Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter has announced a bumper 2012, with 2.2 million people pledging £198.6m ($319m) to finance 18,109 successful projects.

This is a phenomenal increase for the site which in 2011 "only" raised £61.8m ($99.3m).

But needless to say, the success of Kickstarter itself does not guarantee the success of its project. A total of 41,765 were launched last year with a success rate of just 43%.

At its current rate of growth, it is predicted the site could raise more than a billion dollars in 2013.

Kickstarter allows entrepreneurs to pitch ideas and prototypes to the public who, if they like the product, can pledge money to get the project started.

Any kind of idea can be pitched: a cursory glance at the site shows computer games, solar powered iPad chargers and precision machined dice made of tungsten metal.

Although pitchers state how much they need to get going, there is no limit to how much can be pledged. One project, Ouya, an Android-based console, raised £5.2m ($8.5m), despite only asking for £591,000 ($950,000).

Tungsten Metals Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
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Because your tungsten ring is so durable, you may wear it when you'd never consider wearing another ring. As a result, you may need to clean your ring. Here's how.

Your tungsten ring from Tungsten Pride is made of the most durable material available for rings. As such, you need not remove it at work or while doing chores. As a result, it may pick up oil, dirt or other grime. Not to worry!

Tungsten carbide rings, made with a quality nickel binder, will hold up to continuous wearing – and clean up easily.

Removing oil or lotion

If you get oil or hand lotion on your ring, we recommend wiping it down with simple rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will break down the oil and reveal your ring's durable, beautiful finish.

Removing dirt

Daily activites may cause your ring to pick up some dirt. Cleaning your ring is as simple as leaving it on while you wash your hands with soap and water, or while you shampoo your hair in the shower. Of course, you can also take it off and rinse it with a little dish or hand soap and water.

Occasionally, your ring may pick up some foreign material that seems to stick to it or look like a scratch. Your tungsten ring is practically unscratchable – in reality, what has likely happened is some metal fragment or dust that is more difficult to remove than simple dirt or grime.

Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
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Alaska Jewelry, the popular online source for high quality jewelry and real gold nuggets, has unveiled their collection of select motion rings just in time for Valentine's Day. These unique rings are made with moving parts, high quality material and craftsmanship to especially stand out among rings. This comes as good news to people seeking one-of-a-kind jewelry for their loved one this Valentine's Day.

First invented in the 1970's by Norman Teufel, the motion rings have since gained popularity around the world for their innovative designs and unwavering quality. Alaska Jewelry offers the widest online selection of authentic Teufel motion rings designed with uncompromising quality, durability, and movement. Also known as swinger rings, or spinning rings, the innovative designs from Teufel come in black and white diamond, Tsavorite garnet, Sapphire and bold 18k 100-diamond Pavè style and more.

Alaska Jewelry offers a massive selection of high quality jewelry at low online prices. They supply unique and best-in-class men's rings, gold nuggets earrings for men, mother of pearl rings, alexandrite rings, wedding jewelry, Simon G. Jewelry and more. Alaska Jewelry is proud of their collection of genuine Teufel motion rings and they recommend customers begin shopping now to receive the motion ring of their choice in time for Valentine's Day.

About Alaska Jewelry
Goldsmith Gallery has been operated by Chris and Tamara Fondell since October of 1990. They originated in Iowa, but moved to Alaska to work in the jewelry store they now own. The Fondells own and operate Goldsmith Gallery in Icy Strait Point. They are the only locally-owned jewelry store in town, and expanded onto the World Wide Web in 2001 to bring their "Home-town Jeweler" experience to the world. They offer high quality jewelry, including men's wedding bands, unique engagement rings, fashion jewelry, Tungsten Rings, diamond rings and more. They often offer excellent prices and special deals.

Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
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Tungsten carbide wedding rings breaking, shattering and cracking? Wait a minute aren’t these touted as one of the strongest, hardest and most scratch resistant rings you can buy? “Tough and durable”, “To last a lifetime,” some websites advertise. So complaints surfacing from brides and grooms saying their tungsten rings split into pieces seems, well, surprising.

Just how strong is tungsten carbide? On the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness the material is actually stronger than diamonds.

How popular are the rings? Incredibly popular and growing. A recent study from TheKnot.com and the WeddingChannel.com found:

    In 2011: 27% of grooms had a Tungsten ring, and 1% of brides chose tungsten
    In 2009: 19% of grooms, and less than 1% of brides chose tungsten for their rings

What's happening to ring wearers? Some of these contemporary tungsten ring wearers have a warning: The tungsten carbide is actually so hard it’s brittle. If you drop the ring from your ‘big day’ it could break, shatter or crack, kinda like when a ceramic bowl or glass hits the ground.

Mike Hellebuyck is now on his third replacement tungsten ring! The Southfield, Michigan resident says he bought tungsten figuring it would stand up well to all the work he does with his hands, like fixing snowmobiles and car engines.

He never thought it would break in half just hours after he said, “I do”, at his own wedding reception. “I was doing a dance called the ‘Alligator’. It's an odd dance that includes hitting your hands on the floor. During this phase of the dance, I was slapping my hands on the dance floor and the Tungsten wedding band snapped in two.” Pictures you see in this article show how that magical moment was caught on camera by the wedding photographer. Mike's new wife looks, well, not too thrilled.

Luckily Mike’s jeweler replaced ring number one for free.

Tungsten ring number two broke while Mike was vacationing Cabo. The ring fell from the hotel safe and snapped in half when it hit the floor. Back to the jeweler he went, where he was given, and is still on ring number three.

Amanda Molina from Albuquerque, New Mexico had a similar experience. “My husband and I picked out his wedding band together and we both liked the thick, modern look of the tungsten band that we went with. A few months after we had been married, he dropped his ring on our concrete floor and in two pieces it went! We couldn't believe it! It was a bummer because there's something special about having the actual ring that was in your wedding ceremony, but the company replaced it with no questions asked.”

Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
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