Have you ever wanted a ring for yourself or partner that was affordable, looked cool, but also prevented allergies?
As many people have allergies to metals, atypical metals are now being chosen to make jewelry from, with many jewelry stores making rings and chains out of stainless steel, titanium, and even tungsten. Yet, out of all these hypoallergenic metals, tungsten has received the most myths surrounding it, meaning that people who could benefit from wearing tungsten rings do not choose them. Yikes.
Here, you will be guided through the common myths that surround tungsten rings, and the truth about them, helping you to make sense of this cool metal.
Myth: They Are Not Made of Tungsten
This myth is related to the hypoallergenic nature of tungsten rings, and people have concerns that all tungsten rings are mixed with other metals. This is partially true, but none of them are irritation-causing metals.
Tungsten carbide is an element that is a mixture of tungsten and carbon, which can be found in some rings, but it is inert, meaning it will not cause an allergy. If you want rings that are made from 100% tungsten, head to a website like Newman Bands and look at their selection.
Myth: Tungsten Is Not Metal
Many people see tungsten as a ceramic material, but this is not true. The correct classification of tungsten is cermetal, and in its purest form, it is a mixture of both metal and ceramics. However, in most cases, the metal compounds outweigh the ceramic ones, so while it is technically true that tungsten is a mixed metal, so are many others. Thus, it should be considered a metal.
Myth: Tungsten Is Brittle
There is a myth that tungsten rings are more prone to cracking, due to the amount of carbon that is found within them, but this is simply not the case. Like all metals, if you expose tungsten to daily wear, it will become weaker and may be more prone to becoming damaged. While tungsten is not chip or break-resistant, it would take a lot of pressure to break a tungsten ring, so don’t worry.However, please note that if you purchase a higher quality tungsten ring, it will be less prone to becoming damaged.
Myth: Tungsten Rings Cannot Be Removed In Emergencies
On the other side of the spectrum, many people believe that tungsten rings are so hard, that they cannot be cut off by medical teams during an emergency. Once again, this is not true. Any emergency room will have the appropriate equipment to remove a tungsten ring if they need to.
Myth: There Is No Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Tungsten
Throughout this article, there have been a few points made about cheap and expensive tungsten. More expensive tungsten is higher in the metal compounds and is not mixed with as many other metals as the cheaper versions. In cheaper rings, you can expect there to be mixtures of cobalt and nickel, both of which can heighten the chances of skin irritation. So, if you have sensitive skin, aim to purchase more pricey versions of tungsten rings.
