Metal Comparison

TUNGSTEN CARBIDE

Tungsten Carbide are virtually indestructible and scratch proof.  They are polished with a diamond compound, resulting in a polish and shine that will last forever. Tungsten offers the perfect combination of unbelievable strength with style and comfort.  They are the most wear resistant rings available on the planet. Tungsten is about 10 times harder than 18K Gold, 5 times harder than tool steel, and 4 times harder than titanium.  Tungsten measures between 8 and 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. (Diamonds are a 10 – the highest.) Due to their extreme hardness, Tungsten will hold their shape and shine longer.  Tungsten will NOT bend, however, in the event of an emergency, a ring can be removed by a medical professional. Tungsten, though very hard, is not indestructible. The rings will break or shatter if they encounter a significant impact with a hard object.  Any plating on TUNGSTEN (black IP, yellow gold IP & rose old IP) will wore down and scratch over time, although not easily.

TITANIUM

Titanium is the only element possessing the strength of steel, yet with a weight comparable to aluminum. Titanium is the only element that offers the unique combination of beauty, strength, light weight and bio-compatibility. Like Tungsten Carbide, Titanium also has a dark metallic color, but is extremely lightweight. They are extremely bio-compatible because of its tissue compatibility and its elastic attributes, and hypoallergenic. Titanium, like Tungsten Carbide, will NOT bend, however, in the event of an emergency; a ring can be removed by a medical professional. Although it possesses a great tensile strength, titanium is susceptible to scratching and showing wear.

COBALT

Cobalt is a hard, lustrous gray metal. Pure cobalt is not found in nature, but compounds of cobalt are common. Cobalt has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale of Mineral hardness. Cobalt is the whitest contemporary material offered today. It is natural, and is less dense than other materials, allowing for greater height and shape to be yielded into designs. Cobalt is hard. Platinum is approximately 140 Vickers as compared to Cobalt which is 450 Vickers. Cobalt is not only hypoallergenic; it is bio-compatible to the body. Cobalt is soft and susceptible to scratching and wear.

CERAMIC

Ceramic is a high performance, heat and scratch resistant (not scratch proof), hypoallergenic and lightweight material. Ceramic rings are slightly lighter in weight compared to Titanium and they are just as scratch resistant as Tungsten. Although ceramic rings appear to be fragile and delicate, they are stronger and more durable than metal rings, such as steel and platinum rings. According to the Mohs scale, which rates the hardness of materials on a scale of one to 10 with 10 as the hardest material, ceramic material rates a nine. This means ceramic rings are not likely to break, and they are resistant to abrasions and marks that often cause metal rings to become imperfect over time. Having said that, ceramic is very brittle and may shatter, damaged or broken on impact against any hard surfaces or if it is dropped. They have a glossy finish, and their rich color does not fade over time.