Stainless Steel Jewelry Pros and Cons

Stainless steel is an umbrella term for iron alloys with at least 11% chromium in their composition.

Stainless steel is an alloy made primarily of iron, carbon, and chromium.

It is known for its strength, resistance to corrosion, and durability, making it a popular choice for various applications.

There are many steel types used in many industries: from construction to biomedical sciences, from kitchenware to jewelry.

These alloys have different compositions and properties meeting the demands of their usage environments.

In jewelry, we want to see 316L type stainless steel pieces. This type of stainless steel offers all the benefits we want like durability, tarnish resistance, corrosion resistance, hypoallergenic property with a nice finish and more.

Yet, it also has downsides. Let’s check stainless steel pros and cons side in order.

Pros of Stainless Steel Jewelry

1. Durability

316L stainless steel is a hard and durable alloy ready for everyday wear and tear.

It clearly outperforms softer metals like sterling silver or white gold. This is not unexpected as it is used to make surgical instruments.

It offers heat resistance with high scratch resistance, which means you can enjoy a brighter, smoother look for a long time.

316L type alloy is a popular austenitic steel version. It includes 2% molybdenum which increases acid resistance and enhances corrosion resistance from chloride ions. This version is a low carbon version which is one of the white metals good for jewelry.

Hardness of metals and other minerals like gemstones is measured on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.

On the low end, we have talc with a grade of 1 and on the high-end diamond with a 10 level on this scale.

This group of alloys have a hardness level in the range of 5.5-6.3. This hardness is significantly higher than gold and silver’s around 3 level.

316L type stainless steel does not tarnish like sterling silver. It does not corrode or rust.

2. Hypoallergenic property

Some materials may trigger allergies for people with sensitive skin. Symptoms range from blisters, itching, to color change and even headaches.

To avoid such consequences, you should choose hypoallergenic metals for your jewelry.

Although no one can offer zero risk, these metals are considered safe for people with sensitive skin.

Thankfully, we have a good list of safe metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium, titanium and more.

When we come across allergy symptoms, the first culprit is nickel.

Approximately 10% of the US population is affected at various levels by nickel allergy.

Nickel allergy is many times the culprit of skin irritation or hypersensitivity.

While we do not go shopping for nickel jewelry, trace amounts of nickel or other allergenic metals may indirectly enter alloys.

This is why you should make sure your piece is nickel-free, in the first place. Sterling silver or gold pieces may have nickel via copper in their mix. Avoid this type of jewelry.

316L type is a safe hypoallergenic metal alloy.

This surgical grade steel is a good choice for people with metal allergies.

Although it has nickel content for hardening, it is entrapped inside, thus it is safe. This variant is even used to make medical tools and surgery equipment.

3. Low maintenance

Taking care of your stainless steel jewelry is simple.

You can clean it with mild soap and warm water, and a soft cloth or brush.

Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that can scratch the surface.

When not wearing your stainless steel jewelry, store it in a separate pouch or compartment to prevent scratches.

Some jewelry pieces like sterling silver demand more care and attention than others.

These pieces are made of relatively soft metal, and they do tarnish.

This means they have lower scratch resistance than rhodium plated white gold or palladium pieces.

They should be the first pieces you should place in separate pouches or ziplock bags.

They also garner black spots as silver reacts with sulfur compounds in the air. This black layer is called tarnish. It can also form after a longer period from oxidation with water and humidity.

This process is self-limiting and does penetrate and corrode the piece.

While sterling silver pieces require extra cleaning and polishing to postpone and get rid of tarnish, 316L type alloy is immune from tarnishing.

However, as they are harder than probably many of your jewelry items, you should not just throw them over one another. Keep them separate to prevent scratches.

4. Environmentally friendly

Our old world isn’t as fit as it used to be.

The making of modern life in the 21st century has caused a lot of pollution and damage to the environment. Luckily, stainless steel is one of the most eco-friendly metal alloys for jewelry.

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable, moreover it also demands relatively very little energy for production.

Furthermore, it doesn’t cause as much waste as some other metals.

These are big green check marks for environmental – conscious jewelry lovers.

5. Price

Stainless steel is an affordable metal.

It is mainly an alloy of iron carbon, and chromium, neither of these are precious metals.

They are widely available. They are abundant and have lower prices.

Stainless pieces offer nearly always more affordability than their alternatives with similar appearances to white gold, palladium and platinum.

Cons of Stainless Steel Jewelry

1. Difficult to resize and cut

Stainless steel jewelry is not easy to resize. Unlike other metals like gold or sterling silver, stainless steel cannot be easily reshaped or altered.

is important to choose the correct size when purchasing stainless steel jewelry to ensure a proper fit.

There are many instances where a stainless steel ring comes in the wrong size, which means they have to be adjusted to fit your finger.

Nevertheless, this is very difficult due to how rigid and stiff the metal is.

This also renders working with gemstones more challenging. Placing and adjusting a diamond to make the prong setting fit will be a more arduous task.

Another resizing need may arise with time. Finger sizes may change with age, which again will bring the need to fine-tune the band.

In this case, its high tensile properties may prevent the ring from being resized easily.

While steel ring resizing is a problematic task, softer metals like sterling silver or rose gold can easily be resized.

Another difficulty may arise in an emergency situation. If the urgent need to cut the jewelry occurs, it won’t be as easy as an aluminum or sterling piece.

2. High rigidity

Steel is a hard, durable material. It has high scratch resistance.

That means that you can choose it for everyday wear with confidence.

This sturdiness may be an obstacle when you want to order a custom stainless steel wedding band.

Its hardness makes implementing fine details difficult.

So, if you have a specific ring or jewelry design in mind which includes small details and wavy patterns, sterling or gold might be a better choice.

Conclusion: Should You Buy Stainless Steel Jewelry?

Stainless jewelry and piercing are strong alternatives gaining ground at a high pace.

This is not surprising as it combines a cool silvery look of a white metal with a more pleasing and affordable price than precious metal jewelry.

However, appearance and price tag are not the only advantages steel jewelry offers.

Stainless steel jewelry has many advantages. It is highly durable. It is resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion.

It is hypoallergenic, making it suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Stainless steel jewelry is also very affordable and has a sleek and modern look.

On the other side, it also has a few disadvantages.

One drawback is that it cannot be resized easily, so it is important to carefully choose the correct size when purchasing.

Additionally, stainless steel jewelry may not have the same value or prestige as other metals like gold or sterling silver.

After all, there are only four precious metals gold, silver, platinum and palladium. And, steel, which is an alloy of iron and chromium, is not in this list.

Aside from this, steel brings much more to the table, like durability, low maintenance and hypoallergenic properties.

These clearly dominate its cons, like being hard to resize and rigidity.

Just make sure you pick high quality designs made from 316L stainless steel or similar.

By this way, you can be sure your choice is the top of the shelf steel option that the jewelry industry can offer.

Avoid any cheap pieces that may include the main culprit for skin allergies, nickel. This can be a waste of money and not beneficial to your health.

Because of its hard and rigid nature, it offers limited artsy styles. You may not find intricate designs fitting your liking.

Stainless steel is not diamond level hard. It is prone to dents when knocked or hit against sharp objects. So, common sense is always beneficial, even with hard and durable pieces of jewelry.

In the end, the answer knocks on your personal preference, just stick to 316L surgical grade stainless steel jewelry to stay safe.

You may also want to check our post on Damascus steel rings pros and cons, which looks at a similar steel alloy with exceptional surface patterns.

If you’d like a lightweight alternative with similar looks, check out post on tin jewelry pros and cons.