In this section, we are going to talk about jewelry metals. We are going to talk about fashion jewelry metal, such as stainless steel, alloy metal and tungsten carbide. But we also talk about expensive metals, such as gold, silver and platinum.
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: White gold is pure gold mixed with white alloy metals — typically nickel, palladium, or silver — then coated with rhodium to achieve its silver color. 18K white gold is …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: You can wear sterling silver in the shower without immediate damage, but regular exposure to water, steam, and shower products accelerates tarnishing significantly. The culprit is the copper content in …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: Rose gold turns fingers black due to two mechanisms: metallic abrasion (tiny gold particles from cosmetic contact) and copper oxidation (the copper in rose gold alloy reacts with sweat and …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: White gold dominated engagement ring and wedding band sales from the 1990s through the 2010s as Gen X and Millennials moved away from their parents’ yellow gold preference. Yellow gold …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: “Alloy jewelry” is not a single thing — it covers everything from 14k gold (58.3% pure gold, excellent) to mystery zinc-mix fashion jewelry (low durability, potential irritant). The quality varies …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: Yes, gold plated brass tarnishes. The gold layer itself resists tarnish, but the brass underneath (copper + zinc) oxidizes when the plating wears through — which it always does eventually. …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: 14k gold is 58.3% pure gold — real precious metal with real resale value. It is not fake gold. It’s the most widely used gold karat for fine jewelry because …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: Pure silver (999 / fine silver) does not tarnish. It is chemically non-reactive and does not oxidize in normal atmospheric conditions. What tarnishes is sterling silver (925), which contains 7.5% …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: 925 sterling silver is usually hypoallergenic — but not always, because the 7.5% alloy content varies by manufacturer. The #1 culprit in sterling silver reactions is nickel — look for …
Last Updated: April 2026 TL;DR: Fake (fashion) earrings cause ear pain primarily because they contain nickel — the #1 jewelry allergen, affecting 10–15% of people. Symptoms appear 12–72 hours after contact. A new piercing that …