Stainless steel in jewelry and its characteristics

Why choose stainless steel?

Many of the metal accessories sold on the Perles & co website are made of stainless steel.

Always the same anxieties and the same questions: does this item contain nickel? Is stainless steel durable over time? On our product sheets, the indication "nickel-free" indicates that the stainless steel product complies with REACH regulations. Although it contains nickel by virtue of its composition, it is not released into the environment.
Here's a quick rundown to get you up to speed ;-)

1. What is stainless steel?

Stainless steel, also known as inox steel, is a metal widely used in all areas of domestic and industrial life, thanks to its high rust-proof qualities.
It is an alloy of iron, chromium, nickel and carbon, necessary to guarantee the formation of a self-regenerating surface layer that makes it stainless.

2. What is the composition of stainless steel?

• Over 50%iron.
• Chromium & carbon. According to European standard EN 10088-13, a steel is classified as stainless if it contains a minimum of 10.5% chromium by mass and a maximum of 1.2% carbon, which will prevent the formation of carbides that are detrimental to the material.
• Nickel. Homogenizes the alloy. It provides flexibility, malleability and resilience (shape memory). Regulations are very strict for jewelry. The European directive on nickel (94/27/CE in its latest version of September 27, 2004) requires that the nickel release rate be 0.5 micrograms per cm 2 (surface area of the part) per week for articles in direct and prolonged contact with the skin. This migration limit is lowered to 0.2 µg/cm²/week for piercings.
  For this reason, most nickel-containing alloys have been phased out. But some are still authorized, such as stainless steels.
  On our product sheets, you may have read the indication "Nickel released: no". This indicates that the stainless steel product complies with REACH regulations. Although it contains nickel due to its composition, it is not released.
• Other elements:
  - Manganese is a substitute for nickel. Certain stainless steel alloy series have been developed to cope with uncertainties in nickel supply.
  - Molybdenum and copper improve resistance in most corrosive environments, particularly acidic ones (e.g. perspiration), but also in phosphoric and sulfurous solutions.
  - Tungsten improves the high-temperature resistance of stainless steels.
  - Titanium prevents the alteration of metallurgical structures during hot working, particularly during welding, thus preserving the stainless character of steel by avoiding chromium depletion.
  -Niobium has a much higher melting point than titanium and similar properties.
  - Silicon also plays a role in oxidation resistance.

3. What are the advantages of stainless steel?

Stainless steel combines several advantages:

• It is malleable when hot, and can be engraved (but avoid punching it to avoid damaging the heads of your striking punches).
• It is hypoallergenic. It does not cause skin reactions, except in very rare cases.
• It's environmentally friendly. Its impact on the environment is low, thanks to responsible use, sustainable design and efficient recycling.
• It is virtually indestructible and dimensionally stable.
• It requires little maintenance.
• It is infinitely recyclable.

4. Why does stainless steel rust?

Steel can oxidize in certain circumstances (e.g. very high temperatures: over 800°C). Under normal conditions of use, the chromium oxide contained in stainless steel develops a transparent oxide film on the metal. This film acts as a barrier to any intrusion that could lead to oxidation (even if the metal has suffered an impact, the protective barrier reforms).
Stainless steel with these characteristics will not oxidize or turn black in the face of everyday aggressions: water, household products, cosmetics, perspiration, etc.

5. Can stainless steel be used in water?

It all depends on the quality of your stainless steel jewelry! Stainless steel jewelry can be showered or bathed without being altered. However, with certain types of stainless steel, prolonged swimming in a pool is not recommended, as chlorine is very aggressive. It eliminates the invisible film created by the chromium to protect the jewelry.
It's also a good idea to remove jewelry before swimming in the sea or ocean. Salt water can tarnish and rust jewelry.

If you're looking for a stainless steel that's resistant to chlorine and seawater, choose marine grade stainless steel: 316 and 316L.