What tungsten carbide is
Tungsten carbide is tungsten bonded with carbon, held together by a metal binder. We've had our rings read with an XRF analyzer, and our unplated tungsten band came back at roughly 80% tungsten and 15% nickel. Carbon, which makes it a carbide is part of the alloy too, but not detectable in the metal scanner. Tungsten with a nickel binder is the standard recipe for jewelry tungsten carbide.
That alloy is why the surface holds up so well to everyday scratches, and why tungsten doesn't bend. A hard enough knock against stone or steel can crack a tungsten ring instead of denting it, and in an emergency a tungsten ring can be broken off a swollen finger rather than cut.
Colors and finishes
Natural tungsten carbide is a bright steel gray, the color of our silver tungsten rings, and unplated silver is the most durable finish we make. Black, brown, gold and rose gold come from IP (ion plating), a thin layer of color bonded to the tungsten. It holds its color through everyday wear; heavy abrasion over years can wear through at the edges. Our post on what IP plating is explains how it's done. Shop by color: black, brown, gold, rose gold.
Choosing a width
Width changes how a ring looks more than almost anything else. 8mm is broad and bold across the finger. 6mm is a quieter middle ground that suits most hands. 4mm and 2mm are slim bands, often worn as women's rings or stacked. We put the two most popular men's widths side by side in 6mm vs 8mm.
Getting the size right
Because tungsten can't be resized, size matters more than it would with gold. The difference between one half size and the next is less than half a millimeter across the inside of the ring, which is why string, paper strips and printable sizers so often land on the wrong size. We measure ring sizes with a digital caliper, and a comfort-fit band can also feel different from the ring you wear now. Our sizing guide walks through it, along with how a wedding band should fit. If your ring doesn't fit, we'll exchange it within 30 days.
Tungsten ring questions
What are the downsides of tungsten?
It can't be resized, it can crack under a hard enough impact instead of bending, it's heavier on the hand than titanium, and plated colors can eventually wear at the edges with heavy use. For most people those trade-offs are worth a band that stays scratch-free for years.
Why are tungsten rings so affordable?
Tungsten isn't a precious metal, so you aren't paying for gold, silver, or platinum by weight, but rather for the design and craftsmanship . Our single tungsten rings start at $119, and matching two-ring sets run up to about $500.
Can tungsten rings be resized?
No. Tungsten carbide is too hard to cut and re-solder the way a jeweler resizes gold or silver. If the size is wrong, we exchange the ring within 30 days. More detail: can tungsten rings be resized?
Is tungsten hypoallergenic?
Tungsten carbide itself is very stable, but jewelry tungsten, ours included, uses a nickel binder. The amount used is generally considered hypoallergenic, and even people with known nickel allergies rarely have a reaction. If you know you react or you'd rather not take the chance, consider black zirconium or tantalum instead. Our zirconium ring scanned at 99.8% zirconium, and our tantalum at around 99% tantalum. More in are tungsten rings hypoallergenic?
Is a tungsten ring safe if I work with my hands?
This is usually the real question behind "are tungsten rings safe." Tungsten doesn't bend, so in a crush injury it cracks rather than folding onto the finger, and an emergency room can break it off instead of cutting it. No ring is safe around spinning machinery or anything that can catch it, gold included, so take your ring off for that kind of work.
