On a search for truly hypoallergenic tungsten

July 23, 2010 12:14 PM

I'm looking for some reputable online retailers selling 100% nickle-free tungsten rings. I need a men's wedding band; turns out I'm allergic to the first one I got, as a result of the nickle fusion process or whatever. It seems most retailers do not specifically state whether the ring is made with nickle or cobalt. The claim that tungsten rings are always hypoallergenic isn't completely true...
posted by jeroum to clothing, beauty, & fashion (3 answers total)

I saw this posted somewhere previously on AskMeFi: titanium knights, which is surprisingly affordable.

FYI, titanium is the go-to material for hypoallergenic surgical implants (replacement hips, knees, etc).
posted by randomstriker at 1:46 PM on July 23, 2010

Since you don't detail your previous bad experience-- did you try this one? I don't have a nickel sensitivity myself, but I would have to guess that the retailer explicitly saying, "All our titanium and tungsten rings are absolutely nickel and cobalt free." is a good sign.
posted by supercres at 1:46 PM on July 23, 2010

No idea about online retailers, but I have a similar nickel allergy and my Dermatologist recommended a Nickel Testing Kit. I don't recommend any particular brand, that was just the first search result. It won't harm the jewelry, and hopefully a good store owner would be happy to let you test it.

However, even if you test that it is nickel free to begin with, as I understand it, the process of having metal against your skin with sweat and sweat's electrolytes will more or less drive an electrolysis reaction. This'll bring out ions from the surface of the ring. Even a very high quality gold or tungsten ring worn over time, may cause allergic irritation. Gold at least can be re-plated every few years.

As an anecdotal data point, I once let a jeweler convince me to buy a silver backed pendant, with his line (spoken in a heavy french accent) "ah, but you are allergic to everything that is not silver! This is plated with pure silver!" so I say ok, buy it, and wear it for about a year and a half with no reaction. Yeah, now today I can only wear it for a few hours before it gets itchy. I'll coat it with clear nail polish, but that's not really feasible for your wedding ring.

The only thing that is really hypoallergenic for decades is stainless surgical steel. I'm interested in hearing other answers as well, as I'd like to wear some grown up, non-plastic, jewelry some day.

Good luck!
posted by fontophilic at 2:03 PM on July 23, 2010