Have you ever fallen in love with a piece of jewelry, but not long after you start wearing it, your skin breaks out in a rash?

 

You might think that’s just your sensitive skin, and that you should avoid jewelry altogether. But there are jewelry materials out there that won’t cause reactions even for people with allergies to certain metals. It’s crucial to be informed about the jewelry you’re buying, and look out for these three hypoallergenic metals that are suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

 

1. Silver

 

Silver jewelry lovers, you’re in luck. Silver is a great material for sensitive skin. It’s less chemically reactive than other metals, so your jewelry will stay in great condition. And it won’t react when it comes into contact with substances in its environment, namely your skin and body tissue.

 

925 sterling silver is better for jewelry than pure silver

 

While pure silver is hypoallergenic, mixing silver with an alloy to make 925 sterling silver actually creates a more suitable material for jewelry. This is because pure silver oxidizes (turns black) easily, while 925 sterling silver has other metals that protect it from oxidation. This means you can enjoy your 925 sterling silver jewelry for much longer without it tarnishing.

 

Some jewelry producers mix nickel, zinc, germanium, or silicon into their 925 sterling silver jewelry. Rest assured, you won’t find any nickel in our Maitea jewelry. We only use copper as an alloy for our 925 sterling silver pieces, ensuring our end product is as pure as possible. 

 

Copper could be causing your reaction to silver jewelry

 

Copper is a great material to mix with silver, adding strength without changing its color. A quick heads up though: copper isn’t a hypoallergenic metal. Some people–like those with super sensitive skin–can have reactions to copper, especially with prolonged skin contact. 

 

If you think you’re allergic to 925 sterling silver jewelry, your reaction is likely caused by the copper that’s mixed into this metal. In this case, opt for stainless steel jewelry which won’t cause a rash.

 

2. Stainless Steel

 

It’s a common misconception that because pure gold is expensive, it must be the most appropriate material for sensitive skin. But humble stainless steel isn’t only affordable, it’s also highly resistant to corrosion, rust, and tarnish. It won’t degrade and cause skin irritation, making

it the very best option for those with sensitive skin or metal allergies. Another bonus: it’s super durable. With proper care, you can keep your stainless steel jewelry for life.

There are different grades of stainless steel

Two grades of stainless steel are especially hypoallergenic: 316L and 304. These materials are used for everything from medical implants to body jewelry, so rest assured, they won’t cause an allergic reaction. 

316 stainless steel is also known as surgical steel. It’s the safest option for sensitive skin because it’s highly resistant to corrosion.

Meanwhile, 304 stainless steel is slightly less corrosion-resistant – but only slightly! It’s still a great hypoallergenic option for those with sensitive skin.

At Maitea, we use a mix of both grades in our jewelry. For jewelry closures, we opt for 316L stainless steel, so only the highest grade of steel touches your skin. But 316L stainless steel can’t be produced from recycled materials. So for the other parts of our jewelry, we use recycled 304 steel. This means our jewelry is as climate-friendly as possible while still being very safe for sensitive skin.

3-Pure gold

 

If you’re a gold jewelry person at heart, then great news: 24-carat gold (pure gold) is one of the least reactive metals out there. It’s a great option for people with sensitive skin or metal allergies.

 

But just to let you know – this material doesn’t come cheap. A pure gold ring will set you back around 300€. Luckily, there are methods for coating other materials in gold so you can enjoy sensitive skin-friendly jewelry without breaking the bank.

Our gold jewelry is gold-coated silver or steel

At Maitea, we coat stainless steel and sterling silver pieces in 18-carat gold to create our gold jewelry. Wondering why we’ve opted for 18-carat gold rather than the pure gold we mentioned before? The thing is, 24-carat gold is very soft and malleable. It wouldn’t withstand the daily wear and tear that your jewelry experiences. The only way to achieve a durable piece of jewelry with a 24-carat gold coating would be to make that coating very thick! And that would drive up the price of our jewelry so it’s no longer an affordable option for our customers.

Alloys of gold include 18, 14, or 10-carat gold. They adhere well to base metals like 925 sterling silver or stainless steel and provide a stable, durable coating that won’t cause any reactions. Out of these options, we chose 18-carat gold, the most pure alloy available. This means our gold-coated jewelry is as pure as possible, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.