Traditionally, the best materials for jewelry making were silver and gold. Since the industrial revolution, a new material has been introduced – stainless steel. Now when you hear the words stainless steel the first thing you think about probably isn’t jewelry. Kitchenware or household appliances may come to mind instead. Hopefully, this article helps to shed some light on the use of stainless steel in jewelry making.

What is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and carbon which also contains 10.5% chromium. The chromium in stainless steel is what makes it stainless. This reacts with oxygen to form a layer on the surface of the jewelry, much like titanium and aluminium. Small amounts of molybdenum, nickel, titanium and other metals may also be present. The 316L grade most often used for jewelry, however, has a low percentage of these elements.

Benefits of Stainless Steel

So, what exactly are the advantages of stainless steel?

1. Durability – items made from stainless steel can last for a lifetime. A combination of resistance to rust and strength means that they aren’t very likely to break, deform or become discoloured over time.
2. Low maintenance – jewelry made from silver requires regular cleaning. Paying a jeweler can become expensive over time. Due to the non tarnishing nature of stainless steel, items maintain shine much longer. This means that they are unlikely to need any maintenance.
3. Safety – jewelry made from other non-precious metals are often cheaper than stainless steel but can be dangerous to your health. Cheaper pieces are often made of questionable alloys and have heavy metal bases such as cadmium. Issues can range from skin irritation to heavy metal poisoning. While jewelry is much less likely to end up in the mouths of adults, children are at risk.
4. Low reactivity – the chromium oxide layer protects the skin from the small amounts of nickel contained in stainless steel. This is good news for anyone with a metal sensitivity. In fact – stainless steel is considered safe enough to be implanted inside of your body!

Conclusion

So in summary, stainless steel is a highly resilient and safe metal for jewelry. Its shine will last for decades to come so you can be confident that when you make a purchase, its yours for a lifetime.