Are Gold-Coloured Tungsten Rings Any Good? A Frank Assessment

Written by Alan MacLachlan, Owner, Newman Bands (Horsham, West Sussex)

Alan has overseen more than 100,000 ring orders since founding Newman Bands alongside Clare MacLachlan. Newman Bands is the trading name of Manzora Ltd, founded in Horsham, West Sussex in 2001. The business has sold rings since 2019, with every design and size held in stock in the UK — most orders arrive within one to two days of dispatch. Alan personally answers customer queries on metal selection and ring choice every week. Newman Bands has over 10,000 verified five-star reviews on Trustpilot and Reviews.io.

Yes — with one important clarification. A gold-coloured tungsten ring is not gold. It is a tungsten carbide ring with a gold-tone coating applied through an industrial process called IP (ion plating) or PVD (physical vapour deposition). The two things a buyer needs to know upfront: the base metal is tungsten carbide at Mohs 9, which means it is dramatically harder and more scratch-resistant than solid gold; and the gold colour is a bonded coating, not a precious metal content. This guide explains both in full.

How the Gold Colour Is Achieved

IP coating and PVD coating are the same process described by different names. The ring is placed inside a vacuum chamber. A target material — typically a titanium nitride (TiN) or zirconium nitride (ZrN) compound — is vaporised. The atoms deposit onto the tungsten surface as a thin, extremely hard layer. The result is a colour that is bonded at the atomic level to the tungsten surface rather than painted, plated, or lacquered over it.

For a gold tone, the compound used (most commonly titanium nitride, which naturally produces a yellow-gold colour) gives the ring its warm hue. There is no actual gold in a standard gold-coloured tungsten ring — the colour comes from the chemical properties of the compound deposited, not from gold content.

IP coating is significantly thicker and more durable than traditional electroplated gold plating. Standard gold plating sits at 0.5 microns or less. IP coatings typically range from 0.5 to 5 microns and are mechanically bonded rather than electrically deposited. In practical terms, this means an IP-coated ring holds its colour far longer than a gold-plated one under the same daily wear conditions.

What IP coating is: Not actual gold | Titanium nitride (TiN) or zirconium nitride (ZrN) compound | Bonded at atomic level via vacuum deposition | More durable than standard gold plating | Thickness: 0.5–5 microns

Gold-Coloured Tungsten vs Solid Gold: The Honest Comparison

Finger	Hand	Established UK Meaning	Common Fashion Use
Ring finger	Left	Wedding band, engagement ring, commitment ring	Yes
Ring finger	Right	Wedding ring (Eastern/Central European tradition) \| Community signal (minority use)	Yes
Middle finger	Left	None	Popular for statement rings and stacking
Middle finger	Right	Asexual community ring (plain black ring) \| No meaning otherwise	Popular for statement rings
Index finger	Left	Signet ring (historical) \| Some cultural wedding traditions	Bold statement rings
Index finger	Right	None established in modern UK use	Bold statement rings, highly visible
Little finger (pinky)	Left	Signet ring tradition	Slim, delicate rings
Little finger (pinky)	Right	Signet ring tradition	Slim, delicate rings
Thumb	Either	None in modern UK context	Bold statement rings

The starkest practical difference is scratch resistance. Gold at Mohs 2.5 is softer than a fingernail (Mohs 2.5–3). A solid gold ring worn daily by someone who works with their hands, drives, or handles hard objects will accumulate visible scratches within days of wear. A tungsten carbide ring at Mohs 9 will resist scratches from virtually everything encountered in daily life. For most people who buy a ring to wear every day without thinking about it, the durability gap is significant.

“This ring looks even better than my husband's original gold wedding band! Wish I would have just ordered one at the start!”

Paige Wilde

verified Newman Bands customer

Does Gold-Coloured Tungsten Fade?

The IP coating on a quality tungsten ring is far more resistant to fading than traditional gold plating. Under normal daily wear — including regular hand-washing, contact with skin, and general use — a Newman Bands IP-coated tungsten ring maintains its colour for ten or more years without visible degradation.

Two things will accelerate coating wear over time: sustained exposure to harsh chemicals (particularly chlorinated water, strong cleaning products, and industrial solvents) and abrasive contact with materials harder than the coating itself. For the vast majority of wearers, neither of these applies in daily life, and the ring will simply hold its colour indefinitely.

One honest note: the colour exists on the surface of the ring. If the ring were to be scratched deeply enough to cut through the coating to the tungsten base, the underlying silver-grey of the tungsten would show. In practice, because tungsten at Mohs 9 is so resistant to scratching, this rarely happens under normal wear. A gold-plated ring made from a softer base metal would show base metal far sooner because the base itself scratches easily and the coating is thinner.

