Are you looking for cheap jewelry metals that don’t tarnish? Or you just want to figure out which metals are used in making jewelry why? You come to the right place. This post is a list of awesome metals that do not tarnish used in custom jewelry and fine jewelry, some of them are very affordable. But some are expensive.
Your options in the jewelry world might be limited, but your choices will, at the end of the day, be determined by the metal used to make that jewelry.
One of the enviable characteristics of metals used to make jewelry is not tarnishing. No one wants to wear earrings or a necklace that seems to have lost its natural luster overnight and looks ages older and uglier.
What it all means is whether silver is better than platinum in terms of how it will look months from date, if gold is tarnish-free, or if stainless steel is better than silver.
If you want jewelry that will not tarnish and look as good as new every morning, this article identifies some of the best jewelry metals that do not tarnish.
For starters, sterling silver tarnishes and regardless of how good it looks today, it will lose its luster in the next few months, unless you clean and polish it gently.
Which Jewelry Metals Do Not Tarnish?
There are numerous metals that could be used to make jewelry, but we are only going to look at a few of these metals.
These metals are already gaining popularity in the jewelry world; hence, they are a good place to start.
1. Platinum
On top of our list is platinum. Platinum refers to a precious earth metal known for its silvery-white hue. Although platinum is now gaining popularity in the jewelry world, it was one of the popular jewelry metals early in the 20th Century.
With more people understanding its strengths, platinum is now commonly used in wedding bands and engagement rings, among other types of jewelry.
So you guys can read this post for more info: is platinum good for wedding rings?. I guess you will learn a lot from this post!
Platinum doesn’t react with water or oxygen in the air, and it won’t lose its sheen. Platinum doesn’t tarnish, get oxidized or fade.
Pros
- It doesn’t tarnish
- Platinum is more durable and even stronger than gold
- Its strength and hardiness allow the creation of precise and sharp engravings on jewelry made of platinum.
- It gains a patina finish with time, from scratches; meaning that you won’t have to struggle with the scratches
- It is hypoallergenic
- Its strength and purity mean that platinum rings or bands symbolize everlasting and pure.
- It doesn’t expand if exposed to heat
Cons
- Its rarity makes it more expensive than even gold
- It’s only common in small-scale earrings, rings, and pendants
2. Stainless Steel (316L Stainless Steel)
Stainless steel is one of the most common metals used to make appliances, kitchenware, and hardware. Over the years, it’s gained popularity in the world of watches, as well as jewelry.
However, it is not a pure metal, and it’s actually a steel metal alloy made of at least 10% chromium. While there are different classes/ grades of stainless steel, 316 stainless steel is the stainless steel type used in the manufacture of jewelry.
It is silvery-white, and it has a mirror-like finish. Here is a post that will teach you how to tell the difference between silver and stainless steel.
Like platinum, stainless steel doesn’t tarnish, and it will retain its silvery mirror-like finish forever. As a result of its natural shine, stainless steel is easy to clean. It’s also scratch and corrosion-resistant, and durable. You can tell stainless steel from its hallmark signs SST or SSTL. If you want to know more about stainless steel, read this post for more.
Pros
- It’s easy to clean
- It doesn’t tarnish
- It has chromium which prevents tarnishing and corrosion
- It’s scratch-resistant
- It doesn’t rust
- It’s affordable
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- It’s not popular in the jewelry world.
3. Titanium
The other metal that’s gaining popularity rapidly in the jewelry world is titanium. Titanium is the world’s hardest natural metal, but also the most lightweight material used in jewelry.
This pure element is also very durable, and it’s one of the best materials for wedding bands. want to know more in detail? read this one: is titanium good for wedding rings?
Titanium boasts a silvery-white color (metallic), but its biggest caveat is that it’s not resistant to scratching. Its hallmark is TTN. Here My team focuses on a topic you might interest. Titanium vs stainless steel?. Do not forget to learn more.
Pros
- Durable
- Ultra-lightweight
- Hypoallergenic
- It doesn’t tarnish
- It’s just as strong as steel, but lighter.
- Great for men’s and women’s jewelry
Cons
- It is not scratch-resistant
- It’s too hard and cannot be engraved, resized, soldered or set with stones
- It’s damaged by heat
4. Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten carbide is an alloy of tungsten with 80% tungsten and 20% carbon (which is also alloyed with different other metals.
Tungsten carbide has, in the recent past, gained popularity because of its naturally grey or white beauty and elegance.
Here is a post you might like. because tungsten carbide is very popular for men’s wedding bands. Click here to learn more: is tungsten carbide is good for wedding rings?
Pros
- It has a beautiful white or gray finish
- It’s very strong (4x harder than titanium)
- Hypoallergenic
- Scratch-resistant
- Great for jewelry for men and women
Cons
- It could be marred
- It cannot be engraved or resized because it’s brittle and it could shatter easily under pressure
5. Palladium
Belonging to the platinum group of metals, palladium is known for its bright white color, as well as its strength and purity.
It’s also one of the affordable metals that make excellent jewelry. Palladium is made of 95% palladium and 5% ruthenium, but it doesn’t require plating. if you guys want to know more about this great jewelry metal, this post might help you a lot. You will learn the property and history of this metal in the jewelry world.
And we also discuss: is palladium good metal for a wedding ring or engagement ring?
Pros
- High purity
- Super-strength
- Hypoallergenic
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- It doesn’t tarnish or rust
- It develops a beautiful patina over time
- Palladium rings can be resized
Cons
- Not as popular as it should be
- Hard to work with, without the right equipment
6. Ceramic (Ceramic Carbide)
Ceramic jewelry has been making waves in the world of jewelry and thanks to its uniqueness, it a great material for making jewelry.
Ceramic is lightweight, ultra-versatile, and heat-resistant.
It’s made from hi-tech aerospace materials and as ceramic carbide, it’s not only durable but also scratch-resistant. Jewelry made of ceramic is affordable and available in different colors.
Pros
- Versatile
- available in different colors
- It’s hypoallergenic
- It doesn’t tarnish
- It’s scratch-resistant
- Heat resistant
- Lightweight
- Affordable
Cons
- Ceramic cannot be engraved or resized because it is brittle, and it might shatter under pressure.
7. Cobalt
Though cobalt is used in jewelry as a metal bonded with nickel or copper, it’s one is the best metals for making jewelry.
Besides being tarnish-free, it’s also durable, and it looks a lot like white gold. If you want to know more about Cobalt, this post is for you.
Pros
- It’s resistant to scratching
- It’s hypoallergenic
- It’s durable
- Great for men’s rings
- Tarnish-resistant
- Corrosion and rust-free
Cons
- Resizing is not very easy
- It’s not popular
Conclusion
These are some of the best tarnish-free metals for jewelry. They are also hypoallergenic and suitable for making jewelry for men and women.
You guys can buy some jewelry that made of affordable metals, such as stainless steel or tungsten carbide.
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If you want to read more jewelry metal posts, these posts are for you guys. Or read our latest posts.
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.