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Silver
Silver jewelry fans, you're in luck. Silver is a good material for sensitive skin because it's chemically unreactive. That keeps your jewelry in good condition. Silver also doesn't react with your skin or body tissue.
925 silver is better for jewelry than pure silver
Pure silver is allergy-free, but 925 silver is better suited to jewelry. Pure silver oxidizes quickly and turns black. 925 silver contains other metals that protect it from this. So your 925 silver tarnishes only slowly, and you enjoy it for longer.
Some producers mix nickel, zinc, germanium or silicon into their 925 silver. Rest assured: you won't find nickel in Maitea jewelry. We only use copper for our 925 silver, so our end product is as pure as possible.
Copper could be causing your reaction to silver jewelry
Copper mixes well with silver: it adds durability without changing the color. But copper isn't allergy-free. Some people with very sensitive skin react to it, especially after prolonged skin contact.
If you react to 925 silver, copper is the likely cause. In that case, opt for stainless steel jewelry. It won't cause a rash.
Stainless Steel
A common misconception: that pure gold is the best material for sensitive skin because it's expensive. But stainless steel isn't just affordable, it's also highly resistant to corrosion, rust and tarnish. It doesn't degrade and doesn't irritate the skin. That makes it the best choice for sensitive skin. And it's extremely durable: with the right care, you'll wear your stainless steel jewelry for life.
There are different grades of stainless steel
Two grades are especially skin-friendly: 316L and 304. These materials are used in medical implants and body jewelry, so rest assured, they don't cause allergic reactions.
316L is also known as medical stainless steel. It's the safest option for sensitive skin because it's especially corrosion-resistant.
304 stainless steel is slightly less corrosion-resistant, but only slightly. It's still a good choice for sensitive skin.
At Maitea, we use 316L throughout, for every piece and every closure, so only the highest grade touches your skin.
Pure Gold
If you're a gold person at heart, good news: 24-carat gold (pure gold) is one of the least reactive metals there is. A good option for sensitive skin or metal allergies.
Just so you know: the material isn't cheap. A ring in pure gold can easily cost €300. Luckily, other materials can be coated in gold. So you too, as someone with allergies, can enjoy skin-friendly jewelry without breaking the bank.
Our gold jewelry is gold-coated silver or steel
At Maitea, we coat stainless steel and 925 silver in 18-carat gold. Why 18-carat and not pure gold? 24-carat gold is very soft and malleable. It wouldn't survive everyday wear. A durable piece with a 24-carat coating would need a very thick gold layer. That would drive the price so high our jewelry would no longer be affordable.
