Our Materials — 316L, 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. 316L marine-grade stainless steel — the pendant body

316L 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.
316L stainless	Surgical, marine, GoBlow pendant	What we use. The reason your pendant survives day 3 of a festival.
Titanium Grade 5	Aerospace, jewellery, GoBlow Stacks	Half the weight of stainless, fully hypoallergenic.

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. Titanium Grade 5 — the Stacks body

Stacks need to be lighter than stainless because they live in a pocket, not on a chain. Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is the aerospace-grade alloy — half the weight of 316L, fully hypoallergenic, corrosion-proof in salt and chlorinated water, and machines cleanly enough to hold a fine-pitch thread that seals first turn.

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 316L cost about A$15 — if you ever doubt the spec, test it. We back you with the data.

Shop GoBlow — Verified Materials