Most pieces of jewelry are made with gold and silver. But there has been a recent drift from the traditional gold and silver to tungsten. If you are on this page, I believe that you have concerns and want to know if tungsten will rust and leave you feeling like you wasted money.
First, you should know that these metals will not rust if your jewelry is made from genuine metals. If you are getting quality tungsten jewelry and keeping them properly, you can expect to always have them looking new and shiny.
Also, you already have some pieces of tungsten jewelry and they are not looking so good. You should read this article to find out what is wrong.
Does tungsten rust?
Tungsten does not rust. This metal creates a stable oxide layer on exposure to moisture and oxygen. This layer protects it from rust and keeps it looking new and shiny.
High-quality tungsten rings are rust-resistant, and you can expect to have them good for years. If your rings are rusting, it could be that they were made with low-quality tungsten, which is an alloy of tungsten and other metals like iron, cobalt, titanium, gold, and silver – which are susceptible to quick oxidization.
Does tungsten fade or tarnish?
Genuine tungsten will not tarnish but it may fade if it is frequently exposed to chemicals and moisture.
However, over time, your rings may develop a dull surface that looks like its fading. This could be product or dirt buildup. It is not permanent and can be solved with cleaning and polishing.
Does tungsten rust in salt water?
No, it does not. Tungsten can withstand corrosion by seawater, which is why it is usually used to make equipment in shipbuilding and fishing industries. However, it is not advisable to go into the ocean or swimming pools with tungsten jewelry on.
How long does it take tungsten to fade?
With proper care, it should take 2 to 5 years before your tungsten jewelry begins to fade. This happens to the best of them. The beauty of jewelry is seen under proper care and storage.
What weakens tungsten?
Tungsten has a high strength, but its hardness could be bad for your rings. Tungsten rings shatter easily when you smash them or when they fall on hard surfaces.
Some chemicals that can weaken tungsten are nitric and hydrofluoric acids, potassium nitrate, and sodium hydroxide.
How can you make tungsten shiny again?
Below are easy steps to get your tungsten ring to be shiny again:
- To clean your tungsten jewelry, you will need warm water, a bowl, vinegar, or dish soap, rubbing alcohol, a toothbrush or cotton swabs, and towels
- Fill the bowl with warm water and dish soap or vinegar
- Soak a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and wipe the ring to remove oil and grease
- When you are done wiping, soak the ring in the water and soap/vinegar solution
- You should leave the ring in the solution for 10 to 20 minutes. How long you soak the ring depends on how dirty it is
- Do not use chlorine, ammonia, or bleach on your jewelry
- Soaking helps to loosen the dirt and makes it easier to scrub off the dirt
- When you are done soaking, take out the ring and scrub lightly with the toothbrush or cotton swab
- If yours is an engraved or custom ring, you will need to put a lot of attention on the grooves where dirt could be hiding
- You can rinse in between scrubbing to see how much progress you’ve made
- When you are sure the ring the clean, rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry it with the towel. You can also lay it on the towel and allow it to air dry
- After drying, store it in a soft cloth bag. Remember to not keep it together with your diamond, silver, gold, and platinum jewelry to prevent them from scratching each other
- If your ring still looks the same after washing it, you might have to take it for polishing at a jewelry cleaning service
Pros of tungsten rings
- They are durable and strong
- Tungsten rings are different from silver and gold, which gives them their unique look
- They are hypoallergenic
- They are also more affordable than their silver and gold counterparts
Cons of tungsten rings
- They are brittle and break easily
- You can resize your tungsten rings
- Tungsten rings may be too heavy for you
FAQs
Can you bathe with a tungsten ring?
Yes, you can. Tungsten rings are waterproof and rust-resistant, which makes it okay to go in the shower with your rings on. But you should take them off if you are going into the pool or seawater.
Does hand sanitizer affect tungsten rings?
Hand sanitizers will not ruin your tungsten rings at once. However, with constant exposure to the alcohol and other chemicals in hand sanitizers and other cleaning agents, the rings may become discolored and weak.
If you notice a change in appearance on your rings, it could be dirt or product buildup. You can solve this with water and mild soap. Wash the rings lightly and wipe them with a clean cloth.
Does tungsten react with skin?
Tungsten is a hypoallergenic metal and is suitable for sensitive skin types. Tungsten carbide rings are a fusion of tungsten and nickel. Although nickel is an irritant, in these rings, it binds strongly to tungsten and loses its ability to cause skin reactions.
Is tungsten a precious metal?
Tungsten is not a precious metal, which is why it is not as expensive as gold and silver. Precious metals include gold, silver, platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, rhenium, ruthenium, and rhodium. Tungsten is not as expensive as these metals, but it is stronger than them.
Conclusion
Rust is a common phenomenon in metals. However, some metals are superior to others when it comes to rusting. Tungsten has a high resistance to rust because it forms a dense, stable oxide layer when exposed to oxygen and moisture.
This oxide layer protects it from rust. This is the major reason behind its application in the manufacture of jewelry, aerospace, and electronics industries, etc. Also, its rust-resistant property contributes to its durability.
Finally, find out which is stronger in this comparison of the strength and properties of tungsten vs titanium.
Thanks for reading.