What Do You Need to Know About Stainless Steel Jewelry?

2024-06-13

What is Stainless Steel Jewelry?

Stainless steel jewelry refers to any kind of jewelry made of stainless steel material. Stainless steel is an alloy containing at least 10.5% chromium. It is composed of iron, chromium, nickel, silicon, manganese, nitrogen and carbon. It has strong corrosion resistance. The chromium contained in stainless steel makes the jewelry corrosion-resistant. Therefore, it is widely used in jewelry. Chromium forms an invisible film on stainless steel; It increases its durability and prevents oxygen from reacting with metal and rusting. Stainless steel is very durable. It has a very high melting point. Because of its durability and strength, steel is an excellent material for jewelry production. Different types of stainless steel can be used in jewelry production including austenite, ferrite, biphase and martensite.

Stainless Steel Types

Austenitic stainless steel: contains high content of chromium, molybdenum and nickel. While it is known for its excellent strength and machinability, it is also known for being reasonably priced.

Ferritic stainless steel: It contains 10.5%-30% chromium and a lower carbon composition (up to 0.1%). This stainless steel is magnetic. It has high resistance to temperature oxidation and stress corrosion cracking.

Duplex stainless steel: It is a combination of austenite and ferrite, but it looks stronger than either of them. This type of stainless steel is lighter than the other two stainless steels we mentioned, but its corrosion resistance is even better.

Martensitic stainless steel: It is similar to ferritic stainless steel, but has a higher carbon content. The types of stainless steel can be divided into various grades, and the most popular in jewelry production are 300 and 400 series stainless steel.

301 stainless steel is the most commonly used type of stainless steel in the world due to its corrosion resistance and material value. The chromium content of this type of stainless steel is 16% to 24%, and the nickel, carbon and manganese content is 35%. It is resistant to most oxidizing acids. Its durability makes it easy to disinfect. One disadvantage of this stainless steel is that it is susceptible to corrosion from saline environments such as chloride or seawater. Chloride ions can form corrosion zones under the chromium barrier.

316 stainless steel is similar to 304 stainless steel, but 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, while 304 stainless steel does not contain molybdenum. This is a characteristic of 316 stainless steel, which has greater corrosion resistance to chloride and saline environments.

Stainless Steel Jewelry Pros and Cons

+ Durable

Stainless steel is a very durable metal that is ideal for everyday use. The metal itself is hard. It is very resistant to scratching and corrosion because the chrome-plated layer prevents oxidation.

+ Affordable

Stainless steel is much cheaper than metals such as gold, silver or bronze.

+ It's easy to clean

Stainless steel jewelry does not require a special cleaning solution. You can use warm water, dish soap, and a microfiber cloth to clean dirt and grime.

+ Suitable for any combination. Stainless steel jewelry

It goes with any outfit and is easy to put together because it provides a very precious metallic look. + Light weight, hypoallergenic stainless steel light weight. Therefore, it is the perfect material that can be used to make earrings, necklaces and rings. It can be comfortably worn for years, in everyday life. Hypoallergenic, ideal for sensitive skin. Stainless steel is one of the most environmentally friendly metals available for jewelry making. Much less energy and waste is produced than other metals. In addition, it is 100% recyclable material. It is a very scratch-resistant, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant metal. It shows no signs of wear. All you need to do is restore its shine and shine is a light clean.

Stainless steel is a very hard material that can achieve complex or intricate designs compared to softer silver or gold materials. It's the material. Stainless steel jewelry may contain small amounts of nickel, which some people are allergic to. - May need polishing Longer repolishing times may be required compared to other metals. Stainless steel is a very durable metal that will collapse if enough pressure is applied with heavy objects or sharp objects. If frequently exposed to rough surfaces, damage may occur. Stainless steel, depending on its type, is very susceptible to chlorine damage. Unless it is 304 or 315 stainless steel, swimming in the pool should be avoided because it will corrode.

Does Stainless Steel Jewelry Change Color? 

Stainless steel jewelry does not discolor or darken due to the chromium plating layer that prevents oxidation.

Do Stainless Steel Jewelry Leave Green Stains on the Skin?

Generally speaking, stainless steel jewelry does not change color and will not leave green stains on the skin for a long time. However, if it is made of inferior material, it may combine with other elements and alloys, leaving green stains on your skin. The reason some jewelry leaves green stains on your skin is usually due to other metal components, such as brass, nickel, or copper, chemically reacting with your body fluids and oxygen in the air. This condition is also known as oxidation and can cause skin discoloration.

How to Clean Stainless Steel Jewelry?

Regular cleaning of your stainless steel jewelry is necessary to restore its shine and sparkle after prolonged use. Now, if you're ready, let's share some cleaning tips.

Dish Soap and Water

* Take a bowl of warm water and add natural dish soap.

* Leave the jewelry in a bowl for 5-10 minutes.

* Then gently wipe the dirt on the jewelry with a soft cloth or microfiber cloth.

* Apply earwax to hard-to-reach areas.

* After cleaning the jewelry, dry it with a paper towel.

This method is suitable for cleaning extremely stubborn dirt. In addition, dish soap is available in most homes and is an inexpensive way to clean jewelry.

Baking Soda and Water

Mix baking soda and water into a thick white paste. Dip your toothbrush in a solution of baking soda and water. Gently clean your jewelry. When finished, rinse the stainless steel jewelry and gently dry it with paper towels. The great thing about using baking soda is that it provides an easy way to get rid of stubborn dirt. It even has brightening and deodorizing properties. However, if you have precious stones on your jewelry, we recommend that you do not use this method. Because it may cause it to loosen or scratch.

Tooth paste

We recommend using toothpaste with natural ingredients. Take a corner of a soft microfiber cloth and gently wet it with warm water. Then put a little toothpaste on it. Apply it to the surface of some stainless steel jewelry. Scrub hard-to-reach areas with a toothbrush or cotton swab. After cleaning, rinse with warm water and dry with paper towels.

The advantage of using toothpaste is that it is usually in every household, it is inexpensive and can act as a polish. On the other hand, we do not recommend using toothpaste on gemstone jewelry. Otherwise, the stone may be loose or scratched.

Vinegar

Mix vinegar with a bowl of warm water. Soak your stainless steel jewelry in this mixture for 10-15 minutes. Then dip a soft cloth into the mixture and wipe it off. After rinsing the jewelry under running water, you can dry it with paper towels.

Ultrasonic Cleaner

Ultrasonic cleaning machines use ultrasonic waves to move through the water to remove dirt particles from stainless steel jewelry. Can be used to clean multiple pieces of jewelry at the same time. This is a very simple method, you only need to press a button.