melts at 2,443 degrees C or 4,429 degrees F. That is quite a hot working temperature, considering iron melts at 1538 degrees C or 2800 degrees F.
Iridium is used in jewelry in small amounts to make platinum suited for jewelry. Pure platinum is simply too soft for jewelry and the trick to give the metal more hardness and toughness is to add a little of another metal. Iridium is perfect for this task. The typical jewelry alloys are 5%Iridium/ 95% Platinum or 10%Iridium/ 90% platinum. This is my favorite of the platinum jewelry metals to use in jewelry, with either the 5% or 10% iridium forms doing very well.
So, the answer is no, iridium is not a primary metal in jewelry but is a support metal. You are not going to find iridium bands or I suspect anyone to make those for you. And, imagine if your finger should need a different size in the future: No one will be able to work on the rings outside a sophisticated metals manufacturer and I do not see that happening.
It is a good thought but unfortunately not workable considering the natural characteristics of the metal.
Thanks for asking. God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
