Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Marvelous Variety of Tungsten Carbide Wedding Rings

By Kelley Lucas


People prefer the tungsten rings due to the strength, durability and affordability of the metal. For active couples who want a distinctive mean to symbolize their relationship, the tungsten wedding rings are the perfect choice.

For creating stunning rings, tungsten is forged into incredibly strong and durable alloys like carbon and later combined with nickel. Even though pure tungsten is prone to scratches and other similar damages to other metals, tungsten carbide is four times harder than titanium and nearly ten times harder than eighteen carat gold. Thus tungsten can be considered as the hardest metal used for commercial jewelry. For couples who are involved with physical activities that may nick or damage soft metals, tungsten wedding bands would be the safest choice. The polish of the ring is often considered permanent and will not wear off due to the metal's strength.

The tungsten rings are incredibly durable; however it is wise to remove the ring while engaging in heavy activities. Proper care should be given to the ring and it should be cleaned with mild cleansers and soft cloths. If possible, store the ring separately from other jewelry, particularly diamonds which can scratch the metals. Special care should be given to inset diamonds present in the tungsten engagement rings.

Titanium is a strong metal but not resilient like tungsten carbide. Over time titanium rings will scratch and lose their polish thus needing to be refinished. Tungsten alone (not tungsten carbide) is also much like titanium. Without the carbide it does not gain its extreme hardness and durability.

Only when tungsten is combined with a carbon alloy is it transformed into tungsten carbide, the strongest of all metals. Tungsten carbide is also a heavier metal than titanium which is very lightweight, making it more durable and better looking. Titanium rings look great new, and usually are less expensive.




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