Is Stainless Steel Jewelry of Good Quality? (An Honest Expert Guide)

Stainless steel jewelry has gained popularity in recent years due to its exceptional durability and attractive appearance. Although stainless steel jewelry looks stunning, is it truly of good quality, or is it just a fleeting trend? Glam Body Candy will explain what stainless steel really is, how it holds up over time, and whether it's worth investing in and adding to your jewelry collection.

 

What is Stainless Steel Jewelry?

316L stainless steel jewelry consists of a durable metal alloy with iron, chromium, and trace amounts of nickel. To learn more about stainless steel jewelry and why you should choose it, be sure to check out our blog post, "What are the Benefits of Stainless Steel Jewelry: Why It's a Smart Choice for Everyday Wear."

 

Why is 316L stainless steel jewelry unique?

Stainless steel has a unique ability to "self-heal.” When chromium is exposed to oxygen on the surface of stainless steel, it forms a protective layer. This coating prevents tarnishing, discoloration, and rust. This intriguing feature distinguishes stainless steel from other metals because it requires significantly less maintenance and polishing. It can easily withstand everyday wear, showers, and environmental elements thanks to its durability and self-healing properties.

 

Glam Body Candy Full Stainless Steel Jewelry Collection

Glam Body Candy specializes in high-quality, long-lasting 316L stainless steel jewelry. Our collections feature on-trend to classic jewelry designs with brightly polished silver tones, textures, and other varieties, adding dimension and intrigue to every piece. We also carry gold-plated stainless steel jewelry for those who love all the luxury and glamor of real gold without the hefty price tag associated with fine gold jewelry.

 

Is Stainless Steel Jewelry Considered Good Quality? (Yes, Here’s Why)

316L Stainless Steel (the type of stainless steel available at Glam Body Candy) has a high chromium composition alloyed with a minimal amount of nickel, making it a great alternative to other affordable or fine metals. This surgical-grade stainless steel is easy to work with (fashioned into all kinds of jewelry designs), modern yet classic with its ability to be plated or textured, in addition to being affordable without being of "cheaper quality."

 

Unmatched Durability: Scratch and bend-resistant. Stainless steel is perfect for daily wear items like rings and bracelets.

316L stainless steel offers unmatched durability for all jewelry categories, making it ideal for frequent wear. Its alloyed composition makes it highly resistant to denting, scratching, and bending, offering a tough exterior that is resilient to environmental factors and exposure to moisture. This resilience ensures stainless steel bracelets, pendants, necklaces, rings, watches, and earrings maintain their original shape and special finish, even with constant wear.

 

Hypoallergenic Champion316L's low-nickel release makes it an excellent choice for sensitive skin (especially earlobes)

316L surgical-grade stainless steel has a low-nickel release, making it far less likely to cause allergic reactions, including itching, redness, and rashes.

 

Stainless steel has been used for years for new piercings because of its protective layer, maintaining its composition, easy to clean and maintain, even during long-term wear, as the body heals from the piercing. If you experience discomfort and irritation with earrings, consider stainless steel. Shop our full collection of earrings today and find the style you have in mind.

 

Tarnish & Water-Resistant Shower and swimming friendly: 316L

stainless steel is naturally tarnish-resistant and water-resistant, making it one of the easiest metals to maintain; it is low-maintenance and almost damage-resistant when exposed to water, moisture, and other environmental elements. Feel good knowing you can wear your stainless steel jewelry to the gym, shower, and pool without it being destroyed.

 

Pro-tip:Wiping your jewelry with a jewelry cloth and cleaning it with warm, soapy water will help keep your jewelry looking its best. Make sure to check out our other blog, How to Safely Clean Stainless Steel Jewelry (The Right Way), for a full step-by-step, easy-to-remember process for cleaning your jewelry like a pro, only at home.

 

Amazing Value: Offers a high-end look and superior durability at an accessible price point.

Stainless steel jewelry costs a fraction of the price compared to fine metals. It is also easily accessible and offers a wide range of styles to choose from.

 

Sustainable & Recyclable: 100% recyclable and environmentally friendly. Stainless steel is considered to be sustainable because it's 100% recyclable. Stainless steel has a long lifespan, which means you can wear and enjoy your stainless steel jewelry for years without worrying about damage. This also means it is an eco-friendly choice because it doesn't need to be replaced with new jewelry.

How Does Stainless Steel Compare? (A Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Metal)

 

Frequent Wear (rings, bracelets, chains)

Stainless steel jewelry offers durability, affordability, and is low-maintenance compared to other metals. It doesn't tarnish like silver, and it is far stronger than softer metals like gold or platinum, which need to be well-maintained.

 

Traditional Jewelry Metal (heirlooms, fine gifts, higher investment):

Sterling silver is preferred for its classic, refined elegance or statement pieces, and is frequently placed in the fine jewelry category. Sterling silver may also contain elements of 18k yellow gold and real stones, like diamonds. Make sure to check out our exclusive collection of Sterling Silver Jewelry for unique styles you can mix, match, and layer.

 

Water Exposure (showers, sweat, humid climates):

Stainless steel will not discolor, corrode, dent, or tarnish under normal conditions.

 

Skin Sensitivity:

316L stainless steel is hypoallergenic, although it contains a trace amount of nickel. Sterling silver is also soft on the skin, like stainless steel.

