Tungsten Rings Pros and Cons

There are many pros and cons to tungsten rings.

Some people find them attractive because of their unique look, while others may not like the way they feel on the finger.

Either way, tungsten carbide rings bring their advantages and disadvantages.

This post presents them to help you make the best decision!

What is tungsten?

Tungsten is a chemical element with the atomic number 74 on the periodic table. Its symbol is W for its other name, Wolfram.

Tungsten usually occurs combined with other elements in nature, but it can be isolated as a metal. The metal was first isolated in 1783 and named after the Swedish word for heavy stone, tung.

The tungsten makes about 1.5 parts in million of the Earth’s crust. It is a rare metal, but it is not listed as a precious metal like gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

Tungsten is a hard, silver-gray metal with a melting point of 3422 degrees Fahrenheit or 1928 degrees Celsius.

It is a very dense metal. It has a density 19.25 g/cm³. It’s about two times as dense as silver and lead. It quadruples titanium’s density of 4.5 g/cm³.

It’s density almost exactly matches gold’s. This explains tungsten usage in fake gold bars.

There are counterfeits which put tungsten bars inside gold bars as their volume and weight won’t trigger suspicion at first sight. This is another good reason to prefer licensed and reputable dealers for precious metal bullion and coin purchases.

Tungsten is brittle at low temperatures but can be forged at high temperatures. It has one of the highest melting points of all metals and a very high boiling point.

Pros of tungsten rings

1. Color

When it comes to picking out the perfect color for your tungsten ring, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

The first thing to consider is what color will best match your skin tone. Whether you have cool skin, warm skin or dark skin color you can find many alternatives with tungsten rings.

Once you’ve determined that, you can start thinking about the type of look you want to go for. Luckily, with tungsten carbide wedding rings, we have an abundance of color choices, not just the gunmetal gray.

If you’re looking for a bold ring, your options are typically available in white or gray. This is the natural color of tungsten carbide. If you prefer something more subtle, black is a great option – it’s stylish and sophisticated without being too flashy.

More dynamic colors like yellow, purple or red are also cheerful options available for this strong metal alloy.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you – just make sure you pick a color that you’ll be happy with for years to come!

2. Hardness and durability

When you are looking for a ring that is going to last, you may want to consider a tungsten ring. Tungsten is a very durable material. Its rings are some of the hardest jewelry pieces that are available on the market. They are scratch-resistant and durable.

Tungsten is an incredibly hard metal on its own, rated an 8.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It is very high scrat resistance. It is almost impossible to dent.

It is much harder than titanium, which gets a 6 rating on the same scale. Yet, it is in the range with ceramic rings made from titanium carbide.

In addition, tungsten is also corrosion resistant, meaning that it is ready to serve you a long time. It does not tarnish over time.

This makes it an ideal choice for rings that need to stand up to daily wear and tear.

Tungsten is a great option for an engagement ring or wedding band, as it will last for years without needing minimum maintenance and any repairs or replacements.

While tungsten rings may not be as shiny as traditional gold or silver rings, they are still a beautiful option that will last for many years.

3. Hypoallergenic property

When it comes to rings, there are a variety of materials from which to choose. While many people might immediately think of gold or silver when they think of rings, there are other metals that can be used as well.

Tungsten is one such metal, and it is growing in popularity for its durability and hypoallergenic properties.

People with sensitive skin often have allergic reactions to certain metals. Symptoms include rashes, blisters, itching, swelling and even headaches at times.

Nickel and lead are two of the most common culprits. Avoid these and prefer nickel-free jewelry in order to stay safe.

Tungsten is a good option for those who want a beautiful ring but don’t want to worry about an allergic reaction. It is a hypoallergenic metal, meaning it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. This makes it a good choice for people with sensitive skin.

4. Price

Tungsten rings are an increasingly popular choice for wedding bands and other pieces of jewelry.

They are very durable, meaning they can withstand a lot of wear and tear, and they come in a variety of styles. Moreover, they are quite affordable as they carry smaller price tags than gold rings or palladium wedding bands.

As said above, tungsten is not a precious metal. It is traded at lower prices than gold or palladium. At the time of writing, tungsten prices were trading at about 1/6th of gold prices.

There is no doubt you can find your preferred design with an affordable price tag at your local jeweler, other brick and mortar or online retailers.

Be sure to do your research before buying from any website, as not all of them have quality rings at affordable prices.

Cons of tungsten rings

1. No resizing

When it comes to wedding rings, one factor you should consider before making your purchase is the resizing potential of the ring.

This is the first of the cons of tungsten wedding bands. We wouldn’t even think of adjusting size as a problem with white gold or sterling silver rings. Yet, that is not the case with tungsten carbide rings.

With age, weight change can change your finger size. So you may need to modify the ring to fit to the new dimensions.

With tungsten rings, there is no resizing option.

This durable metal is not easy to change shape. So it’s important that you get the ring size correct when you order.

Tungsten is a very hard metal and cannot be easily reshaped like other metals.

Thus, if the ring needs to be sized up or down, it will need to be completely replaced. This can be costly, so it’s best to make sure you know your ring size before ordering.

2. Limited availability

Tungsten rings are becoming a popular choice for wedding bands, as they are much less likely to scratch or dent than traditional gold or platinum bands.

However, tungsten rings are not as widely available as other ring materials. The producers and retailers of tungsten rings tend to be smaller businesses than those that sell traditional wedding bands.

This means that there is a greater variety of brands available for tungsten jewelry, but also that it can be more difficult to find the perfect ring from a nearby jewelry shop.

Conclusion: Should you get a tungsten ring?

 

Finalizing the decision of metal for your wedding band is not a light task. It must be taken seriously and treated the way it should!

There are many alternatives to consider from yellow gold to argentium silver, from palladium rings to rhodium plated sterling pieces.

Tungsten carbide rings are also significant choice which comes with advantages and disadvantages, like every other metal choice.

When thinking of the pros and cons of tungsten carbide rings, we must start with extreme durability and superior scratch resistance.

They are hard and durable.

The only thing that can scratch will probably be a diamond which has a 10 hardness level.

They weigh similar to gold as their density is nearly equal.

They come in a variety of colors besides the natural silver-gray tone.

Tungsten belongs to the safe metal list of hypoallergenic metals Thus, it is considered safe for people with skin sensitivity.

On the downside, for the cons of tungsten wedding bands, we must note that they are not resizable and are not available at every retailer.

At the end, there is no rose without thorns; the same goes for tungsten rings too. They bring benefits with a few drawbacks Yet, the pros outplay the cons, from our point of view.

At the last stage, it will come down to your personal preference, and we hope you take advantage of the tips we shared!