You might have come across tungsten rings once or twice during your search for jewellery or wedding bands. Tungsten rings are actually among the most popular choices for wedding rings nowadays. These alternative jewellery are a lot more affordable than traditional jewellery made of gold or platinum without looking cheap.
Another thing that makes a tungsten ring stand apart is its extraordinary hardness and durability. Ranking 8-9 on the Mohs hardness scale, tungsten carbide is a lot harder than other metals. In fact, tungsten carbide is the hardest metal used for jewellery.
But despite its popularity, there is still a lot to be known about tungsten rings. For starters, many people wonder how and where tungsten rings are made. It makes sense to want to know these things about tungsten rings especially if you are considering getting these for wedding bands. After all, you will be wearing these wedding bands for a long time.
What are tungsten rings made out of?
Though they are most commonly just called tungsten rings, the correct name is actually “tungsten carbide” ring. Tungsten carbide is an alloy of tungsten and carbon. It is carbon that gives tungsten carbide its signature strength and durability.
Aside from tungsten carbide, genuine jewellery-grade tungsten rings also contain a nickel binder. Ideally, tungsten carbide should make up for 85% of the ring, and the remaining 15% will be the binder. Avoid industrial-grade tungsten rings that use a cobalt binder because these are not as strong as jewellery-grade rings. Also, wearing one can cause skin irritations.
How do you make tungsten carbide?
In order to make tungsten carbide, a mixture of tungsten and carbon is needed. In making this alloy, the tungsten and carbon compound needs to come together at an extremely high temperature, which is around 1,400 to 2,000 degrees Celsius or 2,552 to 3,632 degrees Fahrenheit.
It may also involve another method which uses a pulveriser to powderise both the tungsten and carbon elements. The powders will be collected and electricity will be used to heat the powders to weld them together.
How are tungsten rings made?
There are several steps required to create the beautiful tungsten ring of your dreams.
First, the powderised tungsten metal and carbon are put inside a mould in the shape of a ring. This mixture is compressed, and the mould is heated to about 1400 degrees Celsius.
Next, the ring blank created in the first step, which is rough and blank, will go through many steps of polishing to achieve a mirror-like finish. Because tungsten carbide is incredibly hard, a diamond polishing paste will be used instead of traditional polishing wax.
After this process, the ring will go through another finishing process if it requires a satin, brushed, or matte finish. This time, diamond-coated wheels or discs will be used to scuff the surface of the ring.
Next, if gemstones will be set in the ring, a high-power laser machine will be used to cut holes in it. This can be a challenge because tungsten rings are not malleable unlike traditional rings. Blanks may also be created in your ring for setting inlays like gold, silver, ceramic, or stones.
Finally, you may request for personalised engraving in your tungsten ring. Yes, it is a myth that tungsten rings cannot be engraved! Using a laser machine, your tungsten ring can be engraved and personalised to reflect inscriptions or messages of your choice.