Titanium is all the rage with jewellers for a number of reasons - and, for jewellery grade stuff, IS quite expensive. I apologise however for not knowing the relativities of price with other metals. Fancy a visit to the London Metal Exchange site anybody.....?

One of its benefits is that it passes through a range of vivid colours when heated (as do other metals, but arguably not so prettily). The colour is retained when it cools, so the item can be blue, straw, pinkish, violet or some other combination. If the heat treating is applied locally on the piece it can exhibit a range of colours across its face.

My neighbour's son, a talented young jeweller, made a beautiful ring from gold and electric blue titanium. It was like a sandwich, the outer band of gold had a celtic pattern cut into it, exposing the blue titanium below. An absolute eye catcher.

stales