Wedding bands are more than just pieces of jewellery. They are a symbol of eternal love that signifies commitment between two people who are in love, and who chose to live the rest of their lives together.
Most women envision a diamond ring made with shiny gemstones that sparkle each time it catches the light. Whereas for men, wearing wedding bands was never really regarded as tradition up until after World War II.
Today, wedding bands for both the bride and groom are considered a tradition in many parts of the world. Thus, brides and grooms have a variety of wedding bands to choose from. While brides have shiny, expensive engagement rings. Grooms tend to settle for more practical wedding bands such as tungsten wedding bands that are more durable.
But even so, mens wedding bands' tungsten must be maintained to keep it looking polished. Want to know more about the benefits of tungsten wedding bands and tungsten ring maintenance? Keep reading!
What is Tungsten?
First thing's first, let's learn about the composition used to make tungsten wedding bands - tungsten carbide. Tungsten itself is known as one of the hardest metals in the world. Tungsten wedding bands are not made out of pure tungsten and instead are non-organic compounds formed by binding equal parts of carbon and tungsten. However, it still maintains its rigidity.
These two compounds are then combined, forming a gray powder which is what's known as tungsten carbide. This powder is then used to be shaped into all sorts of things including heavy industrial machines, electrical equipment, jewellery, and much more.
Benefits of a tungsten ring
So, what are the benefits of having a tungsten wedding band? Tungsten is the material of choice for people when they want to produce something durable and solid which means your wedding band will withstand all types of pressure.
Your tungsten ring itself would be a symbol of infinity as it does not fade or tarnish over time, maintaining its lustre and shine for many years.
Tungsten wedding bands are also scratch and water-resistant. Compared to other wedding bands on the market, tungsten rings are the most affordable. Not suggesting you should lose it, but in case you do lose your tungsten wedding band, at least it would not cost a fortune to get another! And you can even get the exact same one.
How to clean a tungsten ring
While your tungsten ring is durable and scratch-resistant, your hands touch a lot of surfaces so there's bound to be some dirt and grime developing over time. But don't fret! Because cleaning it is so easy! Just follow these simple steps using items that you can easily find in your household.
- Get a small cup or container and fill it up with lukewarm water.
- Add a few drops of mild dish soap into the water and give it a little mix.
- Soak your ring in the solution for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Take your ring out and dry it on a paper towel.
- If you still see some dirt on your ring, use an old toothbrush to scrub the stubborn parts away. What the solution does is to loosen up dirt so that you can easily scrub them off.
Using mild dish soap will be enough to clean your wedding band as harsh chemicals such as chlorine, bleach, or ammonia can erode it. This is because both tungsten and carbon are natural elements. Because of this, jewellers would advise you to take off your tungsten wedding bands if you're cleaning with chemicals or if you're going swimming.
Tungsten wedding bands are extremely resistant to scratches. However, there is one thing that can scratch it, and it is the only thing that's harder than tungsten, diamond. So, be sure that if you are storing your ring, cover it in a piece of cloth and keep it away from any loose diamonds that might scratch it.
Why you should really go for a tungsten wedding band
Let's face it, men want wedding bands that are reliable and most importantly low maintenance. With tungsten wedding rings all you need is some water and a few drops of dish soap every now and then to clean it off of dirt and grime.
Say you've forgotten to clean in it a long time? It will still be looking good, but perhaps a little less shiny. And you'll probably be fine with that. Then when you need it looking polished, all it takes is 15 minutes.