Is Stainless Steel Jewelry Good?

When you think of stainless steel, what comes to mind? Was your first thought jewelry?

While talked about less than its counterparts, stainless steel is one of the best materials to make jewelry out of if you value beauty, durability, and versatility. We know we sure do!

If you've been wondering if stainless steel jewelry is good quality, a good investment and a good addition to your wardrobe, the answer is a resounding YES. Let us explain why.

Does Stainless Steel Jewelry Tarnish?

Under normal conditions, stainless steel does not tarnish or rust, making it an excellent choice for statement jewelry.

When stainless steel is exposed to oxygen, chromium oxide is created on the surface of the steel, which prevents further oxidation. Even if stainless steel is scratched and the chromium oxide layer is removed, a new chromium oxide layer will form and protect the rest of the stainless steel beneath it.[1]

How To Clean Stainless Steel Jewelry

Due to its durability, stainless steel jewelry requires much less care than softer metals, such as sterling silver. 

While you can simply wipe stainless steel jewelry down with a cloth and tuck it away, we always recommend the following tips for taking care of any jewelry:

• Apply lotions, perfumes and hair products prior to putting your jewelry on. Avoid contact with aerosols, in general.
• When not wearing, store your stainless steel jewelry in a drawer out of direct sunlight.
• While your stainless steel jewelry won't oxidize, it is best to get in the habit of keeping jewelry in an air tight container or Ziploc bag, when possible.

Is Stainless Steel Jewelry Expensive?

While the answer "It depends" seems annoyingly vague, it truly does depend! Stainless steel chain comes in a variety of sizes, grades, and quality, which means a varying price. As with most jewelry, if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The stainless steel we use in our jewelry is hypoallergenic. If you have ever noticed your skin reacting to a piece of jewelry, it most likely had high levels of nickel in it!

Why Do We Make Jewelry From Stainless Steel?

While we work with and incorporate a variety of materials into our statement jewelry, we keep coming back to stainless steel for a few key reasons.

We love stainless steel because it...

• Looks like antique silver (and you know how much we love anything antique!).
• Is stronger and more durable than other metals, making it great for every day wear.
• Is low maintenance and doesn't require polishing.
• Has an edgy feel to it that is the perfect balance to our other, more elegant styles.

Is Stainless Steel Jewelry Right For You?

If you are someone who appreciates beautiful, bright, durable, low maintenance jewelry, then stainless steel jewelry will be right up your alley!

You may be surprised to learn that some of our most popular statement necklaces primarily use stainless steel chain, including the Danielle (shown below), Robbie (shown at top), Eliza and Ebba. Could you tell?

To Wrap Things Up

Stainless steel jewelry is not only fantastic quality at a reasonable price, but it can also keep up with every day wear while still looking positively radiant.

At Carolily, we are all about finding a balance between using the highest quality materials we can while offering our statement jewelry at an accessible price. Incorporating stainless steel into our jewelry allows us to do just that!

If you have any questions about which pieces of jewelry are right for you, please email us at info@carolily.com and we would be delighted to help!

References

[1] K.G. and M.K. Engineering Materials: Properties and Selection, 7th Edition. 2001