A sinterable powder of zirconium dioxide and additives from the group of oxides consisting of titanium, tantalum, as well as optionally magnesium, aluminum, scandium, yttrium and rare earths, incorporated in the crystal lattice of the zirconium dioxide. The sinterable powder is obtained by coprecipitation of zirconium hydroxide and the hydroxides and/or hydrated oxides of the additives from an essentially aqueous solution, with drying and calcining. Hydrolysis-sensitive starting materials, such as, TiCl.sub.4, are used in the form of their reaction products with multivalent alcohols, such as, ethylene glycol.