The oldest known jewelry ever discovered were 10,000-year-old beads crafted from Nassarius shells. Although we still use gifts from the sea like sea glass and different types of beach glass to make beautiful, authentic sea glass charm designs, the world of jewelry has evolved quite a bit in recent years.

One of the biggest ways in which the jewelry world has evolved is the use of new kinds of metal to create brilliant works of wearable art. Curious to learn more? Here are just a few of the many unique metals used to create jewelry.

Titanium

Contrary to popular belief, industrial use isn't the only place where titanium exceeds expectations. Its light weight and amazing durability actually lend quite well to the jewelry world. Chains for heavy stones and sea glass pendants can often be created using titanium. It also provides an excellent alternative to more expensive precious metals for those with sensitive skin.

Tungsten

Unlike many other metals used for jewelry, tungsten is quite heavy. In comparison to a gold or silver ring, a tungsten ring of the same size would be much heavier. In its most common form, tungsten is a dark gray that gives jewelry a quiet, understated beauty.

Palladium

Palladium is fairly similar to platinum and is even referred to as part of the platinum family of metals. Some people closely associate the two metals, but the truth is that palladium is still less expensive than its precious relative. Palladium often helps support gold jewelry, as it lightens the precious metal to produce white gold.

Copper

Copper is sometimes referred to as an antiquity, but it's still used in some jewelry today. The only issue with this metal is that it lacks any corrosion resistance. In addition, if it's not properly sealed, it can turn the skin green. However, new sealing techniques have created more opportunities for jewelry makers to use this metal safely.

Whether you're looking at sea glass charm designs or at a simple metal chain, the possibilities of jewelry making are simply endless.