Steel is the new gold: which jewelry to choose

What kind of steel is used in jewelry?

High-quality stainless steel 316L (code 03Х17Н14М3 according to GOST) - it is also surgical, it is also jewelry. Simply put, jewelers use the same alloy that goes into scalpels, implants and parts of medical equipment, housewares and cutlery. It is durable, very resistant to corrosion and damage, and hypoallergenic. It is no coincidence that piercings - jewelry that must literally be worn on the body - are made of 316L steel (but! for primary piercings, until the puncture has healed, it is recommended to wear a titanium product).

On a note! Stainless steel was invented in 1913 by British metallurgist and scientist Harry Brearley while working on alloys for gun barrels.

Features of medical steel

Medical or surgical steel has become widespread throughout the world. It is used to make medical instruments, cutlery, and jewelry. Rings, bracelets, and earrings made of medical steel are incredibly popular among women, as due to high-quality polishing they have a noble shine that lasts for many years. When producing jewelry from this material, a special technology is used - PVD coating. It allows you to give steel an almost identical appearance to gold.

Medical steel is a very durable material, which ensures a long service life for products made from it. However, this property of the metal does not allow jewelers to make complex jewelry from it - there is not enough plasticity for this. Therefore, they have a more modest design than silver or gold items. But, on the other hand, the simplicity and conciseness of the forms makes jewelry made from medical steel ideal for business and everyday looks.

What are the advantages of steel over other materials?

Steel jewelry SL: ring with cubic zirconia;
earrings; bracelet with cubic zirconia (prices via links) Steel does not lose its “new” appearance for a very long time. At the same time, it is much more durable than precious metals, does not oxidize and does not darken over time, and is not afraid of the effects of salt (sea) water, ultraviolet radiation, various acids - the same as orange juice accidentally spilled on a hand with a bracelet or ring. Let us repeat, steel does not cause allergies (strictly speaking, an allergy to gold and silver is our body’s “rejection” of contact with base metals included in jewelry alloys of gold and silver of various grades). It is very difficult to damage steel jewelry - scratch it, get a dent. Finally, the advantage is the price, and also the fact that, despite their low cost, steel products look very, very decent.

On a note! 316L stainless steel, unlike some jewelry alloys, does not contain lead - a metal dangerous to our body

What is jewelry steel and what are its properties?

Jewelry steel is an alloy based on iron and carbon with the addition of several alloying elements, the main ones being chromium, molybdenum and nickel. A certain combination of elements in an alloy gives the metal the following properties:

resistance to the influence of negative external factors: ultraviolet radiation, moisture, salt water, sweat and various acids; not subject to corrosion and temperature changes;
safety and hypoallergenic. Therefore, products made from this material are often safely offered to those who are doing piercings for the first time, piercing their ears, or have not worn jewelry before; they are suitable for constant wear;
high strength , wear resistance and durability compared to precious metals, making it less susceptible to mechanical damage: it does not darken, crack or wear off; you don’t have to worry about the products while doing your usual household chores;
The unpretentiousness of alloy jewelry makes caring for them simple and does not take much time. It is enough to periodically wipe with a damp cloth, or simply wash with soapy water and wipe dry after that.
the appearance of the alloy, which visually acquires a characteristic glossy tint after jewelry processing, similar to platinum or white gold;
product availability . There are no precious metals in the alloy, therefore the prices for such jewelry are much lower than for jewelry made of gold or silver. Almost anyone can buy them.

Is steel fashionable?

Indeed, both in the Old and New Worlds they willingly buy it under the motto “Steel is the new gold!” Buyers like this material for its more than affordable price, health safety, noble appearance and variety of product designs. Steel jewelry can be made in any style: from classic and ethnic to avant-garde and brutal rock. Not only the inherent mirror shine of steel is relevant. Modern technologies make it possible to give “strong-willed” material a spectacular matte appearance. This makes the finished jewelry even more expensive in the eyes of everyone who sees it on you.

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Necklace shape and dress neckline

One of the best ways to show off and highlight a statement necklace is to pair it well with the neckline of your dress. Bright necklaces go well with off-the-shoulder, strapless, v-neck or scoop-neck dresses. Statement style products do not look good on dresses with collars, American armholes, or many details at the collar. But on plain turtleneck sweaters, this necklace looks great. To highlight bright jewelry, combine it with simple, solid-colored clothing.

How to choose steel jewelry?

A high-quality accessory cannot cost less than 150 rubles if we are talking, for example, about a ring of a simple design. A temptingly low price tag is inherent in non-factory jewelry from China, Korea and other Asian countries, made from steel with unsatisfactory characteristics. Such a product can rust, darken, and break.

Steel jewelry is a product subject to certification. The seller must have a certificate that says “Piercing Jewelry” in black and white (this is true even if you are buying costume jewelry).

