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Dispelling Some Common Myths Regarding Tungsten Wedding Bands

Synka | Dec 06, 2009 | 0 comments

The fastest growing trend in wedding ring styles has come about with the newfound availability of Tungsten Wedding Bandss. Wedding rings made from tungsten carbide have been produced in small numbers and simple styles available at a select number of jewelers for years, but never before have there been so many different kinds of Tungsten Wedding Bands to suit every personality available from so many sources. The exponential growth of online commerce has now made accessible many less conventional goods and services to people in geographical areas who were not previously being optimally served, and tungsten wedding bands can now be found and happily worn by anybody who wishes. My spouse and I actually wear tungsten wedding bands ourselves, a move which we decided on after both of us had purchased and worn some fashion tungsten rings and been extremely impressed by their strength and quality. To help you to be a smart shopper, this article will address some common and lesser known facts about tungsten wedding bands as well as dispel some widespread myths.
Tungsten carbide, the material used to make all wedding bands, is an alloy of tungsten, carbon, and small amounts of other binder metals that are also in standard use in the production of most gold jewelry; nickel is the most commonly used example of such a binder. Even when tungsten wedding bands are marketed as “pure tungsten”, what the seller is really trying to say is that the highest quality tungsten carbide has been used. This is because pure tungsten in its elemental form is very brittle and does not polish well, so there is no such thing as “pure tungsten” jewelry. Some tungsten carbide alloys are made with a cobalt binder, but those should be avoided for several reasons. Cobalt is a highly reactive metal that causes an allergic reaction for most people and binds to far too many substances (even the oils in your hand!) for it to last very long without your ring ending up with some nasty discolorations! All in all, cobalt binders result in tungsten wedding bands that will not hold up or be pleasant to wear. Reputable retailers of good quality products will not carry tungsten wedding bands containing cobalt, and will make this very clear on their websites.
Tungsten wedding bands are best known for their incredible strength and durability, which they absolutely possess, but this has unfortunately led to many people drawing incorrect conclusions about Tungsten Wedding Bands. One story that has been making the rounds as an e-mail forward and general discussion topic is the idea that they are impossible to break, and should an injury to the hand occur that would require the removal of a tungsten wedding band, the patients finger would have to be cut off instead. This is a MYTH! No ring of any material is totally indestructible, and every hospital emergency room and jeweler has a set of vise grips which place incremental pressure on a ring to easily shatter it with no additional injury to the hand. So wear your tungsten wedding band with confidence– just be sure the retailer you order from provides a solid warranty!