Tungsten Bands Are Trendy and Tasteful

Many jewelers offer pure tungsten wedding bands which lack the hardness of tungsten carbide and can scratch quite easily. Some offer tungsten rings made with cobalt binder because it is cheaper to produce than nickel-binder carbide. We caution you against buying from a jeweler that doesn’t specify that their tungsten wedding bands are made with the nickel binder alloy.

Tungsten rings make great wedding bands for men, as well. Tungsten requires minimal cleaning and maintenance, will last a lifetime and retains a luxurious polish. Tungsten rings come in several different styles and colors, including black. If you choose a polished finish for your tungsten ring, any blemishes or small scratches that appear on it can easily be eliminated with soft cloth. Because of their extreme hardness (tungsten carbide scores between 8 and 9 on on the Mohs hardness scale), tungsten rings can sometimes cause other metals they come in contact with to become embedded in them.

Tungsten Carbide is commonly referred to as the engagement band that is permanently polished. Tungsten carbide is the most durable ring anybody can purchase. Tungsten by itself could shatter when dropped and easily cracks due to its unique hardness, so therefore requires carbide to prevent shattering. On its own, tungsten is vulnerable to scratches and damage just like any other metal, such as titanium and steel. Tungsten does not gain its extreme hardness until it is combined with a carbon alloy, transferring it into tungsten carbide (WC) with a hardness between 8.5 and 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.

There are manufacturers making rings out of tungsten alloy, a soft, non-sintered metal that is easier to process and manufacture. These alloys lack the hardness needed to create a highly polished and scratch-resistant surface. A nickel binder is the preferred formulation for tungsten carbide rings, as many other binders can cause your ring to discolor with wear. Many inexpensive rings use one of these lesser binders, and aren’t pleasant to wear or look at!

Nickel-binder alloys are superior for several reasons: * Nickel-binder tungsten carbide is hypoallergenic, chemically inert and therefore will not oxidize, cause rashes, or irritate the skin. * We do not use cobalt as it can have an adverse reaction with the wearer’s skin, sometimes causing a rash. * Cobalt bonds with oils in the skin and leeches out of the ring resulting in oxidation. The oxidation appears similar to tarnished sliver, but cannot be removed by polishing or grinding. Nickel, on the other hand, does not bond with oil and therefore does not oxidize.

Learn more about tungsten bands and find the best tungsten carbide ring at Tungsten Rings and Bands!