About tungsten

Tungsten (pronounced /ˈtʌŋstən/), also known as wolfram (/ˈwʊlfrəm/), is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.

A steel-gray metal, tungsten is found in several ores, including wolframite and scheelite. It is remarkable for its robust physical properties, especially the fact that it has the highest melting point of all the non-alloyed metals and the second highest of all the elements after carbon.Tungsten is often brittle[citation needed] and hard to work in its raw state; however, if pure, it can be cut with a hacksaw.The pure form is used mainly in electrical applications, but its many compounds and alloys are used in many applications, most notably in light bulb filaments, X-ray tubes (as both the filament and target), and superalloys. Tungsten is also the only metal from the third transition series that is known to occur in biomolecules.
Physical

In its raw form, tungsten is a steel-gray metal that is often brittle and hard to work. But, if pure, it can be worked easily. It is worked by forging, drawing, extruding, or sintering. Of all metals in pure form, tungsten has the highest melting point (3,422 °C, 6,192 °F), lowest vapor pressure and (at temperatures above 1,650 °C) the highest tensile strength.Tungsten has the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion of any pure metal. Alloying small quantities of tungsten with steel greatly increases its toughness.

Tungsten wedding ring

If you're a groom after a wedding ring that will permanently maintain its shine and look just like it did on the day your wife first slipped it on your ring finger, tungsten makes for a great - and economical - choice. That said, despite their low price point and cool look, tungsten wedding rings have some drawbacks.

FYI - your bride's diamond engagement ring won't be tungsten

Tungsten is not traditionally used as a material for use in an engagement ring. Nothing prevents the groom, however, from wearing a non-matching tungsten wedding band.

What is Tungsten?

Tungsten comes from the Swedish language meaning heavy metal. And yup - tungsten is heavy. Unlike white or yellow gold, tungsten is never going to scratch nor tarnish. Companies use tungsten in metal working, mining and oil exploration. Nuff said. Tungsten is about ten times harder than 18k gold. Because tungsten rings are so tough, it makes it difficult for jewelers to use it.

Pure tungsten is not typically used in wedding rings, but rather tungsten carbide. This is because elemental tungsten rings have been known to crack when dropped and are far less durable than tungsten carbide. Unfortunately, even tungsten carbide rings are not indestructible. tungsten ring broken

Tungsten can't be resized if you gain 30 pounds during married life and can't be engraved with an emotionally-charged saying. What you see in the store is what you'll get.

Tungsten rings often come with an inlay - that is to say - a strip of yellow gold in the middle of the ring. Look for them at your local jewelry store or online.

Perhaps the best part about tungsten wedding rings, aside from the perma-shine and their potential for highly unique wedding band styles, is the price. Tungsten wedding rings can be had for less than $200, and even less than $100.

And while you're bride isn't going to want to have a tungsten wedding ring to match yours nor are you going to even be able to find a decent looking tungsten and diamond engagement ring, of the alternative metals to platinum and gold, tungsten is right up there.