Hypoallergenic Jewelry

A customer emailed me this morning with a great question. She asked what type of metal was used in the String-Ring and if it was hypo-allergenic.

The first question is easy enough. String-Ring is sterling silver. That means it is made up of 92.5% pure silver (.925) mixed with copper to achieve a hardness and stability level that will hold its shape and resist wear and tear. Click Read more...

Now for the second question. Well, I'm not a skin specialist or immunologist, but I'll answer to the best of my knowledge. It is my understanding that the nickel in the alloy is what many react to. People who suffer from contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction when in contact with certain metals) are most commonly allergic to nickel. Generally, sterling silver is a great metal choice for people who are allergic to nickel. It is usually the silver plated, gold plated, and white gold that you should stay away from if you are susceptible. Silver and gold plated means that a very thin layer of silver/gold coats the base metal which is usually a cheaper steel. The alloys used in white gold and the chemicals used to make it white can contain nickel and can therefore cause allergic reactions more often than yellow gold.

Having said that, most people with jewelry allergies wear metals such as sterling silver without irritation, while others can’t. The only way to know for sure is to try it.