Getting to Know Tungsten Watches
Tungsten WatchesTungsten watches are very popular watch pieces. They are known for their durability and simple yet elegant finish. They are the best choice for those who want a functional and reliable timepiece that can last for years and years. Today, they come in a variety of designs and colors made especially to appeal to men and women of different tastes and styles.

Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is actually a gray and shiny metal that is very well known for its high density, anti-corrosive properties, and great tensile strength. However, this metal per se is not the actual material used in making watches. Tungsten must first be combined with black carbon to form a stronger and harder compound called tungsten carbide. This material is not only used in watchmaking but in making jewelry and other accessories as well.

To make tungsten watches, the tungsten carbide must also be combined with a binder – such as nickel or cobalt, compressed into watch molds and heated over very high temperatures to form the actual watch. The finished product is then subjected to diamond tips cutting to create refined and more detailed shapes.

Tungsten is very durable and practically scratch-proof which makes it the perfect material for watch and jewelry making. The material is capable of withstanding heavy weights and everyday outdoor use. Thus, you can afford to wear these timepieces day in and day out without ever worrying about damage, expensive maintenance, and repairs. The metal will never bend out of shape, rust, or tarnish. It is resistant to practically any kind of weather. And lastly, tungsten watches are capable of maintaining their shine and luster for extremely long periods of time. This makes them the perfect pieces to use in the outdoors, at work, and during sports activities.

Another great thing about tungsten is its hypo-allergenic properties. The metal does not react with the skin or with sweat. They do not produce harmful reactions with sunlight and most chemicals as well. Thus, people who usually get allergic reactions or rashes from wearing watches with gold, silver, or leather can wear tungsten watches with utmost safety.

However, tungsten’s hypo-allergenic properties can be lost when they are used together with cobalt binders. Cobalt is a highly reactive compound that can create adverse reactions when in close contact with oil in the skin. They can also react with sunlight and produce unsightly oxidation marks on the metal. These marks are very hard, if not impossible to remove. So even before you purchase that piece, always inquire about the kind of binder used for the metal. This information should be easily available on the box or on the watch’s manual.

So for those of you who are still looking for a good timepiece, tungsten watches should definitely be one of your top choices. They are durable, scratch-free, hypo-allergenic, and stylish – practically everything that you need in a watch. Plenty of designs are now available for men and women, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the style and of course, the brand.