You guys may ask: Is Stainless Steel Jewelry Worth Anything or any money? An internet search for the best jewelry pieces leads you into a long scour of what would be the best (and worst) pieces of jewelry for you to buy. There’s a huge variety of great jewelry designs on the market today which means that you could easily get confused.
Gold, silver, stainless steel, platinum, and brass – your choices are just endless, but even more confusing.
With changing trends, however, stainless steel is slowly becoming one of the popular materials used in curating jewelry. But is stainless steel jewelry worth it? or you want to know: Is stainless Steel Jewelry Good or Bad? (Read this Before You Buy)
Should you spend your money on those shiny stainless steel rings, here I write a long post for you:15 stainless rings related questions. or are you better off saving more money to buy jewelry made using other materials like gold or platinum?
For a clear understanding of stainless steel and whether it’s worth your money or not, let’s look at everything you need to know about this metal.
What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel jewelry refers to a strong and a rust-resistant metal is known for its silver sheen which doesn’t corrode, unlike silver.
Thanks to its high-strength, durability, and natural sheen, stainless steel finds uses in multiple areas around us. One of the areas that stainless steel is used often is in jewelry making, as well as industrial applications thanks to its hard-wearing design.
In jewelry, you will find earrings, necklaces, rings, watches, and bracelets made of stainless steel.
What is the Stainless Steel Jewelry Made of?
Metals regarded as stainless steel contain a minimum of 12% chromium, although they have other metals like carbon and nickel.
Chromium is, however, the most important ingredient in stainless steel since it’s the element that gives stainless steel its sheen, while also creating a top invisible layer which prevents the corrosion and rusting of stainless steel.
The structure of stainless steel is also non-porous, and this further contributes to the corrosion-resistance of stainless steel. Thanks to these properties and the chemical composition of stainless steel, you don’t have to worry about your stainless steel jewelry rusting or tarnishing too soon after purchase.
But how do you tell that you are dealing with actual stainless steel?
Well, genuine stainless steel is marked. It features a pair of numbers which represent the content of nickel and chromium present in the steel metal. In this case, if you have a stainless steel ring written 20/12, it means that the metal contains 20% Chromium and only 12% Nickel.
Basically, the higher the Chromium number, the higher the resistance of the stainless steel metal to both rusting and corrosion. It should be noted that the ‘stainless’ in stainless steel comes from the fact that the chromium in the steel reacts with oxygen to form an invisible and protective layer that doesn’t stain.
Besides chromium and nickel, the other metals/ elements found in stainless steel include titanium, niobium, and molybdenum, among others.
There are two grades of stainless steel used in making jewelry – the chromium-nickel and the 316L. The 316L, which is found in some of the best stainless steel jewelry has 2-3% molybdenum, an element that enhances the corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
The Cost of Stainless Steel Jewelry?
One of the reasons why stainless steel has gained popularity in the jewelry world has to do with its affordability. While the cost of stainless steel jewelry depends on where you are buying your jewelry from, most of the pieces are affordable. The jewelry pieces range from $200 – $600, but you could find cheaper pieces online.
If you are shopping around for stainless steel jewelry, you need first to compare the prices charged by different sellers, ensuring that you are getting the best price for your money.
The Benefits of Stainless Steel Jewelry
Stainless steel is hypoallergenic – If you have reactive skin or allergies, the first thing you need to consider in your search for great jewelry is whether the piece is hypoallergic or not. No one wants to spend money on expensive jewelry only to end up with a bad rash and a search for antihistamines.
Fortunately, stainless steel is largely one of the good ones. But there’s one catch – if the stainless steel is made with some nickel, you should anticipate an allergic reaction. To be on the safe side, always opt for stainless steel 316L since it’s free of nickel.
Versatility – you can wear stainless steel jewelry anywhere, anytime. The reason for this is that the stainless steel jewelry pieces available around are often perfect fits for formal and non-formal wear. So, whether you wish to look more refined out in public or if you wish to dazzle at a social event, stainless steel works. This versatility is also the reason why there’s a rise in stainless steel engagement and wedding bands.
Durable material: stainless steel will last for decades, and even if it gets tarnished, you only need to give it a simple wash, and it will look as good as new.
And given its stain-less design, you can wear the stainless steel jewelry piece everywhere without worrying about staining or corrosion. Thanks to the durable material and its reliability, stainless steel is a great investment, and it promises great returns.
It’s easy to clean – although your stainless steel ring or necklace might look a little dull or scratchy with use, over time, cleaning stainless steel is quite easy, and you only need household supplies to restore the stainless steel sparkle.
It’s affordable – if you are looking for a good quality piece of jewelry that will last longer and look good without breaking the bank, try stainless steel.
It looks as good as expensive silver or gold but costs less. Topped with its durability, stainless steel jewelry is a great investment.
Functional – when buying jewelry, one of the considerations to keep in mind is whether the piece of jewelry can be worn as an everyday piece.
The good news is that you can wear your stainless steel ring just about everywhere since it handles stress, wear and tear better than most other metals. Even with constant use and abuse, stainless steel jewelry lasts longer than silver or gold.
On the downside, the use of nickel in some stainless steel alloys makes the jewelry non-hypoallergenic; and there’s also the fact that the sizing stainless steel is impossible because of the hardness and the rigidity of the metal.
Conclusion
So, if you are still unsure of stainless steel jewelry, we hope that this information clears the air.
Stainless steel jewelry is valuable – especially if you don’t have nickel allergies and if you are looking for something that will last.
Thanks for reading. Guys, to read more jewelry metal articles or our latest posts here.
See you guys in the next post.
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.