Tungsten ring quality?

[MissHell]

Anyone know how well/long tungsten rings last?

How do they compare to to other metals? Like white gold or platinum?

[pauldun170]

from reekipaedia

Domestic

Tungsten carbide is sometimes used as the rotating ball in the tips of ballpoint pens to disperse ink during writing.[15]

Tungsten carbide can now be found in the inventory of some jewelers, most notably as the primary material in men's wedding rings. When used in this application the bands appear with a lustrous dark hue often buffed to a mirror finish. The color is more similar to that of hematite than to that of platinum. The finish is highly resistant to scratches and scuffs, holding its mirror-like shine for years. Although it is possible to inlay precious metals, woods, and other materials, these are less scratch-resistant than tungsten carbide.

A common misconception held concerning tungsten carbide rings is they cannot be removed in the course of emergency medical treatment, requiring the finger to be removed instead. Emergency rooms and many full-service jewelry repair shops are equipped with jewelers' saws that can cut through tungsten carbide rings [16] without injuring the hand or finger. An easier way to remove tungsten carbide rings is to use a tool such as vice grip style locking pliers, which can be used to shatter the ring. [17]

Many manufacturers of this emerging jewelry material state that the use of a cobalt binder may cause unwanted reactions between the cobalt and the natural oils on human skin. Skin oils cause the cobalt to leach from the material. This is said to cause possible irritation of the skin and permanent staining of the jewelry itself. Many manufacturers now advertise that their jewelry is "cobalt free". This is achieved by replacing the cobalt with nickel as a binder.[18]

[TommyHotWheel]

I love my Tungsten ring. I am a machinist, machine maintainance, home mechanic and professional clutz and this ring is standing up to everything I do to it. It doesnt scratch and looks like the day I bought it. My wife liked it so much, she got one instead of the gold one she picked.

[cbrchick]

my hubby's ring is tungsten. He loves it and so do I. Exceptionally tough material. He still wears his on the ship, although he runs the risk of loosing his finger if he gets it caught somewhere. Difficult to cut off fingers in an ER setting.

He managed to chip with window of our Volvo a little while ago when he went to tap a bug on the inside. Lucky for us, a sliver just came off the top of the window, and not smash the whole thing.

So be careful.

[karl_1052]

My buddy has had his for about 5 years now.
They are durable, but they are also expensive.

Titanium rings are getting popular up here too. Lighter, and cheaper.

[marko138]

Originally Posted by karl_1052

My buddy has had his for about 5 years now.
They are durable, but they are also expensive.

Titanium rings are getting popular up here too. Lighter, and cheaper.

My wedding ring is titanium.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by karl_1052

My buddy has had his for about 5 years now.
They are durable, but they are also expensive.

Titanium rings are getting popular up here too. Lighter, and cheaper.

$20 on eBay. ..

http://m.ebay.com/Pages/ViewItem.asp...0rings&emvcc=0

[BobTheBiker]

in terms of durability, tungsten carbide is tough ass material. I mean you find it in saw blades, used for teeth on large hydraulic excavators, and a lot of applications requiring tough materials to survive lots of abusive conditions.

as far as its use in jewelery, I have no clue, but I"d imagine itd hold up quite well for a long time and still look good, based on its resistance to abraision and general durable nature.

[EpyonXero]

Why do people want tungsten rings? Because its durable? I dont wear jewelry but I always thought the point was to wear a precious metal.

[Amber Lamps]

I love my tungsten ring! I also have a Movado Fiero watch that is made of tungsten that has survived without a scratch.