“Bought the gold tungsten ring for my wedding and it’s been on my finger every day since. Still looks as warm and rich as the day it arrived. Excellent quality.”

Marcus Benton

verified Newman Bands customer

Who Should Choose Gold-Coloured Tungsten?

Gold-coloured tungsten is a particularly strong choice for certain buyers:

Men who want the gold look but work with their hands. Manual workers, tradespeople, and anyone whose daily life involves tools, machinery, or rough surfaces. Solid gold scratches immediately in these environments; tungsten does not.

Those who want gold aesthetics without gold prices. A quality IP-coated tungsten ring costs a fraction of an equivalent solid gold ring. The visual appearance is similar; the scratch resistance is dramatically superior.

Muslim men. In Islamic tradition, solid gold jewellery is forbidden for men. Gold-coloured tungsten contains no actual gold — it is tungsten carbide with a titanium nitride or zirconium nitride coating. This distinction matters in religious terms: the prohibition is on gold itself, not on gold-coloured objects. Gold-coloured tungsten rings are widely considered permissible by Muslim scholars, though individuals should seek their own religious guidance on this point.

For a full treatment of Islamic guidance on ring materials and which fingers are recommended, see our guide: Men Wearing Rings in Islam at newmanbands.com/men-wearing-rings-in-islam/

Anyone who wants a low-maintenance ring. No polishing, no tarnish removal, waterproof, wears the same for decades.

Who Should Not Choose Gold-Coloured Tungsten?

Those who need a resizable ring. Tungsten carbide cannot be resized. If you anticipate significant weight change, or if you want the flexibility to resize in the future, gold remains the only commonly used ring metal that can be reliably adjusted by a jeweller.

Those who value gold as an investment. A gold ring holds the intrinsic value of its gold content. A tungsten ring with a gold-tone coating holds no precious metal value. If the investment dimension of a gold ring matters to you, gold is the right choice.

Cannot be resized: Tungsten carbide rings cannot be resized by any jeweller. Get your size right before ordering. Newman Bands’ free ring sizer service removes the guesswork — select the ring, choose “I don’t know my ring size” at checkout, and we send a free sizer.

What Our Customers Say

“A high quality band with a gorgeous finish and wonderful weight, which includes a bright, well polished gold inlay that contrasts beautifully with the tungsten body. The size was exactly as expected.”

Nigel Hillyer

verified Newman Bands customer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gold-coloured tungsten the same as gold?

No. Gold-coloured tungsten is tungsten carbide with a gold-tone IP (ion plated) coating. The coating is typically titanium nitride or zirconium nitride, which produces a gold colour through its chemical properties rather than through any gold content. There is no actual gold in a standard gold-coloured tungsten ring.

How long does gold-coloured tungsten last?

The IP coating on a quality gold-coloured tungsten ring maintains its colour for 10 or more years under normal daily wear. This is significantly more durable than traditional gold plating, which typically shows wear within one to three years on a daily-wear ring.

Can you shower with a gold-coloured tungsten ring?

Yes. The tungsten base is completely waterproof and unaffected by water. The IP coating is also water-resistant under normal conditions. Occasional soap-and-water exposure will not affect the ring. Sustained exposure to harsh chemicals (chlorinated pools, industrial cleaning products) should be avoided, as these can affect the coating over time.

Does gold-coloured tungsten turn green?

No. The green skin reaction associated with some rings comes from copper content in the base metal (see our guide on sterling silver and green skin). Tungsten carbide contains no copper. Newman Bands tungsten rings use an 85% tungsten carbide, 15% nickel binder composition with no copper. There is no chemical pathway for green skin.

Is gold-coloured tungsten permissible in Islam?

Gold-coloured tungsten contains no actual gold. The Islamic prohibition on gold jewellery for men applies to gold itself, not to gold-coloured objects. Gold-coloured tungsten rings are widely considered permissible for Muslim men by Islamic scholars, as the ring’s material is tungsten carbide with a titanium nitride or zirconium nitride coating. Individuals should seek guidance from their own scholar or imam if uncertain.

Can a gold-coloured tungsten ring be engraved?

Yes. Newman Bands offers engraving on tungsten rings using laser or diamond-tipped rotary equipment. Due to tungsten’s Mohs 9 hardness, hand engraving is not possible. We use Lato font, available in size 6 for 6mm and 8mm rings or size 4.5 for 4mm rings, with italic engraving available on request. Maximum 28 characters. We engrave and dispatch same day.