 

Protip: Each individual is unique. Checking to see which alloy may cause an allergic reaction is advisable before making any purchases.

 

Stainless Steel, Gold Plating, and Zircon: The Perfect Partners

 

Stainless Steel + Gold Plating

High-quality, long-lasting gold plating starts with a durable base metal.

 

A bad or low-quality metal alloy base: Brass and other cheap alloy metals with gold plating cause a lower quality plating that wears off easily and quickly. The metal can also tarnish, turn green, and corrode quickly, especially when it is submerged in water or exposed to chemicals, cleaning agents, cosmetics, oils, lotions, and more.

 

A quality base metal, such as 316L stainless steel, won’t rust, irritate skin, or discolor as easily, standing the test of time through frequent wear. This makes our PVD gold-plated pieces far more durable, stable, and long-lasting than standard plated jewelry.

 

We only use high-quality metal and gold plating for our collections, resulting in a long-lasting shine, lustrous color, and beautiful design.

 

Stainless Steel + Zirconia

Stainless steel's durability makes it ideal for setting stones like zirconia (in addition to other natural and synthetic stones, inlays, and tablets). Stainless steel holds each stone in place securely and is considerably less likely to bend, break, or deform compared to softer metals.

 

Are you shopping for gold-plated jewelry? Glam Body Candy has all the of-the-moment styles in our Gold Plated Collection and Cubic Zirconia Collection.

 

Does Stainless Steel Jewelry Fade or Tarnish? (Addressing the Fear)

Natural Steel Color

The "bare" natural stainless steel color does not fade or tarnish (under normal circumstances). The natural protective layer forms a protective barrier, making it appear bright, clean, and blemish-free.

 

Gold-Plated Version

Gold-plated stainless steel, especially PVD gold plating, is extremely durable, offering a long-lasting alternative to other gold-plated jewelry. PVD gold-plated stainless steel won’t chip, flake, or peel as easily as other lower-quality plated versions. PVD dramatically extends the lifespan of your stainless steel jewelry, making it the perfect choice for those who love all the luxury of gold without the hefty price point.

 

How to Care for Your Jewelry (A Simple Guide by Material)

Care for Stainless Steel (Natural Silver Color)

Stainless steel is so low-maintenance and easy to maintain that it will be your newest go-to for everyday wear. Simply wash your jewelry with mild soapy water and warm water, rinse with cool water from the tap, pat dry with a soft cloth, and let it air dry until it is completely free of moisture. Storing your jewelry in a jewelry box or jewelry bag separately and away from sunlight will keep it safe from being scratched, lost, or damaged.

 

Care for Gold-Plated Stainless Steel

Avoid perfumes, lotions, cleaning agents, swimming pools (chlorine), ocean water (salt), and other abrasive surfaces that may corrode, fade, or damage the gold plating. Clean gently with a jewelry cloth or warm soapy water, and store in a jewelry pouch or box away from sunlight. Make sure to check out our blog, How to Safely Clean Stainless Steel Jewelry (The Right Way) for more tips and tricks.

 

Care for Sterling Silver (925)

Sterling silver tarnishes naturally (patina) over time. Jewelry cleaning cloths and sterling silver jewelry cleaning solution can be used ONLY if it isn't plated, has stones, or other decorative elements that can be damaged by the solution. Keeping it dry and storing it in a jewelry box or pouch by itself is recommended.

 

Summary: Why You Should Choose Stainless Steel

✔ It's an excellent choice if you have sensitive skin.  

✔ It's the ideal choice if you live an active life (gym/swimming).  

✔ It's the perfect choice if you want high value and zero maintenance.  

✔ It's also the ideal base for creating high-quality, durable gold-plated and zircon jewelry.

If you want durability, shine, and value with no effort required, stainless steel is an excellent choice.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1.Is stainless steel waterproof?

 Yes, it is naturally water-resistant. Cleaning and wiping it off after water exposure keeps it looking brand new, spot-free, and bright.

 

2. Can you shower with stainless steel jewelry?

Yes! Glam Body Candy PVD gold-plated stainless steel is waterproof and completely safe to wear during showering. Do not worry about it getting wet. However, if you want to keep your jewelry looking its best, we recommend taking it off before water submersion.

 

Please note: It is important to remember that NO jewelry should ever come into contact with chemicals, perfumes, cleaning agents, lotions, bleach, or chlorine. These abrasive substances will cause jewelry to lose its beauty and luster over time, regardless of the metal. This is especially true when there are fancy finishes or textured details.

 

3. Will stainless steel rust or turn green?

High-quality 316L stainless steel will not rust or turn skin green; it is corrosion-resistant.

 

4. Is stainless steel safe for sensitive ears?

Yes. 316L surgical-grade stainless steel is hypoallergenic and one of the safest metals for earrings, commonly used for new ear and body piercings.

 

5. Does stainless steel turn skin green?

No. Stainless steel doesn't tarnish or turn skin green the way brass or copper does.

 

About the Author

Emma Zerner was born in Guelph, Ontario and raised in Gainesville, Florida. Emma has a B.S. in Retail Merchandising from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and Graduate Gemologist (G.G), from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In 2002, Emma began her jewelry career in retail and now creates jewelry content for global brands. In her free time, Emma has appeared on several major network reality TV shows, including MTV, BRAVO, and TLC