Aurion - 18K Gold Tungsten Ring with Black Sleeve

Aurion represents timeless elegance refined for the modern era. This men's tungsten wedding ring from Foundoria's TUNGRA Collection showcases lustrous 18K gold ion-plated finish that captures light with warm brilliance—classic luxury paired with the uncompromising durability of tungsten carbide engineering.

Where traditional gold rings require constant maintenance and gradually show their age, Aurion delivers gold's prestigious appearance with tungsten's legendary permanence. The brushed exterior provides sophisticated texture while the polished black interior sleeve adds contemporary edge—a ring that honours tradition while embracing modern innovation.

The 18K Gold Aesthetic

Aurion's exterior finish captures the warm, lustrous appearance of 18-karat gold through advanced ion plating technology. This isn't paint or simple coating—it's a molecular-level bond that integrates gold tone into the tungsten carbide surface, creating finish permanence impossible with traditional gold.

The brushed texture adds subtle dimensionality to the gold surface. Rather than mirror-polished shine, the brushed finish creates gentle striations that catch and diffuse light with variation—sophisticated rather than flashy, refined rather than ostentatious. This textured approach gives Aurion depth and character that smooth finishes cannot achieve.

Gold has represented commitment and prestige for millennia. Aurion delivers this timeless symbolism without gold's inherent limitations. You receive the aesthetic prestige of gold with tungsten's exceptional scratch resistance, requiring none of the maintenance or protective precautions traditional gold demands.

Black Interior: Contemporary Contrast

The sophistication continues inside. While the exterior projects classic gold elegance, the interior reveals a polished black sleeve—a bold contemporary detail that transforms Aurion from traditional reproduction into modern design.

This isn't just aesthetic choice. The black interior creates striking visual contrast visible during hand movements and gestures—a glimpse of modernity within classic presentation. It's the kind of considered detail that defines genuine craftsmanship rather than simple manufacturing.

The polished black sleeve provides smooth comfort while creating visual continuity with Aurion's modern sensibility. When light catches the interior during a handshake or gesture, it reveals depth that single-finish rings simply cannot achieve. The result is a ring that feels both classic and contemporary, familiar and distinctive.

Ion Plating Technology: Gold That Lasts

Aurion's gold finish is created through Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) ion plating—a process that bonds gold-coloured coating to tungsten carbide at the molecular level. This creates finish durability exponentially superior to traditional gold plating or electroplating.

Traditional gold plating on softer metals wears away at contact points—where your finger bends, where the ring touches surfaces, where it rubs against adjacent fingers. These areas gradually expose base metal underneath, requiring eventual replating. Ion plating on tungsten carbide eliminates this issue entirely.

The combination of tungsten's hardness and PVD's molecular bonding means Aurion's gold finish resists scratching, wearing, and fading that plague softer materials. The gold appearance you receive is the gold appearance you'll maintain for decades without reapplication or special maintenance.

Why Tungsten Carbide Excels

Uncompromising Durability

Aurion is crafted from premium tungsten carbide—one of the hardest materials used in jewellery, rating 9 on the Mohs hardness scale. For context, gold rates 2.5 and platinum 4. This isn't marketing hyperbole—it's materials science.

Your Aurion ring will maintain its pristine finish for decades without requiring repolishing, replating, or special maintenance. While traditional gold rings accumulate scratches and dents that betray their age, tungsten carbide with ion-plated gold resists virtually everything daily life can throw at it.

Substantial Presence Without Compromise

At 8mm wide, Aurion strikes the ideal balance—substantial enough to make a statement, comfortable enough for all-day wear. The band's weight gives it a premium feel that lighter materials can't replicate. This is jewellery that feels as impressive as it looks.

The comfort-fit interior ensures this substantial presence never becomes uncomfortable. We precision-engineer a gently rounded interior profile that allows the ring to slide on easily and sit naturally on your finger—no pinching, no catching, no adjustment needed throughout the day.

Hypoallergenic Assurance

Aurion is crafted from nickel-free tungsten carbide, making it completely hypoallergenic. If you've experienced reactions to other metals—particularly white gold or silver—tungsten carbide eliminates that concern entirely.

We don't just claim hypoallergenic status. Our tungsten carbide is REACH and GPSR certified, meeting the European Union's strictest product safety standards. Independent laboratory testing confirms zero nickel content and full compliance with EU chemical safety regulations. This legal certification ensures Aurion is safe for even the most sensitive skin.

The TUNGRA Promise

Every ring in the TUNGRA collection celebrates pure tungsten engineering without compromise. No natural inlays mean no special maintenance requirements, no water restrictions, no material limitations. Just exceptional hardness, enduring beauty, and timeless design that speaks for itself.

Aurion honours gold's prestigious heritage while embracing tungsten's modern advantages. This is tradition reimagined—a ring engineered to last a lifetime and designed for the man who appreciates quality that doesn't require explanation or special treatment.

Tungsten Carbide: Engineering Excellence

Tungsten carbide forms when tungsten—the element with the highest melting point of any pure metal at 3,422°C—is bonded with carbon under extreme pressure and temperature. The resulting compound rates 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, surpassed only by diamond and cubic zirconia.

