Safety Issues Concerning Tungsten Wedding Rings
Tungsten wedding bands are an increasingly popular choice for soon-to-be-married men. Though not exclusive to male rings, its industrial design, smooth finish, weight and durability are symbols of masculinity and strength. Most metals have both positive and negative aspects, though, and tungsten is no exception-rings made of this material have safety and personal drawbacks of their own. Does this Spark an idea?
Ring Removal
Tungsten rings are particularly durable, especially compared to other popular metals like titanium. While this is typically a positive aspect-they are harder to scratch and damage than other rings-it can also pose a safety hazard. In certain emergencies, wearing a ring may be hazardous for the wearer and require emergency removal. While hospitals and emergency workers are usually equipped for such a scenario, tungsten is too hard to be cut off by standard ring cutters. It is possible, but it requires vice grip pliers and considerable effort. Complications can arise if the wearer is in a situation that prevents the ring from being easily accessed by pliers.
Resizing
The durability of tungsten rings poses a problem regarding resizing. Many styles of rings, like gold and titanium, can be resized as the wearer's fingers grow; tungsten, however, cannot be resized. A tungsten ring must be completely replaced as the wearer's finger grows. Neglecting to do so can lead to problems like poor blood circulation to the ring finger and severe difficulty removing the ring. For this reason, ring wearer's should prevent potentially hazardous situations by regularly removing the ring to ensure that it is still a comfortable fit. If the finger begins outgrowing the ring, the ring should be immediately replaced before any damage can occur.
Allergic Reactions
Some tungsten rings are carbides that incorporate other metals, like cobalt and nickel. Some people are allergic to these metals, though reactions vary. People with cobalt allergies may react to a tungsten-cobalt carbide. Those with nickel allergies, however, will find that tungsten-nickel carbides don't post a harzard-this hypoallergenic blend is harmless even for those allergic to nickel.
