Unlike before, when jewellery was often made of either gold or silver, there are a lot more options on the market today. One of the top choices for jewellery, especially wedding bands, is tungsten. Tungsten rings are becoming popular because they are durable, practical, and more affordable than traditional options.
While it is not true that tungsten is indestructible, tungsten carbide rings are extremely durable. Due to its hardness, a tungsten ring is resistant to scratches, and due to its properties, it also resists tarnishing, fading, and corrosion.
But what about the price of tungsten rings? How much do tungsten rings cost?
Is a tungsten ring expensive?
There is no ready answer to the question on whether a tungsten ring is expensive or not. If you search for it online, you will see tungsten rings in an incredibly wide price range. Some tungsten rings will be priced as low as $5, while others will belong to the higher $200 to $500 price range.
Either way, though, tungsten rings are generally still more economical than traditional rings. But how do you decide which tungsten ring to get? Are the more expensive tungsten rings worthier to get than their cheap counterparts? Read on to find the two factors that you must know to understand why some tungsten rings cost higher than others.
1. Material
A ring might be marketed as a tungsten ring, and while it is, indeed, made of tungsten, it might not be the jewellery-grade kind. Material is a very important factor in choosing a good tungsten carbide ring. Avoid cheaper industrial-grade tungsten carbide rings that are mixed with cobalt binder. These rings fade, tarnish, and rust over time, undermining the quality of the ring. Aside from that, the cobalt in the ring might cause adverse reactions to your skin.
Instead, research carefully and only choose jewellery-grade tungsten rings. These tungsten carbide rings use nickel binder instead of cobalt, which makes it resistant to scratches, tarnishing, discolouring, and oxidation.
2. Warranty
The second thing that you must consider when shopping around for a tungsten ring is the service being offered by the retailer. When buying cheaper rings from Amazon, eBay, or Alibaba, you can expect that absolutely no form of warranty will come with your ring.
On the other hand, if you buy a tungsten ring from a reputable retailer or manufacturer, most of the time, they will offer you a lifetime warranty. For example, if your ring size changes and your ring does not fit you anymore, you can simply send it back to them and they will replace it. They will also replace your ring if it gets broken (which is rare but possible).
Tungsten rings usually cost a lot lower than rings made of precious metals like gold and platinum. But don’t expect tungsten rings to be dirt-cheap. If you want a good quality tungsten ring that will last you a long time and peace of mind that comes from having a lifetime warranty, then the best option is to buy your ring from a reputable retailer, even at a more expensive price.