We did something crazy this past weekend – well, more just crazy exciting. We got the chance to be a part of a wedding show right in our home city of Minneapolis, MN.
The day of the show brought a rush of adrenaline, lots of good conversations, and the occasional whiff of cupcakes from a few booths down. At the end of the day, we walked away reminded of the enduring popularity of Tungsten.
So, what’s the big deal about Tungsten? It seemed to be the one type of men’s wedding ring everyone had questions about… what’s so good about it… is there a catch? You can find an overwhelming amount of information out there about Tungsten, so decided to shed some light on the issue. And we promise to keep it short and sweet.
Tungsten, aka “Tungsten Carbide”, is the hardest metal known to man. How hard is it, exactly? On the Mohs scale of hardness, it’s ranked at a 9 while diamonds sit right at a 10, being the hardest substance on earth. What does this mean for you? It’s very hard to scratch.
Tungsten is often considered hypoallergenic and, for the most part, it is. Tungsten is a powder in its purest form, so to form rings, it needs a binder to stick it all together. Think of it like eggs in a cookie recipe – they help everything stick. This binder in the Tungsten used by most jewelers is nickel. It’s a very small amount, but if you have a severe nickel allergy, it might be best to stray away from Tungsten. Now that we’ve got a basic understanding of Tungsten, let’s get to some pros and cons.
PROS:
- Tungsten is incredibly scratch resistant. It will take wear and tear like a champ and keep its like-new look.
- It is a heavy-weight metal, much like the feel of 18k gold, and it is strong and durable.
- Tungsten can be removed from the finger upon medical emergency. It is a common myth that it cannot be removed, and it’s simply not true.
CONS:
- As strong as Tungsten is, it is a bit more brittle than other metals. So, it may not bend, but if extreme force is applied to it, it can break or chip. This is rare but can occasionally happen under the right (or wrong!) circumstances.
- Tungsten cannot be resized. Lucky for you, here at Stoberi, we can help you get a new size should you ever need one.
Overall, Tungsten continues to be one of the absolute best materials for rings. That was evident from the reaction of the soon-to-be brides and grooms at our recent wedding show. It is strong, durable, scratch resistant, and just plain good looking.
Interested in trying out a Tungsten ring? We have a new collection of Tungsten rings, just released at the beginning of 2022. Check them out here. And as always, we offer free returns and exchanges, so if you decide it’s not for you, we’ll take it back – no cost, no fuss.
And if tungsten isn’t right for you, be sure to check out our other ring collections here. Either way, we’re glad to be a stop along your journey, and happy ring hunting!
-A.M.