Tungsten carbide rings look like steel, relatively heavy, scratch-resistant and can be combined with other materials, like black or blue carbon fiber or precious metals like gold, to create a special look. This material is a good alternative for various types of jewelery, from wedding bands to engagement rings.
Using tungsten carbide for rings has several benefits. They do not need regular polishing. The original polish can last the lifetime of the ring. There is also a difference in price. A tungsten ring can cost from $55 to $150 dollars, depending on the retailer. The average gold wedding band, on the other hand, can easily start well above $100.
Tungsten carbide is a very strong material, compared to the relatively soft gold and silver and does not cause the allergic reactions the more traditional metals can.
There are many places that you can purchase tungsten carbide rings, but most appear to be online rather than in the store. Internet retailers for tungsten rings include TitaniumKay.com, Debebians.com, Titanium-Jewelry.com and ForeverMetals.com.
There are imitations of tungsten rings that use a cobalt tungsten mixture rather than the tungsten carbide. These rings may cost as much as the real thing, but are not as durable and can cause you to develop an itchy rash on your finger or hand. Additionally, the oils on your hand cause the cobalt to oxide creating spots on the ring, according to ring retailer Debebians and Forever Metals.
According to Forever Metals, you always should ask the retailer which sort of binder is used. If not, you most likely may be getting a ring that uses a cobalt binder, which is not has high quality as ones made with a nickel-binder. Nickel-binder, which does not cause allergic reactions and is durable, is best.