Tungsten comes from a Swedish term meaning “heavy stone.” Tungsten has a high melting point at an astounding 6,191 degrees Fahrenheit. Tungsten is rated at about a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness which is the same as Ruby or Sapphire and just below diamond (which is 10). Like these gems, tungsten is very scratch resistant and will not bend out of shape, but it will break if enough shock or pressure is applied to it. Tungsten is a dense metal which is what gives it the high quality feel of gold or platinum and also what led to its use in armor piercing tank ammunition. Tungsten rings cannot be resized.

Naturally tungsten carbide is a mute, grey color, but after being high polished with diamond paste and other finishing processes, the rings have a luster and shine like a mirror.

Tungsten as an element and an alloy has numerous uses. These uses span many fields from industry and military, to commercial and of course even jewelry with tungsten carbide rings, watches, pendants, and tungsten carbide bracelets. Tungsten might even be in your house, as the filaments in many household incandescent light bulbs are made from a small tungsten wire because of its ability to resist heat. Tungsten carbide does have some other novel uses. Tungsten carbide is used in the tips or ‘balls’ in ballpoint pens and in surgical instruments due to its wear resistance and precision grinding ability. Tungsten carbide is also used in many industries as extruding and drawing tools and masonry drill bits. Tungsten carbide is used in weights and counter weights. It is used instead of lead for bullets and shot and also as the weights for fishing.

Because they are so hard, Tungsten rings cannot be cut off by standard jewelry cutters, but they can be removed in case of an emergency. The trick is to apply pressure instead of trying to cut the ring. When the correct pressure is applied, the ring breaks into pieces. This can be done with specialized tools or standard vise grips. This is in fact better for the patient in many cases because tungsten’s hardness stops the ring from bending and damaging the finger.

Jewelry industry experts think that nearly 1 out of every 4 grooms-to-be will choose a tungsten carbide ring. As tungsten carbide rings gain in popularity, there are many unique styles and designs being made to choose from. Coupling these numerous styles with customizations such as laser engraving, stone setting, polishing, brushed finishes, and custom sizes and widths, the possibilities of finding a perfect tungsten carbide ring for him or her are near endless.