Introducing a new jewelry line featuring cobalt-alloy designs. Is cobalt dust safe for the jewelry craftsmen? I hope so!

According to both National Jeweler and the “buzz” at this year’s JCK Show in Las Vegas, Scott Kay is distributing new jewelry created with what he initially called “CobaBlu,” which will be a line of products manufactured from cobalt-alloys. This new jewelry collection will now be identified as Scott Kay Cobalt (as mentioned on the Modern Jeweler blog). Cobalt-alloys are very durable, resistant to scratching, will not shatter (unlike tungsten) and will retain a bright finish for years. However, it is not considered a precious metal, and its most widespread use is actually in paint pigments.

So the question I’d like to ask is simple – does the wedding world really need another alternative metal for wedding bands, wedding rings and/or jewelry in general?

I am all for new developments for the jewelry industry. And there is plenty of room across many jewelry platforms for jewelry made in a variety of materials – whether they are precious or not. But is it necessary to reinvent the wheel (so to speak) every so often just to stand out in the crowd? I guess it remains to be seen.

Scott Kay does a tremendous amount of advertising for a jewelry company. His wedding bands, wedding rings, fashion jewelry and engagement rings can be seen in wedding-related magazines and fashion publications alike. He has promoted his brand widely, and can be found in some of the finest jewelry stores in America. Scott Kay is even opening his own flagship retail jewelry store as well. The company certainly has quite a reach within the bridal market, and this may help establish the Scott Kay Cobalt line.

However, I guess that I am just old fashioned. For engagement rings, wedding bands, wedding rings and jewelry, I like to think that precious metals are the way to go. Why? I just feel that most jewelry should have intrinsic value. Not every piece of jewelry in a collection has to be top of the line or expensive. Everyone’s jewelry box has room for fun stuff, and maybe Scott Kay Cobalt will provide just that. Then again, depending on the how well (or not how well) Scott Kay executes positioning, Scott Kay Cobalt could just end up being just another confusing alternative metal to the consumer. The jewelry industry is already confusing enough as it is.

And while we can find traces of cobalt in our body and in the soil, exposure to cobalt dust can be hazardous. People working with the metal may inhale the dust or get dust on their skin. Cobalt dust can cause vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, rashes and skin irritation. So hopefully the right precautions will be taken to protect the craftsmen that create the Scott Kay Cobalt line products.

For more information about cobalt and its potential health issues, please visit the following websites:
ChemistryExplained.com
OSHA.gov
Wikipedia.org

Please note: The post reflects only my opinion, and not the opinion of my employer nor any other organizations that I may be affiliated with. As with any metal that you may consider when buying a piece of jewelry, its best to do as much research as you can before visiting a jewelry store.

Comments

[wedding packages]

Good that i found your blog so informative, keep posting!

winnie

[Vintage Jewelry]

This seems interesting.As you have told cobalt alloy jewelery is very durable so I would like to buy one.Please share more information.this is really helpful for me.