Tungsten carbide has become increasingly popular in contemporary jewelry. Although the metal itself was originally discovered in 1781, it was not commonly used until the early 20th century. Then, in the 1920s and 1930s, tungsten and tungsten alloys began to be regularly used for industrial applications, such as the milling and cutting of iron and steel. Later, during World War II, tungsten was used in the manufacture of weapons.
Over the past several years, tungsten jewelry has become more and more common, particularly in wedding rings and men’s jewelry. For example, tungsten bracelets for men are one of the hottest new trends in male fashion. While not as common, tungsten carbide can also be found in a variety of women’s jewelry. Once you know a little more about this amazing metal, you’ll understand why tungsten jewelry makes a great gift.
- Tungsten is economical. It’s easy to find affordable, quality tungsten jewelry for both men and women either at your local jewelry stores or on the Internet. Many reputable online jewelry retailers offer an impressive array of styles, all at remarkably inexpensive prices.
- Tungsten is strong. In fact, it’s 10 times harder than 18k gold and 4 times harder than titanium! Tungsten carbide pieces are the hardest handmade jewelry available. This hard, dense nature makes it extremely scratch resistant. While its strength is definitely an advantage over other metals, it’s not indestructible – because it is so dense, it can crack or shatter under extreme pressure.
- Tungsten jewelry comes in a variety of styles and finishes. As it turns out, this strong metal, originally used in industrial applications, happens to make some spectacular, beautiful pieces of jewelry. The selection is amazing – from shiny, high luster finishes to more subdued satin-finished pieces to faceted and engraved surfaces. You’ll find not only the traditional silvery white-gray tone, but also black and gold tones as well. Inlays are becoming increasingly popular in tungsten jewelry: carbon fiber, shell, wood and many more! One lovely example of tungsten jewelry for women comes in the form of a gold-plated tungsten wedding band. Although the metal is found for the most part in men and women’s wedding rings, you’ll also find it increasingly in other types of jewelry as well, such as men’s tungsten bracelets. Take, for example, a high-polished black finish bracelet or a two-tone tungsten bracelet for men. The variety of looks and styles in tungsten jewelry is truly incredible.
Considering all the advantages of tungsten carbide, it’s not surprising that modern jewelry artisans decided to make use of it in their creations. Although the traditional precious metals used in jewelry for many years – namely, gold, silver, platinum and palladium – certainly have an allure, the more contemporary materials, like tungsten, provide jewelry buyers with the opportunity to purchase truly high quality pieces at remarkably affordable prices. Years ago, any piece of fine jewelry would cost you a small fortune, but that’s simply not true anymore due to the increased popularity of contemporary materials like tungsten carbide.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the holidays or any other time, check out the huge assortment of tungsten jewelry available in local stores and especially on reputable jewelry websites. No matter what may be on your shopping list – from women’s pendants and rings to men’s tungsten bracelets – you’re certain to find the perfect gift for those hard-to-buy-for individuals among the enormous selection of modern jewelry available today. Better yet, you don’t have to break the bank to buy fine quality gifts for your friends and family. So what are you waiting for? An amazing assortment of tungsten jewelry is online – only a few mouse clicks away!
Cindy White writes about tungsten bracelets and other jewelry for JustMensRings.com.
