Metals for jewelry making have a long history spanning centuries. You’ve come to the right place if you’re starting or want to know more about using different metals for jewelry making.

Xinar has sold high-quality precious and semiprecious beads and findings for over twenty years.

All our jewelry-making supplies are proudly manufactured in the U.S., and our sterling silver beads and silver findings are hypoallergenic, making them perfect for all kinds of wearers.

Xinar’s hypoallergenic guarantee extends to our 925 sterling silver charms—select from the broadest array of beautifully crafted and highly detailed charms online today and have them shipped globally with a click.

Complete your projects with gorgeous silver charms across different thematic collections, including occupation and work charms, love and peace charms, birthday and holiday charms, and classic animal and pet charms.

You can find jewelry made from any metal, from inexpensive brass to priceless platinum. Knowing a little about the metals in jewelry can help you make a more informed decision the next time you shop.

Whether you’re looking to invest in fine jewelry or stock up on trendy costume pieces, you will see at least one of these metals in your shopping. However, if you have a metal allergy or other special requirements, it’s imperative to research products thoroughly before purchasing.

Sterling Silver

Silver comes in a wide variety of forms today. To inform your customers about Silver quality standards and available options, you must be well-versed in the metals that compete with Silver. It would help if you didn’t assume that anything labeled “silver” is sterling Silver jewelry findings. Customers must first realize that most silver jewelry contains an alloy, a combination of at least elements.

Among the elements, Silver can be found in nature. Silver is often combined with other metals to create alloys.

In the United States and most international markets, sterling Silver is the gold standard for jewelry. This alloy contains Silver at a concentration of 92.5%. Sometimes other metals like nickel make up the remaining 7.5%, but copper is the norm. Adding the other metals to the alloy makes it harder, making it a more robust material. Color and luster, two features highly valued by buyers, are also produced by alloy additions. The Silver most of us are used to seeing is sterling Silver, and it also happens to be the most popular form of Silver sold in U.S. jewelry stores. It shines brilliantly at first but eventually loses its luster. Polishing products are widely available and can remove tarnish quickly.

Although sterling Silver is more durable than fine Silver, it is still quite malleable compared to other metals. Silver chains and other thin metals can be “drawn” to their maximum length by applying tension. Sterling silver can be repeatedly worked through annealing, shaping, and soldering. The.925 and Stg quality marks are the most common.

Copper

Copper is a beautiful metal for handcrafted jewelry thanks to its reddish hue and many valuable properties. Because of its many desirable qualities, it is frequently used in Native American jewelry.

Experts state that copper is very simple to manipulate. It was the first metal that ancient jewelers ever worked with.

In contrast to gold and Silver, copper is relatively inexpensive. In contrast, the price is higher than that of alloys such as bronze and brass.

This beautiful metal is not without its drawbacks. Copper oxidizes quickly, so it loses its bright sheen after some time. Wearing too long can also cause the skin to turn a shambling, emerald hue. This isn’t a true metal allergy but it can still make some people uneasy.

Gold

When it comes to jewelry, gold is up there with the best of them. Jewelers have valued gold for centuries, as documented by the American Museum of Natural History. Some factors contribute to this exceptional standing, including the ones listed below:

Gold’s flexibility makes it ideal for a wide variety of uses. In addition, it is malleable and can be formed into almost any design by skilled jewelers.

Many shades of gold exist in addition to the standard warm yellow.

Gold is one of the rarest and most expensive metals in the world.

Gold in its pure form is safe for those who suffer from metal allergies, but some gold alloys may cause reactions.

The soft metal gold makes it impossible to fashion most jewelry pieces from it. However, there are benefits to buying gold of varying karats or purities. Furthermore, many pieces are gold-plated or gold-filled because gold is expensive.

This means a more expensive precious metal is coated with a cheaper base metal. Gold-filled items are covered in a much thicker layer than gold-plated ones.

Niobium

Niobium, a metallic Silver element, can be found in the periodic table. Because of its anodization capabilities, niobium jewelry components are available in a rainbow of hues. In addition, numerous qualities of niobium make it a desirable metal for jewelry, as reported by the Royal Society of Chemists:

Because of its corrosion resistance, jewelry made of niobium is an excellent option.

These allergies will not be a problem with this metal. Niobium jewelry is hypoallergenic and safe for those who suffer from metal sensitivity.

Because it isn’t a precious metal, it’s cheaper than alternatives like gold and Silver.

Niobium has a lot of strength. It’s an element in alloys that find their way into jet engines, oil rigs, and other machinery.

Smaller jewelry items, such as rings and earrings, frequently feature niobium.

Palladium

Regarding jewelry, Palladium, a precious white metal, is quickly gaining popularity. Numerous benefits can be gained by choosing this metal for your jewelry.

Palladium is a good option for rings and other frequently worn jewelry due to its durability.

It has lower prices than platinum and gold.

Less dense than platinum, Palladium can be used for large objects without sacrificing quality.

Most palladium items comprises of a 95% alloy of 5% other metals and 90% palladium. It’s essential to know if you have any metal allergies before purchasing. Allergic reactions are possible if other metals are used.

Pewter

When it comes to jewelry, pewter ranks at number four. Pewter, an alloy of tin and copper, is a pleasing silvery gray. In the jewelry industry, it excels for many reasons:

The final polishing step determines whether the pewter will be matte or shiny. Finally, the manufacturer can chemically darken it to give it a vintage look.

Since its melting point is so low, pewter requires little effort to shape and mold. This allows jewelers to use the metal to create various intricate designs.

Price-wise, this is an excellent option for those looking for unique, handcrafted jewelry.

