Our Materials — 316, PVD, Titanium, and Why It Matters

Our Materials

Three materials. Three jobs. Zero shortcuts.

If you're going to wear something every day for ten years, the alloy matters more than the colour. Here's exactly what's in every GoBlow piece — no marketing language, just the spec sheet.

1. 316 marine-grade stainless steel — the pendant body

316 is the same alloy used in surgical instruments, marine rigging, and the better-quality watch case-backs. The "L" stands for low-carbon — it makes the alloy more corrosion-resistant and easier to machine to tight tolerances. We use it because it survives sweat, saltwater, gym chalk, and a decade of pocket-rub without pitting.

Alloy	Where you'll find it	Verdict
304 stainless	Kitchenware, lower-end jewellery	Will pit in salt water. Not used here.
316 stainless	Marine hardware, GoBlow pendant and Stacks	What we use. The reason your pendant survives day 3 of a festival.
Titanium Grade 5	Aerospace, some premium EDC	Lighter than steel. Not used here, we standardise on 316.

2. PVD coating — the colour layer

PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition. Instead of plating colour onto the surface (which flakes), PVD vapourises a metal compound under high vacuum and bonds it molecularly to the stainless underneath. The coating is harder than the base metal. It doesn't peel, it doesn't tarnish, and the colour goes all the way through the surface layer.

Process	Durability	What it costs
Electroplating	1-2 years before flaking	Cheapest
Anodising	5-10 years on titanium	Mid-range
PVD	10+ years on stainless	What we use on Black, Gold, Rose Gold

3. The Stacks body

Stacks are machined from the same 316 stainless as the pendant, and the reason is the thread. A sealing thread has to hold its pitch after years of being opened one-handed in a pocket. 316 keeps its dimensions through heat, cold and sweat without galling, so the seal still bites on the first turn years in. It is heavier than the aerospace alloys some brands reach for, and that weight is part of why the seal lasts.

How to verify what you're buying

Every GoBlow piece arrives with a small spec card listing the alloy, the PVD batch, and the QC operator's initials (from the Abbotsford bench). Independent acid-test kits for 316 cost about A$15 — if you ever doubt the spec, test it. We back you with the data.

Shop GoBlow — Verified Materials