Rare Metals Prove Eternal Love - It is a trend in Japan to make wedding rings from rare metals that are considered to be allergy-free. These rare metals, tantalum, were mainly used in the past to be added to metals to increase strength and heat resistance, or as materials for aircraft engines.
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Daikanyama Ring Workshop, a business that makes and sells custom rings in Shibuya, Tokyo, has seen orders for rings made of rare metals increase 12-fold in five years. Tantalum, hafnium, and iridium are used as raw materials for electronic components. "(Compared to gold and platinum) there is no risk of metal allergy," said company representative Kazukyo Hirose.
The price is slightly higher than previous products, with a minimum of 300,000 yen (approximately RMB 18,000) for a pair of rings. Customers gradually increased through word of mouth from couples suffering from metal allergies. Now the delivery needs to wait 4-5 months.
SORA, another custom-made ring business in Japan, is making rings from zirconium materials used in catalysts for nuclear reactors and automobile exhaust. Rings made of zirconium can emit rich colors. In addition, there are rings made of titanium and tantalum. Satoshi Maruyama, representative director of the business, said that "80% of the orders are now rare metal rings", and the number of customers has increased to 10 times in 10 years. He said, "Demand will continue to grow in the future."
According to statistics from Japan's Yano Economic Research Institute, the market size of wedding accessories in Japan is 167.7 billion yen. Reduced by 60% in the last 20 years. Due to the declining birthrate and aging population, it is expected to continue to decrease in the future.
