How to Clean a Tungsten Ring

 Tungsten is tough, no question. Quite literally the opposite of a ‘precious metal’. It means “heavy stone” in Swedish. Any element deemed heavy in a Scandinavian language is going to be heavy — that’s the same part of the world that crowded into the World’s Strongest Man Hall of Fame and gave us wife-carrying as a sport. And if tungsten’s density isn’t formidable enough, get a load of its chemistry. It owes its chemical callsign “W” to a mineral called Wolframite. In case you were wondering, wolframite means “devourer of tin,” and it represents our main source of tungsten. So yeah, tungsten and tungsten wedding bands aren’t messing around. 

Tungsten rings for men are so popular because high durability and low upkeep are part of the deal. However, even though tungsten is tough, it still benefits from some tender care. Think of the Viking Berserker who still makes time for axe sharpening maintenance. Or consider this: neglecting to clean tungsten rings is just offering a sturdy foundation for a layer of grime. Don’t let filth find a footing on your finger with these tips for keeping tungsten clean.

Caring for Tungsten Wedding Bands

It’s worth mentioning that most of our general ring care tips apply to tungsten. Avoid getting it needlessly dirty or damaged. Again, we know it's durable and won’t tarnish. But just because your Jeep can go off-road, you don’t have to drive across every median you see. Tungsten has an incredibly high scratch resistance (another reason we included it in our line of men’s wedding rings), but no metal is utterly unscratchable.

Similarly, don’t test tungsten’s endurance with harsh chemical cleaners. If your first impulse is to reach for a bottle of bleach, ignore it. Don’t punish your ring just by trying to polish it! Stick to cleaning products or a cleaning solution that is gentle on rings, like dish soap and warm water.

Self-care is a part of ring care as well. Before you hop on the row machine or plunge your hands into a bowl of raw meat, consider shedding your tungsten jewelry. That closes the door on ring avulsion and germ transmission. Opt for a silicone ring in its place.

Even if you are taking reasonable precautions, your tungsten ring is still going to get dirty. And when it does, the best approach is a gentle soak with some soapy water. We recommend some mild dish soap — hopefully, you aren’t being too harsh on your dishes either! It doesn’t take that much — just a few drops in a shallow basin. Leave it there for just a few minutes before rinsing it off and setting it somewhere safe to begin the drying process. If you have a tungsten inlay ring, consider using a toothbrush or even a cotton swab to gently wipe the inlay portion.

Wipe away the last bits of moisture with a non-abrasive material, like a clean cloth. Speaking of abrasion, keep tungsten separate from your other jewelry made from softer metals when you are rinsing, drying or storing your ring. That tungsten ring may fit in with them when it comes to eye-catching shine and supple elegance, but don’t forget the unyielding toughness of its composition.

Who Should Wear Tungsten Carbide Rings?

Now that you know how to clean tungsten rings, let’s talk about who the ideal wearer of a tungsten ring is. There are definitely certain lifestyles that benefit from tungsten more than others:

People That Live Active Lifestyles

Tungsten is hardy, and as an active person, you ask a lot of your ring. You want something that’ll last and look good along the way. Try a comfort fit tungsten ring and you’ll have a companion for life that can be there along the way for all the adventures (and the scrapes and bruises that come with them).

Someone Who Just Likes the Look

And who would blame you if you fall into this camp? Do you need tungsten? Maybe, maybe not. Who cares? It’s a ring and it serves that function, so you’ve checked the first box. While you’re at it, why not get a ring that just looks tough? Look, rose gold and gold rings look awesome and you see why people like them. You want something beyond the classics though with added durability to boot. Don’t apologize for the look you like. Embrace it and hold onto it for years!