This exceptional hardness translates directly to real-world performance. Your Aurion ring will resist scratches from virtually everything in daily life—keys, tools, desk surfaces, weights, door frames. While traditional gold rings require periodic repolishing to remove accumulated scratches, tungsten carbide's finish is permanent.

18K Gold Ion Plating: Superior Finish Technology

Aurion's gold finish is created through Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) ion plating—an advanced coating technology that operates at the molecular level. Unlike traditional electroplating that simply deposits metal onto a surface, PVD creates atomic-level bonding between the gold-coloured coating and tungsten carbide base.

The process occurs in a vacuum chamber where vaporized coating material is ionized and accelerated toward the tungsten surface. These high-energy ions penetrate the surface layer, creating bonds exponentially stronger than mechanical adhesion. The result is a finish that becomes part of the ring's structure rather than a separate layer sitting on top.

This molecular integration explains why Aurion's gold finish resists wearing, fading, and scratching that plague traditional gold plating. The coating won't peel, flake, or wear through to reveal different material underneath. The gold appearance maintains its warmth and lustre for decades without reapplication or maintenance.

REACH & GPSR Certification

Aurion carries REACH and GPSR certification—the European Union's most rigorous product safety standards. This isn't optional labelling or self-certification. It's mandatory third-party testing that verifies every chemical component meets strict safety thresholds.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) requires manufacturers to prove that products contain no hazardous substances above legal limits. GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation) mandates that products sold in the EU meet baseline safety requirements before they can legally enter the market.

For Aurion, this means independent laboratories have tested and verified zero nickel content, confirmed the safety of all materials in direct skin contact including the ion-plated finish, and validated that the ring meets EU standards for consumer safety. You're not trusting our word—you're trusting certified, legally-binding laboratory results.

Black Interior Sleeve: Contemporary Detail

The polished black interior sleeve isn't merely decorative—it's precision-engineered to fit seamlessly within the tungsten structure while providing smooth, comfortable wear. The black finish is created through the same advanced processes as the exterior, ensuring permanent colour that won't fade or wear.

The polished finish of the black sleeve creates deliberate contrast with the brushed gold exterior. This dual-finish approach adds visual complexity without overwhelming the classic aesthetic. The result is a ring that reveals more character the longer you wear it—tradition with a modern edge.

Comfort-Fit Engineering

The comfort-fit interior is precision-machined to create a gently rounded profile that sits naturally on your finger. Traditional flat-interior rings can pinch or catch on skin, especially during temperature changes or physical activity. Comfort-fit eliminates these issues entirely.

The rounded interior allows Aurion to slide on easily despite tungsten's substantial weight. Once worn, the ring distributes pressure evenly around your finger rather than creating pressure points. This engineering detail transforms a heavy material into comfortable all-day wear.

Manufacturing Standards

Every Foundoria ring is manufactured to surgical-grade precision standards. We use Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining for tolerances measured in microns, ensuring perfect symmetry, consistent dimensions, and flawless finish quality.

Quality control inspections verify dimensions, finish quality, ion plating adhesion, structural integrity, and safety compliance before any ring enters our inventory. This systematic approach ensures the Aurion you receive meets the same exacting standards as every other ring we produce.

Aurion requires minimal maintenance. Pure tungsten carbide with ion-plated gold finish means no special care restrictions, no water sensitivity, no material limitations. This is a ring engineered for genuine daily wear.

Understanding Tungsten's Properties

Tungsten carbide is exceptionally hard but not unbreakable. While it resists scratches better than any other jewellery material, it can crack under extreme impact—dropping from height onto concrete, striking against stone surfaces, or compression in heavy machinery.

For normal daily wear, this isn't a concern. Tungsten carbide handles everything from desk work to gym sessions without issue. The impact required to damage tungsten exceeds what you'll encounter in typical daily activities.

Caring for Ion-Plated Finishes

Aurion's 18K gold ion-plated finish requires no special maintenance beyond basic cleaning. Unlike traditional gold that can scratch and dull, the combination of tungsten's hardness and PVD's molecular bonding creates exceptional finish permanence.

The gold finish won't tarnish like traditional gold alloys. Tungsten carbide is highly resistant to chemical reactions that cause tarnishing in softer metals. Your Aurion will maintain its warm gold lustre without requiring polishing compounds or professional cleaning.

What to Avoid

Never use: Harsh abrasive cleaners, wire brushes, ultrasonic cleaners designed for softer metals, or harsh chemicals (bleach, chlorine in high concentrations). While Aurion is more chemical-resistant than traditional gold, avoid unnecessary exposure to extreme chemicals.

Store Aurion in the provided presentation box when not worn to prevent accidental impacts with other jewellery or hard objects. While tungsten won't scratch easily, it can scratch softer metals if stored together.

When to Use Your ENDURA Ring

Your complimentary ENDURA silicone ring is perfect for activities where impact risk is higher—heavy manual labour, contact sports, rock climbing, or situations where you'd prefer not to wear your tungsten ring. The silicone ring keeps your finger comfortable and protected while keeping Aurion safe.

With basic care, your Aurion ring will maintain its pristine appearance for decades. The gold finish won't fade or tarnish, the black interior won't dull, and the tungsten won't bend or lose its shape. This is engineering built to last.

For detailed care guidance, visit our complete ring care guide.