Is Stainless Steel Jewelry Good?

Stainless steel might not be the first material you associate with jewelry or some of the other finer things in life. Precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum are highly sought after because they appreciate (gain value) over time and, well, because many people think they look good on fingers, wrists, and necks.

There’s only so much real gold and silver in the world. Mining precious metals requires a lot of resources and land destruction. Additionally, despite an organized global crackdown, gold mined from nations mired in conflict and war can still find its way into dignified markets.

We don’t mention this to guilt-trip anyone for having fine jewelry or wanting something shiny every now and then. There are plenty of places that are careful to only use ethically sourced jewelry materials.

If you’re looking for a potential jewelry alternative that’s a little cheaper and better for the environment, though, you might want to consider stainless steel jewelry. We’ll dive into this world and go over some advantages and disadvantages as well as give some advice on making the switch.

What is Stainless Steel Jewelry?

When you hear the word steel, you might think of skyscrapers, cars, weapons, or the popular NFL team in Pittsburgh. Steel is often synonymous with toughness, grit, and even America. 

Stainless steel is just as tough but has a bit of a sheen to it. Thanks to its high chromium content, it can combat corrosion and rust. You might have a stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher, or sink. Plenty of pots and pans are made of stainless steel; you may have some in your cabinets that have stood the test of time.

What you might associate less with stainless steel is jewelry. Those two things haven’t always had a strong connection, but the potential is certainly there. Some major jewelry brands like Alex and Ani, The Steel Shop, and even Zales offer some beautiful stainless steel options. 

Benefits of Stainless Steel Jewelry

If your mind is open to jewelry made of stainless steel, you’ll be happy to know that the advantages are numerous. Here are a few:

• Affordability. Stainless steel is an alloy of several metals, such as iron, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, and sometimes a few others. None of those are precious metals, which are scarce and, therefore, drive up prices. 
• Sustainability. Except in very rare circumstances, stainless steel is 100% recyclable. There’s a good chance that any piece of stainless steel jewelry you could purchase tomorrow is at least partially made of post-consumer materials. Stainless steel is a great choice for people who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Anti-corrosive properties. Stainless steel doesn’t tarnish when introduced to sweat and other liquids. When you do need to clean stainless steel jewelry, the process is usually relatively simple (more on that below).
• Hypoallergenic properties. Although not as common as other allergies, many people are allergic to gold, silver, and other precious metals. Stainless steel is generally regarded as a hypoallergenic metal. Hypoallergenic stainless steel jewelry has caught on for many people whose skin gets irritated upon contact with nickel and other metals.

Perhaps the most attractive part of it for most people is its durability. It’s incredibly difficult to scratch this material unless you are really trying to do so. The longevity of stainless steel also means you don’t have to replace it so often.

Stainless Steel Vs. Silver Jewelry

If you only get a quick glance at someone’s ring or bracelet, you may not be able to tell whether the jewelry is made of stainless steel or sterling silver. Many people compare these two materials due to their passing resemblance. Sterling silver has more in common with stainless steel than some other precious metals, but distinct differences remain. 

Luster

Sterling silver jewelry is much more of a pain to polish and care for than stainless steel, but many people will tell you it’s absolutely worth it. 

Up to 95% of light can be reflected off of a properly maintained sterling silver surface, while stainless steel can only reflect about 50% of incident light.

Corrosion

Sterling silver is known to tarnish upon exposure to air. It’s not an instant reaction, but stainless steel wins the tarnishing battle every time. Both stainless steel and sterling silver are quite resistant to corrosion, and some people even prefer the aged look that sterling silver can gain over time.

Repairability

Stainless steel jewelry is fairly hard to bend or dent. Sterling silver is a little more susceptible to those conditions, but it can be repaired more easily than stainless steel jewelry.

Stainless Steel Jewelry Care

Plenty of people will tell you that you don’t really need to maintain your stainless steel jewelry. Perhaps use some soap every now and then if you really want to keep it shiny.

 While it’s true that it requires less maintenance than precious metals, it can benefit from some TLC every now and then. Warm water, mild dish soap, and a lint-free cloth can restore the luster to stainless steel in just a few minutes. 

Some experts recommend scrubbing stainless steel with a toothbrush and baking soda paste, which is also effective. Drying with a microfiber cloth is best if you go the baking soda route. Whichever way you feel comfortable with should give your jewelry back the luster it had at the beginning. Maintaining the quality of stainless steel jewelry is worth it, in our humble opinion.

Our Take on It

Stainless steel is not carbon neutral. Few things are when it comes to luxuries, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth investigating ways you can reduce your carbon footprint while looking as stylish as you want to be.

We feel the benefits of stainless steel jewelry—especially for sensitive skin—are more than enough to get the public’s attention. It’s affordable, it doesn’t require a great amount of resources to create, and it will last you a very long time. If resale markets aren’t your number one priority when getting a nice piece of jewelry for a loved one, our strong recommendation is stainless steel.

Featured image via Canva