One of the key components of jewelry making is the selection of metals, which can greatly impact the durability, aesthetic appeal, and value of the final product. We’ve been wanting to make this guide for a while now, to guide you through the differences in each metal and help you to make an informed decision on your purchase.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most commonly used metals in jewelry making, including 304 and 316L stainless steel, brass, silver, and gold. We’ll explore the unique characteristics of each metal, such as their strength, corrosion resistance, and hypoallergenic properties. So, let’s dive in and discover the beauty and versatility of these timeless metals.
Stainless steel
- Durable
- Water/Corrosion resistant
- Easy to polish
- Affordable
- Contains nickel
- More expensive than brass
Stainless steel is one of the most used metals in jewelry making, because it is a durable and corrosion-resistant metal. You don’t have to worry about discoloration when the bracelet comes in to contact with water, or just simply after wearing it.
Two common types of stainless steel used in jewelry making are 304 and 316L. 304 stainless steel is a high-quality metal that is resistant to corrosion and staining, making it a popular choice for everyday jewelry. 316L stainless steel is even more corrosion-resistant and is often used in marine and medical applications.
The downside of 304 and 316L stainless steel is that it contains nickel. For 304 stainless steel the percentage of nickel is around 8-10%. 316L contains around 10-14%. Because the amount of nickel is very low, this metal is still considered hypoallergenic. Therefore, it is used in wide variety of jewelry styles and designs, like rings, bracelets, watches and necklaces. While this amount of nickel is considered low, it can still cause allergic reactions in some people who are sensitive to nickel. If you are allergic to nickel, we do not recommend you to wear jewelry made of stainless steel.
The d-shackle of all of our Nautical bracelets are made of stainless steel.
Copper & Zinc alloy
- Suitable if you have a nickel allergy
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use in jewelry
- Color fades after wearing the item into copper
- Not as durable as stainless steel.
Copper and zinc alloys, commonly known as brass, are used in jewelry making for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is that this alloy is relatively inexpensive compared to precious metals like gold and silver, but also stainless steel.
All the copper and zinc alloy spacers we use at FortunaBeads are made of just copper and zinc. We don’t add any other metals, like nickel, to this alloy. The bracelets we make with this material is therefore suitable for everyone with a nickel allergy.
Brass is also very easy to work with and can be cast, stamped, or machined into a variety of shapes and forms. It can also be electroplated with other metals, such as gold or silver, to give it a more expensive look. The FortunaBeads alloy of the Basic and Bali collection are oxidized, to give the items an aged look.
One of the downsides of copper and zinc jewelry is that the zinc plating tarnishes after wearing the item and thus reveals a copper color. This can happen because the metal rubs against your skin, but also because of moisture. Some people like this, because it gives the item a more distressed look. Others don’t like it and prefer the color to stay the same. This makes this metal less durable in comparison to stainless steel, silver and gold.
All of the Basic and Bali bracelets are made of nickel free alloys. Also the new Italia bracelets are nickel free.
925 Sterling Silver
- Durable
- Luxurious
- Hypoallergenic/ nickel free
- Relatively expensive
- Tarnishes
Sterling silver is a type of metal that is used to make a variety of different types of jewelry. We use it to make the Minimal and Lily bracelets. The metals used most commonly in the production of sterling silver are 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. The copper is added to give the silver more strength and durability. The percentage of pure silver in the alloy is what gives sterling silver its value.
Sterling silver is a durable metal that can withstand regular wear and tear without losing its shape or beauty. However, sterling silver is less durable in comparison to stainless steel. Stainless steel is a much harder and stronger metal than sterling silver, because stainless steel is a non-porous metal, which means that it is more resistant to tarnish and corrosion than sterling silver.
The beauty of sterling silver is that when it tarnishes, it is easy to polish with a special silver polishing cloth. This is a soft cloth that has been treated with a polishing compound. Simply rub the silver polishing cloth over the surface of the tarnished sterling silver to remove the tarnish and restore its shine.
Because we don’t use nickel to strengthen our 925 sterling silver, but only copper, it is hypoallergenic and suitable to wear if you have a nickel allergy. Do note that this is not the case with all sterling silver, some varieties of other sellers may contain nickel.
The Minimal and Lily bracelets are made with 925 sterling silver. The Lily collection is also oxidized.
Gold Vermeil
- Luxurious look
- More affordable then solid gold
- Hypoallergenic
- Expensive
- Tarnishes
Gold plated vermeil is a type of jewelry that is made by coating a layer of gold over a sterling silver base. Vermeil is a specific type of gold plating that uses a thicker layer of gold than traditional gold plating, typically ranging from 2.5 to 3 microns in thickness. To be considered vermeil, the gold layer must also be plated over sterling silver, which is a high-quality silver alloy that contains at least 92.5% pure silver.
Gold plated vermeil jewelry is often considered to be a more affordable alternative to solid gold jewelry, as it has the same rich, warm appearance as solid gold at a fraction of the cost. However, it is worth noting that gold plated vermeil jewelry may require more care and maintenance than solid gold jewelry, as the gold layer can wear away over time with regular wear and exposure to moisture, chemicals, and other factors.
The FortunaBeads Premium collection is made with gold plated vermeil.
Conclusion
Of course there are many other metals available in the jewelry making industry. For now, these are all the metals that we use to make our bracelets. We hope you’ve learned something today and that you are more informed about which bracelet suits you. If you have any further questions about these metals or our bracelets, feel free to contact us.