What is the Difference between Stainless Steel Jewelry and Zinc Alloy Jewelry?

2021-09-27

Many people may have a misunderstanding between stainless steel and zinc alloy jewelry. In fact, they are very similar between the two, but they are also very different. From the appearance, only those who know it can distinguish it. Let me talk about the similarities between them first.

 

First of all, both of them are alloy jewelry.

Stainless steel is not an independent element. It is an alloy of carbon, iron and at least 10.5% chromium, which is known in the industry for its strength. This combination makes stainless steel very suitable for many applications, one of which is jewelry production. Stainless steel is one of the most popular and important alloys and is widely used worldwide.

Most jewelry manufacturers rarely use pure zinc, but they mix it with other metals to make zinc alloys. Some of these casting alloys include copper, bronze, soft solder, and German silver. The two most famous zinc alloys are brass made of zinc and copper and nickel silver made of nickel copper and zinc.

Secondly, both of them are the most popular contemporary fashion element materials.

 

However, there are also significant differences between them.

Generally, when jewellery buyers purchase popular jewellery, they will pay attention to the material at the first time to determine whether the manufacturer uses the metal they like. Jewelry is made of different elements, the two most popular are stainless steel and zinc alloy (fashion jewelry is usually made of stainless steel and zinc alloy). So, what is the difference between them, let jewelers make the first choice? This starts with the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of jewelry.

 

The advantage of stainless steel jewelry is that it is durable. Because of the chrome layer, it can withstand scratches and corrosion, so you can wear it every day, and it basically requires little maintenance. Due to the addition of chromium, they look shiny, look like platinum or titanium, and are very high-end to wear. The disadvantage is that the hardness is too large and it is difficult to adjust the size. Gems are difficult to set, so jewelers don't like to use it. In addition, the price is also more expensive.

The advantages of zinc alloy jewelry are durability, corrosion resistance, can be mixed with other metals, and cost-effective. Because brass is ideal for casting, it is also popular among manufacturers. The disadvantage is that it will lose its luster after a few months, so you must take some measures to maintain the same appearance.

 

So which one is better? All this depends on your target group and market positioning.

Stainless steel is the better alloy when comparing the two, but it also depends on the jewelry buyer. What is your target market? Is it willing to pay more for higher quality? If you are a high-end person, then stainless steel alloy is a good material choice. If you are mass-producing for the low-end market, then zinc alloy will do.