There are a few drawbacks to pewter jewelry that should be considered if you’re considering purchasing some. First, the pewter is easily dented and scratched since it is so malleable. In addition, the lead found in much older pewter jewelry makes it a wrong choice. Finally, those allergic to metals may experience discomfort when exposed to new and old pewter.

Platinum

Platinum is widely favored for fine jewelry, especially engagement rings because it is one of the world’s most sought-after precious metals. Platinum’s high status among jewelers and consumers can be attributed to its properties, as the Royal Society of Chemists stated.

Platinum is a precious metal that doesn’t rust, corrode, or need to be polished to look beautiful.

This metal is precious due to its rarity.

Platinum, one of the strongest metals on Earth, is perfect for jewelry that will be worn daily for the rest of one’s life.

Many types of jewelry can benefit from the use of platinum.

Platinum is one of the most costly metals because of its scarcity as a jewelry material. In addition, due to its softness, platinum used in jewelry is typically an alloy consisting of 95% platinum and 5% other metals. Depending on the other metals present, this may or may not be a problem for metal-sensitive people.

Silver

In addition to gold, another popular white metal for jewelry is Silver. Berkeley.edu praises Silver’s pliability. However, pure silver jewelry is exceptionally rare because it is so delicate. So sterling silver, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, is what you’ll find instead.

In addition to sterling silver, you could come across silver-filled or silver-plated jewelry. The surface of these items is coated with Silver. Thin layers formed by silver plating are easily scratched. Because of the increased thickness of the silver plating, silver-filled products tend to last longer.

Stainless Steel

Those with a modest jewelry budget but a penchant for silver tones will appreciate the options stainless steel provides. It is an alloy of copper, titanium, nickel, chromium and other metals. Consider this metal for your jewelry needs for many reasons:

Because of its corrosion-proof nature, stainless steel is a popular material. That makes it a fantastic option for jewelry subjected to chemicals and regular wear and tear.

Stainless steel is a more cost-effective alternative to precious metals.

Stainless steel outlasts most other metals by a significant margin.

Stainless steel is widely used in jewelry; you can find everything from rings to earrings to bracelets and watches made out of it.

Those who are sensitive to metals may have issues with stainless steel. For example, if you have a metal allergy, you should avoid stainless steel because it often contains nickel.

Titanium

One more attractive and reasonably priced option is titanium. Zales.com claims that this Silver metal has many valuable properties:

In terms of weight, this metal is 45 percent lighter than steel, making it an excellent option for large jewelry pieces.

Titanium is long-lasting and sturdy, making it an excellent material for frequently worn accessories. It doesn’t warp readily and is tough against wear and tear.

Titanium jewelry is durable and requires little maintenance, thanks to its resistance to tarnishing.

Unlike more expensive metals like platinum or gold, titanium is relatively cheap.

Titanium jewelry is available in its pure form and alloys with other metals. Pure titanium is an excellent option for those allergic to other metals.

The difficulty in shaping titanium into proper forms is titanium’s primary drawback. This makes it difficult for jewelers to resize titanium rings and other pieces that require precise sizing, discouraging many independent jewelers from working with the metal.

Bronze

Bronze, like brass, is an alloy made from various metals. It typically consists of zinc, tin, and copper. This precious metal has a brownish-gold hue that complements many different types of stones and materials. As stated by Fire Mountain Gems, brass has been used for thousands of years. When used for jewelry, it offers many benefits:

Jewellery made from bronze is beautiful and delicate because of the metal’s ability to capture and hold intricate details.

Its low cost makes it a good option for trendy yet inexpensive garments.

Bronze has a long lifespan and can withstand a lot of abuse.

Inadvertent discoloration or tarnish is a common problem with bronze. In addition, nickel and aluminum are common additives that can cause reactions in people allergic to metals. Some older bronze jewelry pieces may also have high lead content.

Brass

Brass, with its attractive gold color and low cost compared to precious metals, is frequently used in costume jewelry. Brass is a metal alloy of copper and zinc, each of which can be used in varying proportions to produce a wide range of physical and chemical characteristics. The Copper Development Association notes that the ratio of copper to zinc can limit or expand the metal’s applications in the jewelry industry.

Here are some of the many reasons why brass makes a beautiful jewelry metal:

Casting, or making jewelry using molds, works particularly well with brass. This method is used to make numerous costume parts.

Brass is highly sturdy, so jewelry made from it will last for quite some time.

Because it contains no precious metals, brass is incredibly cheap.

Brass, in general, is resistant to corrosion even after repeated uses. However, it may turn green over time because of the copper content. Therefore, many jewelry makers use a clear lacquer to prevent the brass from tarnishing and to prevent the need for periodic polishing.

A few precautions should be taken when wearing brass jewelry. Modern brass jewelry is typically lead-free, but some antique pieces may be the exception. Both young and old are vulnerable to the toxicity of lead. And since nickel and aluminum have been found in brass, those with metal allergies may want to avoid them.

Aluminum

Aluminum is used alone or with other metals in handmade accessories and costume jewelry. The silvery finish looks very nice. This is because it can be anodized in a variety of attractive colors.

Aluminum’s unique qualities make it ideal for use in jewelry in some ways:

The USGS reports that aluminum is so soft that it can be shaped into many beautiful art forms. It’s a versatile metal that can be fashioned into everything from chunky bangles to dainty stud earrings.

Aluminum is inexpensive when compared to many alternate materials. Among metals, it is the second most abundant on Earth, per the United States Geological Survey.

You won’t have to worry about this metal rusting or corroding because it can withstand the elements and everyday use. In addition, it’s waterproof, so you can use it in the pool or ocean.

Regarding bulky accessories like wide cuff bracelets, aluminum is the material of choice due to its lightweight.

Aluminum is a lightweight metal that is easily bent or shaped, so jewelry should be handled with care. Also, a tiny percentage of the population may be allergic to this metal.