Which is better titanium or tungsten wedding bands?

In the last decade, tungsten rings are becoming increasingly popular as men’s jewelry since they are available in different designs, are scratch resistant, and inexpensive. It should be noted that the tungsten rings are actually made from the compopund tungsten carbide along with other additives. Most of the online and offline stores selling the tungsten rings, are also stocking titanium rings, so men and women who are interested in purchasing the rings are confused about which ring will be suitable. Hence a comparison of Tungsten vs Titanium Rings is provided for their convenience

Composition
The main difference in the rings is the chemical composition. Titanium is a metal, though it is usually alloyed with Aluminum and Vanadium when it is used for rings and other jewelry. The different grades of titanium which are used for jewelry are aircraft grade, commercial, and extra hard. These grades are usually containing at least 85% pure titanium metal. On the other hand, tungsten rings are made from the chemical compound tungsten carbide, which contains an equal number of molecules of tungsten and carbon. Some additives may added to the rings for changing the color and properties.

Hardness
One of the reasons why tungsten and titanium are popular is because the jewelry is much harder than the precious metals which are usually used for making jewelry, gold and platinum. However, tungsten carbide is one of the hardest materials available, and it is usually have a score of 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness for materials, while platinum is only scoring 6 on Mohs scale

Scratch resistance
Since only a diamond is as hard as tungsten carbide, the tungsten rings are much more scratch resistant compared to titanium. Hence the tungsten rings are likely to look like new for a long period of time, since they will not develop any scratches. It should be noted that both tungsten and titanium is much harder than gold, platinum which is otherwise used for jewelry.

Crack resistance
Since titanium used for jewelry is a metal alloy, it is not brittle, and will not develop cracks. On the other hand, tungsten carbide is a compound which is both brittle and hard, so the ring could shatter into pieces if it is hit against a very hard surface. Though the more expensive tungsten rings include additives which make them less brittle, titanium rings are better for men who are using their hands extensively, especially for factory or mechanical work.

Hypoallergenic properties
Many of the tungsten carbide rings contain cobalt, which can cause allergies for some skin types and so are not hypoallergenic. In comparison the titanium rings are hypoallergenic and can be safely worn by those who have allergies.

Color
Naturally, both tungsten as well as titanium rings are gunmetal grey in color, though black rings in either material are available. Additionally buyers of tungsten rings can also opt for other colors like white which is similar to white gold or platinum, blue.

Emergency removal
Many buyers of the rings are worried that these rings cannot be removed in case of an emergency since they are durable. However this is not true, though the method of removal will differ. Titanium rings can be removed using a jewelers saw or something similar which will cut the ring, while the tungsten rings will have to be cracked using vice type pliers made from hard material.

Weight
Though they may be similar in size and durability, there is a significant difference in the weight of the rings with titanium rings being fairly lightweight. Hence these rings are recommended for those who do not like to wear jewelry. On the other hand, tungsten carbide has a high density, so the weight of the ring will be significant and noticeable for the person who is wearing the ring.

Price
One of the reasons why both rings from tungsten, titanium are popular is because they are very affordable when compared to rings made from precious metals. The prices of rings of either material will be similar, though there may be differences based on the quality of the material used, style of the ring, and manufacturer

Resizing
Since the rings are made from hard and durable material, it is not cost effective to resize the rings. However, the material used is inexpensive, so it is better to replace them with new rings of the desired size, if required.