On a note! A steel ring, unlike a silver or gold one, cannot be enlarged (stretched) or reduced (compressed). Steel is too strong a material, so when buying jewelry it is better not to make mistakes with the size

Bright jewelry with a simple outfit

If your dress already has a lot of patterns and other embellishments on it, it might be wiser to skip the statement jewelry. Large pieces of jewelry go well with simple clothes - they stand out against such a modest background. For example, you can wear a long, dangling, layered necklace with a simple solid-colored dress, or pair bright, colorful earrings with a simple white blouse and jeans. Try to keep the color and metal of smaller pieces of jewelry and the main piece the same, and wear neutral-colored clothing when wearing statement jewelry.

Why are some steel jewelry colored?

Jewelers widely use the so-called PVD coating (translated from English as Physical Vapor Deposition - physical vapor coating). It gives steel various shades and colors: yellow, bronze, dark brown, pink, blue-black and others, and also additionally protects the jewelry from mechanical damage, in particular scratches. In a vacuum environment, by exposing steel to molecules of other metals, a thin and very durable coating is obtained that does not lose its tone over time.

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Cleaning and caring for surgical steel jewelry

Although stainless medical steel jewelry is resistant to damage, it requires proper care to maintain its original appearance.

Jewelry should be stored in a jewelry box and not exposed to chemicals or chlorinated water. Use special products for cleaning.

Surgical steel is also moisture resistant. Therefore, it can be washed with warm soapy water. You should only pay attention to protruding decorative elements, such as eyelets or stones. Then dry the decoration thoroughly.

If stains or darkening occur, clean with a soft brush or sponge. You can use distilled water.

In addition, folk remedies are used to clean products, such as:

Chalk: rub with chalk and then remove with a damp cloth;
Wine spirit or natural beer: moisten a soft cloth and wipe;
Dentifrice;
Vinegar: apply to the jewelry for 4-5 minutes and then wash off;
Shampoo.

To brush with tooth powder, take:

15 grams of powder
30 ml ammonia
50 ml water

Wipe the product with a soft cloth soaked in the solution, then rinse with warm water and dry.

In jewelry workshops they use:

Ultrasonic cleaning;
Special products for cleaning metal.

How to properly care for and store copper alloy products

Jewelry will last much longer if you provide it with proper storage and care.

Cleaning methods using improvised means

If the product has darkened, lost its shine, or simply become dirty, you can clean it yourself. For these purposes, the usual available means are used:

Natural chalk. You can simply rub a ring or earrings with a piece of chalk. Then remove the chalk with a clean damp cloth.
A mixture of tooth powder, ammonia and water in proportions 15g/30g/50ml. Wet a soft cloth or sponge in the resulting solution and wipe the decoration with it.
Beer or wine alcohol will gently remove dirt and make the product shiny.
Vinegar. This substance, if you wipe the surface of the product with it, will return its shine.
The soap solution will clean all dirt.

There is no need to use substances if you are not sure of their composition.

Soap solution for cleaning medical gold

Application for cleaning special equipment

There are special products used to clean copper alloy.

Non-abrasive special products for cleaning metal. These are products that do not contain solid impurities, such as scrubs. Such substances contain ammonia, wax, and organic solvents. Sodium hyposulfite, Asidol and Jewelry pastes, and sprays are well suited. Price range: from 100 to 2 thousand rubles.
Ultrasound machine. This is a special device that cleans things with ultrasound. It is enough to put a ring or earrings in the device for 2 minutes, and they will shine with purity and shine. Cleaning occurs even in hard-to-reach places, for example, where stones are located. You can buy such a device for an average of 5 thousand rubles.
Have your jewelry cleaned by a professional. Jewelry stores often provide product cleaning services. They clean jewelry with special products or ultrasound. The average cost of cleaning one product: 100-200 rubles, polishing: up to 500 rubles.

Methods of gilding products for precious metal

Gilding of jewelry steel to imitate precious metal is the main process of jewelry production. The jewelry itself is made from different alloys: bronze, brass, nickel silver, zirconium or cupronickel. Gilding helps to make the product look like gold.

There are two main methods:

Gold Filled – by rolling method. In America this method is called Goldfield. In Europe and Russia - rolling. The metal obtained by this method is called rolled or fused gold. The product is placed in an airless environment, heated to 900 degrees and then compressed under hydraulic pressure. The result is a high-quality alloy with a guarantee of up to 5-10 years. Moreover, products gilded by rolling are hallmarked. In Europe and America, the GF mark is placed next to the number of carats. For example: GF14k. The carat system has standards of 9, 10, 14 and 18. In the CIS countries, the amount of gold (grams) contained in the copper alloy is noted. Among gold-plated products, 375, 583, and 750 samples are common.
Gold Plated – galvanization. Electroplated gold is a gold-plated alloy. The process itself can take place mechanically or electrochemically. The mechanical method involves gilding with gold leaf. The thinnest gold sheets are glued to the surface of the product. To obtain a matte finish, the sheet is applied to an oil base. The polished surface of the product is obtained when gluing occurs on polyment. The electrochemical method is the application of gold plating using electric current, as if the gold is sprayed. The main thing when gilding this type is to properly prepare the surface of the product. It must be well polished and cleaned.

As can be seen from the characteristics, rolled gold has the best quality. But any of these methods helps to obtain high-quality medical alloys for gold.