Looking for the perfect place to buy tungsten online?
You're in the right place! In this Learning Jewelry guide I'll answer common questions like:
- What should you look for when buying tungsten rings online?
- Is tungsten good for an engagement ring?
- How do you know you’re getting a good deal?
- What are the red flags to watch out for when buying tungsten rings?
Top 4 Best Places to Buy Tungsten Rings Online
If you need the list quick, here are my top picks for finding quality tungsten rings from reputable online dealers. Keep reading for more information about each of these shops.
#1. Buying Tungsten Rings At Blue Nile
Blue Nile is a great place to purchase tungsten wedding rings from. They have a variety of different styles as well as colors. Many of their tungsten rings look exactly like a plain gold wedding band, but with the strength and scratch resistance durability that tungsten carbide rings provide.
If you like the classic look, but want a little more oomph to your tungsten band, you might consider the highly stylish hammered look, like this ring below:
Blue Nile doesn't carry any brands like Triton, so you can be sure you're paying for quality, not just a name brand. Most of their tungsten rings are under $500, with the exception of one meteorite tungsten carbide wedding band.
The only warranty you receive on your tungsten rings from Blue Nile is a manufacturer's warranty. This warranty covers design flaws or issues only. They do offer a 30 day return policy and it's also free to exchange for sizes within 30 days.
Pros
Cons
- Not many choices in diamond fine jewelry
- Does not cover loss of stones in settings
#2 Buying Tungsten Rings At James Allen
Even though James Allen is renowned online for their fully customizable engagement rings, assortment of quality loose diamonds, and fine jewelry, many people don't know about their alternative metal rings, like their tungsten carbide selection.
However, getting to their small collection of tungsten rings is kind of strange. When you got to their alternative wedding bands, they don't have a way to filter it. You'll see tantalum, cobalt, palladium, titanium and ceramic, but no option for tungsten.
I find this kind of annoying because it's pretty much the most popular choice in men's wedding bands. Instead, we've got to search it up and narrow it down to about 18 choices. Check it out below
James Allen carries the best name in the tungsten business, Triton. Most of James Allen's collection is Triton, but they do have unbranded tungsten bands as well. If you're looking for something other than an industrial metal, a tungsten carbide ring with diamonds might be a good option like the one below:
All of James Allen's tungsten wedding bands come with a free lifetime warranty. This warranty covers 1 free resizing within a year. Keep in mind that tungsten can't be resized, so they'll replace the whole ring.
Pros
- Clear 360˚ view
- Unique Styles
- Carries high quality brands
- Free size exchange within a year
Cons
- Not a wide selection of tungsten rings
- Can't get new size after a year
#3 Buying Tungsten Rings At Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth is widely recognized for their transparency with ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones. However, most people probably don't know that they carry a variety of alternative metals for wedding bands like tantalum, titanium, meteorite, and of course, tungsten carbide.
Their selection of tungsten bands isn't massive or anything, but they've got designs that the others on this list doesn't have. The only downside is that they're all more expensive than the other on this list.
But that's because the tungsten carbide rings at Brill Earth aren't for the average tungsten buyer. The person buying their tungsten rings is probably going to have more in the bank to spend and wants something they won't find in every jewelry store's typical tungsten selection.
That being said, the tungsten rings here are usually combined with another metal. This tungsten ring below has tungsten on the inner part of the ring and meteorite on the outside.
Most of the Brilliant Earth's tungsten bands are too nice to wear to work, nor are they durable enough. These bands are for someone who is choosing tungsten purely because they like the feel and look, not because they're hard on their hands.
Brilliant Earth has a warranty for their other jewelry, but not for tungsten. They give you the option of adding an engraving to your ring for $40 and have 30 day returns just in case you didn't get the right ring size.
Pros
- Beautiful and Unique Details
- High quality metals
- 18K gold instead of 14K
- Free 30 Day Returns
Cons
- No warranty
- Highly expensive compared to other tungsten rings
#4 Buying Tungsten Rings At Zales
Zales carries a wide selection of tungsten bands. They have a large collection of over 75 different tungsten widths and styles. Most of them are going to be comfort-fit. Many of their tungsten rings are either high polished or brushed with a satin finish like this one below:
You'll also notice that Zales carries a lot of Triton bands which we know are more expensive as a brand. Thankfully, they do sales all the time that can score you $$ of their rings. Somr Zales tungsten bands come with personalization on it, but be aware that once you personalize something, it's non-returnable.
Like many of our other picks, Zales doesn't have a warranty. If you need a different size, you can exchange it up to 60 days.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- sales
- Lifetime upgrade
- 60 day exchange
Cons
- can't get new size after 60 days
- No warranty
FAQ When Buying Tungsten Rings Online
Are Tungsten Rings Durable?
Tungsten rings are incredibly durable, but not unbreakable. Many people confuse the two. Tungsten carbide is a thick and heavy metal, making it perfect for those who prefer a little weight in their jewelry. Tungsten will survive a variety of bumps and knocks, making it suitable for everyday wear.
It is the number one ring metal chosen for men's wedding bands. Tungsten rings are scratch resistant, making them ideal for those working hard labor jobs. If you're working a hard labor job, a sterling silver or gold ring will bend with your finger should a something heavy drop on it. A high quality tungsten ring will break at point of impact and not take your finger in the process.
Note: In these situations, many men wear silicone wedding rings as they are 100% safe in construction and other risky jobs. However, there are some who prefer wearing tungsten metal.
Tungsten rings aren't unbreakable, clearly. A hard impact can shatter a tungsten ring. This can include dropping onto tile or concrete from a distance, so just be careful when taking off and putting on.
