When it comes to wedding celebrations, one of the most important aspect of this spectacular event is the exchange of rings, which these days often includes tungsten. Wedding rings are one of the most important symbols of marriage around the world. Although mostly part of the western culture, the exchange of gifts is now a traditional event practiced by at least some people in every industrialized country, and the tungsten carbide wedding ring has a rightful place in the modern spread of this custom. So what is a tungsten carbide wedding ring made of?
The Evolution of Wedding Rings: From String to the Tungsten Carbide Band
In ancient cultures in which wedding bands were worn, the earliest wedding rings were made from cords or woven grasses simply tied around the ring finger. The ancient Egyptians improved upon this concept considerably by casting their wedding rings in pure gold, which was plentiful in their region at the time. The use of gold in wedding bands has held steady, though pure gold is much too soft and gold wedding bands today are most commonly made from 14 karat or 18 karat yellow, white, or two tone and tricolor gold. Even these stronger variations on gold are simply too fragile or expensive for some, though, and the answer to these problems is the tungsten carbide wedding band.
The main attraction of tungsten carbide wedding bands for most is the remarkable strength a tungsten carbide band possesses. A tungsten carbide band is made through a process similar to ceramics that heats and pressure molds the tungsten, carbon, and binder metals in powder form. The resulting tungsten carbide wedding band is then polished with diamonds, and tungsten wedding bands are known for scratch resistance and immunity to tarnishing, so this single polishing is for life. Use of diamond dust polishing equipment is necessary because a tungsten band is almost as hard as diamonds and traditional tools and substances used on other rings simply will not work on a tungsten carbide band. Additionally, cleaning a tungsten carbide wedding band is best done with soap, water, and a soft fabric cloth. NEVER put tungsten wedding bands through an ultrasonic cleaner; this can actually destroy the structure of your ring at a molecular level. However, a tungsten band will never discolor or react with your skin, sea water, or chlorinated water in a swimming pool.
The tungsten carbide band is the choice of more and more couples heading to the altar because its unique gunmetal color stands out from traditional wedding rings, and they like the tungsten carbide wedding band for its symbolism as well. Since tungsten wedding bands never lose their shine and are incredibly strong and durable, a tungsten band obviously lends itself well to the endless love symbolism of a wedding ring itself. If you think a tungsten carbide band might be the ring for you, it is advisable to go to a jeweler to check your ring size, but then shop online to make your actual purchase. The price of a tungsten carbide wedding band will always be competitive compared to other metals, but the heavy competition and lower costs for online retailers makes theirs even better.
