Hypoallergenic jewelry — which metal to make it from

A skin reaction to jewelry is most often a contact allergy to nickel — a metal used as a cheap additive in jewelry alloys and in some plating. Under sweat and moisture nickel is gradually released, penetrates the skin and causes redness, itching and small blisters, usually exactly at the point of contact: at the ear, on the wrist or under a ring.

In the European Union the amount of nickel released from jewelry is limited by the so-called Nickel Directive (now part of the REACH regulation). It is an important safeguard, but meeting the norm alone is not always enough for people with strong sensitivity. That is why, for hypoallergenic jewelry, the choice of metal matters already at the design stage — not only at the end of production.

Metals considered safe for most skin are those that do not release nickel and resist corrosion: titanium, 925 silver, high-carat gold and 316L surgical steel. The rule is simple — the purer the metal and the fewer allergenic additives, the lower the risk of a reaction.

It is worth remembering that "hypoallergenic" does not mean "100% allergy-free". The term describes a significantly reduced likelihood of irritation, not its total elimination. For people with a confirmed, strong allergy, titanium remains the safest choice.

Titanium is biocompatible — the same material is used in medical implants and surgery. It contains no nickel, does not corrode and does not react with sweat, so it practically never causes skin reactions. It is also exceptionally light and scratch-resistant, which is appreciated especially by active people who wear jewelry all day.

It is a demanding material to work and more expensive to produce than silver, but for brands targeting sensitive customers it offers a real advantage. At Argentum we run full titanium jewelry production — from design, through CNC machining, to finishing.

925 silver (sterling) is 92.5% pure silver; the remaining 7.5% is usually copper, which adds hardness — not nickel. For the vast majority of people 925 silver is completely safe. High-carat gold works similarly: the higher the hallmark (585, 750), the fewer additives in the alloy.

Caution is worth keeping with white gold, which is sometimes alloyed with nickel to achieve a bright colour. A safer alternative is palladium-based white gold or a durable rhodium coating. In our silver production the standard is 925.

The greatest risk comes from cheap jewelry alloys with high nickel content and thin plating that quickly wears off and exposes the allergenic core. Imported products without an EU declaration of conformity can also be problematic.

If a gold or rhodium coating is too thin, after a few months of wear the customer starts reacting to the base metal — even if the piece was sold as "hypoallergenic". The solution is adequate plating thickness and raw-material control on the manufacturer's side.

If you are building a brand, a "hypoallergenic" claim is a concrete selling point — but it must be backed by material and process. Before the first run, agree with the manufacturer on the alloy composition, hallmark, plating thickness and compliance with the Nickel Directive.

In production to order we select the material for the brand's target group and control every stage in-house — from raw material to plating. So that "hypoallergenic" on the label means exactly what it promises.