Pros and Cons of Different Rings Metals

Stainless steel is used for a wide variety of products and is the least expensive of these three. However, this metal is more susceptible to damage through daily wear. While stainless steel is stylish, it may need to be replaced. When worn, it is slightly heavier than titanium, but lighter than tungsten. Chemicals like chlorine or bleach should not be used, and industrial solvents will also damage stainless steel.

Titanium is another affordable alternative to expensive metals and is significantly harder than gold and platinum. The most common grades for titanium jewelry are at least 85%. In addition, most titanium rings are hypoallergenic. Titanium can be damaged by strong acids but is a prime choice for jewelry because of its well-known corrosion resistance. This metal is also highly resistant to scratching and cracking, which makes it better for daily wear, and is lightweight for those who dislike heavy jewelry.

Tungsten is also an inexpensive yet stylish option for rings. Tungsten carbide is made from the rare metal tungsten and is one of the hardest metals in existence, registering as a 9 on the Mohs scale. Because of this, tungsten is highly scratch-resistant, and virtually no material other than diamond can cause damage. However, due to its brittleness, tungsten is liable to cracking. As far as wearability, tungsten rings are heavier and more dense than titanium rings, but this gives them a satisfying weight when worn. Do not clean tungsten rings with harsh chemicals like ammonia, bleach, or chlorine as these will damage your ring.