Any thought on tungsten cobalt for a mans wedding band?

[gulliverseyes]

...or any general information on tungsten cobalt.

Thanks.

 

[sparklegrrl]

Tungsten carbide is what you are probably thinking of. Good quality tungsten carbide rings contain no cobalt as it irritates skin and can tarnish.

I think tungsten rings are a great idea for something different or for someone with a job that they may not want to wreck a ring at. They are scratch resistant, they do not bend, they''re very heavy, 10X harder than 18K gold, 4X harder than titanium. It can still be cut off in case of emergencies, just like a gold ring.

Only problem is it can''t be sized, it can only be engraved with laser etching - not everywhere does this, etc. It can be chipped or shattered if it takes a super hard blow. I''ve heard of the bracelets breaking when falling onto a marble floor. Not too sure about that one since the cobalt free tungsten is supposed to not shatter - not sure.

I want to buy one for my fiance as an alternative ring to wear to work since he probably would not be able to damage it or scratch it.

Here is a little something I found about it on a website:

"Tungsten is a very hard and dense metal, mined from Wolframite ore and symbolized by a (W) on the periodic table of elements. It melts at an extraordinary 6,100 degrees Fahrenheit–the highest melting point of all metals. On its own, tungsten is vulnerable to scratches and damage just like any other metal, such as titanium and steel. Tungsten does not gain its extreme hardness until it is combined with a carbon alloy, transferring it into tungsten carbide (WC) with a hardness between 8.5 and 9.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Tungsten carbide is four times harder than titanium, twice as hard as steel, is virtually unscratchable, and has been widely used for decades in industrial applications such as cutting tools, mining machinery, and rocket engine nozzles.

The unique formula of our tungsten carbide allows these rings to be both visually stunning and durable enough for every-day use. You are no longer required to constantly remove and replace your ring in order to protect its finish."

 

[Sparkalicious]

My colleague''s husband changed his platinum band for a tungsten band with small centre diamond. He loves it. It wears really well and doesn''t show "wear" as much as platinum does and it is really comfortable .. I think the one he has is a comfort fit band?? not sure. It''s still as shiny as the day they got it. This being said, he is an office guy so it doesn''t get a lot of wear and tear, so to speak.

Are you interested in getting a tungsten band for yourself?

 

[gulliverseyes]

Thanks for the great info ... yes, this would be for me.

I''ve never worn any jewelry other than a watch, so it''s difficult to think of what I want.

Sounds good, I''ll look at some TC rings soon.

 

[Sparkalicious]

Good stuff! You''re welcome.

If you are interested, Trew Tungsten by Trent West has a good selection.

Here is a link

 

[gulliverseyes]

/\ Very nice! These are very cheap on overstock and HSN ($60-$90), do you know what the high-end trewtungsen''s go for?

 

[Sparkalicious]

Date: 1/10/2008 2:16:17 PM
Author: gulliverseyes
/ Very nice! These are very cheap on overstock and HSN ($60-$90), do you know what the high-end trewtungsen''s go for?

I really don''t know ... Sorry. I''m sure someone else on PS might be able to assist with that.

 

[TravelingGal]

The high end trew tungsten ones go for a few hundred bucks. And to clarify what another poster said, I believe they cannot be "cut" off like gold...but it is brittle and can be broken off with a vise, or something like that.

I would recommend http://www.tungstenpride.com/ My husband loves his ring. And Tungsten Pride does quarter sizes too which is nice. They are more expensive (but cheaper than Trew Tungsten, I believe), but I loved working with them.

And yes, it doesn''t scratch. I watched in horror as my husband demonstrated this at Disneyland to his parents. He took his hand/ring and dragged it all along a concrete wall. Not a single scratch...phew!

Here is his ring...

It''s darker in real life...