Facts About Tungsten Rings

Tungsten rings are a very durable alternative to the traditonal gold or silver rings. These jewelry pieces can more accurately be called tungsten carbide rings, however. This compound is created by mixing powered tungsten and powdered black carbon and heating them to a very high temperature in the presence of hydrogen. Originally developed by Osram, a German electric bulb company in the early 1920s, this process to make tungsten carbide has generally been used to create industrial products. The strength of tungsten carbide materials lends itself well to long-wear jewelry, such as rings.

Features

Tungsten carbide rings look like steel, relatively heavy, scratch-resistant and can be combined with other materials, like black or blue carbon fiber or precious metals like gold, to create a special look. This material is a good alternative for various types of jewelery, from wedding bands to engagement rings.

Benefits

Using tungsten carbide for rings has several benefits. They do not need regular polishing. The original polish can last the lifetime of the ring. There is also a difference in price. A tungsten ring can cost from $55 to $150 dollars, depending on the retailer. The average gold wedding band, on the other hand, can easily start well above $100.

Other Benefits

Tungsten carbide is a very strong material, compared to the relatively soft gold and silver and does not cause the allergic reactions the more traditional metals can.

Dealers

There are many places that you can purchase tungsten carbide rings, but most appear to be online rather than in the store. Internet retailers for tungsten rings include TitaniumKay.com, Debebians.com, Titanium-Jewelry.com and ForeverMetals.com.

Precautions

There are imitations of tungsten rings that use a cobalt tungsten mixture rather than the tungsten carbide. These rings may cost as much as the real thing, but are not as durable and can cause you to develop an itchy rash on your finger or hand. Additionally, the oils on your hand cause the cobalt to oxide creating spots on the ring, according to ring retailer Debebians and Forever Metals.

Importance of the Binder

According to Forever Metals, you always should ask the retailer which sort of binder is used. If not, you most likely may be getting a ring that uses a cobalt binder, which is not has high quality as ones made with a nickel-binder. Nickel-binder, which does not cause allergic reactions and is durable, is best.

Resources

• Tungsten Rings
• Tungsten Rings and knock-offs
• Tungsten Rings
• Tungsten Carbide Development