Why Do Tungsten Rings Break?

The harder a material is, the more brittle it becomes. Tungsten rings are made from the hardest metal known to man.

Tungsten Rings are now the metal of choice for grooms all across America. One of the main reasons men choose tungsten carbide rings is because they are touted as the toughest metal in the world. They resist scratching much better than any other metal out in the marketplace. Many people take this to mean the rings are indestructible. When a tungsten ring is dropped on a hard surface, it can break or crack.

Does tungsten shatter?

Tungsten rings can shatter when enough force is applied to them. Tungsten is the hardest metal on earth. This means that instead of bending like a gold ring, tungsten has to break.

Tungsten rings are made from the most scratch resistant metal on the planet. That is a fact. Reputable jewelers who sell tungsten wedding bands will never tell you tungsten rings can't break or are indestructible. Take diamonds for example, they are the hardest material on Earth, even harder than tungsten carbide. Nothing can scratch a diamond except another diamond. Many people think this means diamonds are indestructible, but that simply isn't true. Diamonds cannot be scratched, but they can be destroyed. If you take a hammer to a diamond, it will easily chip or crack.

Tungsten vs Gold

We all know that gold is a soft metal. It will bend if struck with force, not break. It can scratch easily and we can even bend it with our bare hands. We may even call this Gold's weakness, but is it really a weakness or a strength? Well, that depends on what you want from the metal. There is no such thing as a perfect metal. Just like there are no perfect people. If you prefer a ring that doesn't scratch easily, then tungsten is the way to go. If you want a ring that doesn't break or crack when dropped, then gold is the way to go.

We are all familiar with the game "Rock, Paper & Scissors". As a child we learned each of the three items has its strengths and weaknesses. No one item is superior in every situation. This is the same principle when it comes to tungsten or any other metal used to make jewelry.

Our Lifetime Warranty

How can you protect yourself against accidental breakage of your tungsten ring? Make sure you purchase your tungsten ring from a reputable jeweler that offers a lifetime warranty, which covers your ring against damage at no cost. Many jewelers know tungsten rings can break, so they offer a lifetime warranty, but don't disclose up front there are fees you have to pay if you need your ring replaced. This is because they know you will have to replace it, and they just want to make money off you when you do.

Larson Jewelers also carries a wide selection of titanium, cobalt, silver, palladium, and ceramic rings. You may also visit Larson Jeweler's Facebook, for the latest news or discussions on our rings.