Can Tungsten Rings Be Resized?

Tungsten is a popular trend in men’s wedding ring and fashion accessory looks. It comes in a variety of colors and textures. It has a great industrial style, and it’s a fraction of the price of some precious metals.

But there is one downside to Tungsten. Unfortunately, it cannot be resized. So, if your ring size changes for any reason, you may no longer be able to wear your ring.

This article will explain why the material cannot be resized and what you can do if your tungsten ring no longer fits.

Why Can’t Tungsten Rings Be Resized?

 Tungsten rings are made when the chemical compound tungsten combines with carbon atoms. The atomic bonding that occurs causes the material to act more like a ceramic than a metal. Although it’s still technically a metal, its characteristics change when it combines with non-metal elements, thereby taking on many ceramic properties.  

The process of resizing rings involves cutting the metal and adding or removing a metal of the same alloy. Because carbide rings are atomically bonded, they won’t bond with additional metals so it’s impossible to add or remove metal materials. Their ceramic properties also make them too brittle to cut.

Tungsten rings are formed via a sintering process that involves combining tungsten and carbon powder in a mold and heating them up in a hot furnace, so they become one solid piece. While you may think that heating the ring after it’s been formed will make it more malleable so as to allow a resize, this isn’t the case. The ring would need to be heated to such a high temperature for that to happen, that it would melt completely.

What Should I Do If My Tungsten Ring No Longer Fits?

It’s unfortunate that Tungsten cannot be resized, but one of the upsides is that it’s much more affordable than gold, silver, and other precious metals.  So if your tungsten ring no longer fits, you may just want to buy a new one.

What Should I Do if My Tungsten Ring Gets Caught on My Finger?

You may pick up your tungsten ring after not wearing it for some time only to find it no longer fits on your finger. If you try to push the issues, it may become stuck. Then what?

Fortunately, tungsten rings can be removed in emergency situations. Most hospitals and emergency responders are equipped with vice grips that can easily cut through tungsten rings.

Additionally, many agree that tungsten rings are safer to wear than their precious metal counterparts. This is because they will break or shatter when under substantial pressure. They differ from solid gold rings that bend around the finger causing damage when pressure is applied.   

Tungsten is the hot wedding ring and jewelry trend. Although tungsten rings can’t be resized, they will break or shatter under pressure. They are more affordable than gold and they can be removed in emergency situations.

Now that you know more about a tungsten ring’s properties, will you be considering adding one to your collection?