Glossary · Materials
Tungsten
Definition
Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is one of the densest and hardest metals there is. In watchmaking it is almost always used as tungsten carbide, a metal ceramic that does not scratch: bezels and inserts on sports watches, the odd case, and the oscillating weights of automatic movements, where the extra weight is an advantage. It is brittle on impact: it does not scratch, but it can chip.
Frequently asked questions
What is TUNGSTEN?
A very dense, hard metal. In watchmaking it is found as tungsten carbide in scratch-resistant bezels and inserts, and as a heavy metal in the rotors of automatic movements. It does not scratch; it can chip.
Is tungsten used for straps or buckles?
Almost never: it is too heavy and too brittle for a buckle, which needs to flex and absorb knocks. You find it on the watch, not on the strap. Buckles are in 316L steel or titanium, as usual.
How do I match a strap to a watch with a tungsten bezel?
These are sports watches and often heavy ones: a grained calfskin, leather or rubber strap, 4 mm thick at the lug to keep the case steady, with a brushed steel buckle. The bezel dictates the colours: almost always black or grey.
The next step
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