Despite being marketed as indestructible, there is no truth to this claim about tungsten rings. It is not difficult to see why this may be a common misconception among many people. Tungsten, after all, is one of the hardest substances out there, and tungsten rings are definitely a lot more durable than other rings made of traditional metals like gold and silver.
Can my tungsten ring be cut?
The truth is because of its hardness, tungsten is brittle and can definitely be cut off, especially in case of a medical emergency.
It will take more than a regular wire cutter or hacksaw to do this, but fortunately, most hospitals and medical facilities are equipped with tools necessary to cut a tungsten ring. To cut a tungsten ring, the most effective tool is a rotary saw with a diamond coated blade.
However, simply cutting off a tungsten ring that you are still wearing on your finger might not be the best or safest method. In an emergency, hospitals usually use another tool — vice grip pliers — to crack and shatter your tungsten ring. With this method, you can be free of your tungsten ring in a matter of seconds.
Removing a tungsten ring
Vice grip pliers are used to cause fractures at different points of your tungsten ring, weakening its tensile strength, which allows it to fall from your finger once it breaks into several pieces.
To do this, first, the emergency responder will lock the vice grip, turning the knob on the handle to open the mouth so that it is larger than the ring’s outer diameter. Then, they will place the mouth of the vice grip around the ring and tighten it by turning the knob clockwise, turning it until the teeth grasp the ring tightly and securely.
Next, the emergency responder will press the tab on the inside of the handle to unlock the vice grip and release the ring. Then they will turn the knob 180 degrees clockwise, setting the mouth of the vice grip so that it is just about 1-2 millimeters from the outer diameter of the ring when it is locked again.
After this, they will place the vice grip around the ring, squeezing the handles until the tool locks. Your tungsten ring is brittle, not malleable, and it will not bend with the force. Instead, the force applied by the vice grip will cause your ring to crack, form fractures, and break into pieces.
If you had bought your ring from a reputable retailer that offers a lifetime warranty, don’t forget to keep the larger pieces of your tungsten ring and send it to them for a replacement.
Why Standard Ring Cutters Do Not Work on Tungsten
Traditional jewellery ring cutters use a thin metal blade that slowly cuts through gold, silver, or platinum. These blades cannot make any impression on tungsten carbide because the ring is harder than the cutting blade. It would be like trying to cut a diamond with a butter knife.
How Tungsten Rings Are Removed in Practice
Rather than cutting, tungsten rings are removed by cracking. Vice-grip locking pliers apply concentrated pressure to one point of the ring, exploiting tungsten’s brittleness. The ring fractures cleanly and falls away.
This method is actually faster and safer than cutting. Gold ring removal with a ring cutter takes 2-5 minutes and generates heat. Tungsten ring removal with vice grips takes seconds with no heat.
Industrial Cutting of Tungsten
While standard tools cannot cut tungsten, industrial diamond-tipped saws and rotary tools can. However, this equipment is not available in hospitals or jewellers, and is unnecessary for ring removal. The vice-grip cracking method is the standard approach used by emergency services worldwide.
Shop Related Tungsten Rings
Explore our range of tungsten rings – tough yet safe:
- 8mm Christian Silver Tungsten Wedding Band with Black Cross Design
- 6mm/8mm High Polished Black Tungsten Ring
- 8mm Mens Black Brushed Tungsten Ring with Polished Green Interior