Is Tungsten More Expensive?
Tungsten carbide rings vary in price based on different factors. Some prices may attribute to brand and design, while others may attribute to inlays and width. But, there are many cheap tungsten carbide rings whose price is attributed to quality and durability.
Tungsten rings with a brand name like Triton will cost more than unbranded tungsten. But, that's to be expected. Most brand name jewelry costs more, but the quality is the same.
Another big factor in price for tungsten rings is the ring itself. If your tungsten ring has a carbon fiber or wood inlay, it may be cheaper. Inlay rings will also be less durable and scratch resistant, because there's less tungsten. It isn't always the case though. Tungsten rings with a koa wood inlay may be more expensive because koa trees are protected in Hawaii. Tungsten jewelry can only utilize the wood from dead koa trees.
If your tungsten ring has white or black diamonds, or colored gemstones, it'll be more expensive than a plain tungsten band too. But if you're looking for a ballpark average, most high quality tungsten carbide rings cost between $150-$600.
What should I look for when buying tungsten bands?
While tungsten rings are pretty self-explanatory, the main things you want to consider is your quality, your comfort, and your style.
Not only is quality important for getting the most out of your money, but you also want to consider it for your purposes. Are you looking for a tungsten fashion ring to wear sometimes, or a wedding band to wear all the time?
If you're wanting a wedding band, you'll want to make sure you don't compromise on quality and price. But if you're wanting a fashion ring to wear once in a while, you might not need as high durability as if you were wearing it. If you're wanting one for a child, Amazon or Ebay might be suitable. The quality might not be as good, but it teaches the value of jewelry.
What are the red flags when buying tungsten rings online?
Buying jewelry online can be very difficult, especially if you don't know what you're looking for. Fortunately for you, you have us! And as much as I'd love to tell you that the internet is safe and honest in everything it does, we both know that would be a lie.
There aren't too many things to watch out when buying tungsten wedding bands. Most jewelry retailers sell some sort of collection of alternative metal bands for guys who aren't keen on gold rings. The prices all range the same with all the major retailers, like the ones we've mentioned here.
But if you dig a little deeper on Google, or find yourself in the throes of Amazon or Ebay, you'll probably find many tungsten rings at a fraction of the price I've mentioned or shown on these various retailers. You'll find many tungsten rings that can be less than $50.
Be careful with anything that's too low of a price. A lot of these are wholesalers who use a cheaper form of Tungsten. Remember, high quality tungsten carbide rings contains 80% tungsten and 20% carbon alloy. A much cheaper tungsten ring will most likely contain less tungsten, which they won't tell you in the fine print. Less tungsten won't give you that durability you're looking for and will defeat the purposes of why most people purchase tungsten rings.
Cheap tungsten bands with inlay or laser engraving can also present a problem. While regular priced inlay and laser engraved tungsten rings can be high quality, it's not often true with bands under $100. Tungsten rings are hard to engrave, so if a cheaper seller offers to engrave, it probably won't last long. Similarly, many carbon fiber inlays on these rings bubble and peel up.
The truth is, tungsten isn't super expensive in the jewelry world. That's also not to say that you can't find quality tungsten for under $100 either. But if you really want to know that a tungsten ring will last, you can buy from any of the stores I've recommended today.
The other thing I want you to remember in your quest for searching for tungsten is to keep in mind the tricks on the internet. When you search tungsten in google, you won't just bring up tungsten rings. For instance, you could search "black tungsten ring" and get titanium wedding bands. Black ones, but not always tungsten.
Sellers use image tags and SEO (search engine optimization) keywords in order to bring customers to their page, even if the item they're trying to sell isn't what you're looking for. A search for tungsten rings can bring you to a company that only sells ceramic rings.
A good tactic to clear some of these unwanted searches is to put quotation marks around your phrase. This indicates to Google that you are specifically looking for sites that have those words in their page, not in their tags.
Also, if you're looking for a tungsten ring with gemstones, make sure to read the description. Often times cheaper rings will put in cubic zirconia, which is a cheap man-made stone that is used to simulated other colored gemstones, but most often to simulate diamonds. Many people like the look of CZ, but if you're looking for quality stones, cubic zirconia is not the way to go.
What if I don't know my ring size?
When it comes to alternative metal bands, they often have a bigger width than traditional diamond rings. Most people prefer a minimum of 4mm with tungsten. 6mm and 8mm are the most popular choices.
If you're buying online, you'll want to make sure you get the right size. While most men are used to wider rings, women are mainly used to the thin band of an engagement, wedding, or promise ring. Say you're a size 6 on a 2mm band. There are many women who love tungsten and prefer it. But a size 6 on a 4mm white gold engagement ring is going to be a much looser fit than it would be on an 8mm tungsten ring. The wider the ring goes, the bigger the size you'll need.
You can go to your local jeweler or jewelry retailer to check the sizes. Kay and Zales have both thin ring sizers and the thicker ones. Make sure to use the thicker one because it will give you the closest measurement to how a thicker tungsten ring will fit.
Blue Nile has a free printable ring sizer online or you can have them mail out a plastic ring sizer for free.
Our Recommendation: Blue Nile
When it comes to buying tungsten wedding bands online, you can't go wrong shopping at Blue Nile. Their reputation as the first online diamond retailer and strong customer base makes them a reliable company for shopping online.
They've got a variety of tungsten bands and styles outside of what everyone else. They may not carry Triton wedding bands, but that allows them to sell you high quality tungsten bands for cheaper than most other retailers.
Blue Nile offers 1 free sizing with your tungsten band and 30 day hassle free returns, just in case you're not a fan.