Tungsten carbide is a very popular material for making in the bridal jewelry industry, due to it’s useful properties.
Properties of Tungsten Carbide
- Extreme hardness
- Tungsten carbide (registering 9 on MOHS scale) is one of the hardest materials in the world, second to diamonds, which rank 10 on the Mohs scale. This means that Tungsten can be scratched only by diamond.
- High resistance to scratching
- Keeps its shine and polished look
- The attributes ‘forever polished’ and “most durable” is given to Tungsten due to the fact that the surface of the metal keeps that polished look free from scratches and marks.
- Tungsten carbide is roughly 10 times harder than 18k gold
Tungsten Carbide as a Ring
Tungsten Carbide rings will not discolour, rust, fade or develop a patina.
They are comfortable, hypoallergenic and are an affordable and durable alternative to your usual metals (gold & silver) as it is wear-resistant.
Emergency removal – A common myth about tungsten carbide rings is that they cannot be removed in case of emergency. They can certainly be removed in case of emergency by cracking them with a vice grip pliers.
Resizing – Because of their strength, as a general rule neither titanium nor tungsten carbide rings can be resized. However, both materials are inexpensive enough that simply replacing them is a viable option.
Color – Tungsten rings have a natural gunmetal grey color, and can also be seen in popular black versions. White tungsten is also an option for tungsten carbide rings, which offers a more “classic” appearance that resembles white gold or platinum.