Which metal for a teishin? Silver, gold, platinum or copper

Every tool in the catalogue is made in 925 silver, and many also in copper. The 1.5 mm teishin also come in 750 gold, 999 platinum and my five-metal alloy, which you can order for the 2.5 mm teishin too.

What the numbers mean

The number is the fineness of the metal: how many thousandths of the total are the main metal.

• 925 silver: 92.5% silver. This is the sterling silver used in jewellery; the rest is usually copper, which makes it harder.
• 750 gold: 75% gold, that is, 18-carat gold.
• 999 platinum: 99.9% platinum.
• Copper: reddish in colour, and the most affordable metal in the catalogue.
• 5-metal alloy: I developed it myself for teishin. It contains silver, gold, platinum, copper and nickel.

Weight

For the same shape and size, weight depends on the density of the metal. A platinum teishin weighs roughly twice as much as a silver one, and an 18-carat gold one about one and a half times as much. A copper one is slightly lighter than a silver one.

Colour and care

Silver and copper darken over time: a surface layer forms that can be removed with a polishing cloth. 18-carat gold and platinum hardly change.

Allergies

Nickel is one of the most common causes of contact allergy. My five-metal alloy contains it, so if you are allergic to nickel, choose another metal.

Price

The price depends mainly on the metal. For example, the 55 × 1.5 mm teishin:

All other prices are in the catalogue. If you would like a tool in a metal that is not listed, ask me.