Non-precious metals used in jewelry: their pros and cons

The world of jewelry offers alternatives for all tastes, so non-precious metals are one of them, especially when it comes to jewelry. While not as valuable as precious metals today you can find beautiful jewelry made from non-precious metals such as tungsten, stainless steel and titanium.

However, although some of them may be plated or unplated, in many cases we will also find them mixed with precious metals to give, for example, color or a certain specific property to the latter. Therefore, the presence of non-precious metals will not determine the price of the jewelry you will buy, but its appearance and also whether it will be safe for sensitive skin or not.

Of course, the purchase and subsequent use of this type of jewelry requires basic knowledge about them. So, here we bring you a small guide to the main non-precious metals with all their pros and cons.

Image by Markéta Machová from Pixabay

Brass

The use of brass in jewelry has to do with the fact that brass comes in an attractive natural color and is a good affordable option for most precious metals out there.

However, brass is not a solitary metal. It is the result of zinc and copper combining, and this also means that the properties of the brass jewelry you end up with will vary depending on the percentage of copper and zinc in the metal.

pros

  • Brass is extremely affordable because it contains no precious metals.
  • It is an ideal metal for casting (creating jewelry from different metal molds)
  • Is strong
  • Brass jewelry is quite durable.
  • Generally non-corrosive.
  • Brass jewelry made today is lead-free.

cons

  • Although brass does not necessarily corrode even when worn daily, jewelry can turn green after a long time, depending on the proportion of copper in the brass.
  • When it is unlacquered, it requires constant polishing to avoid color changes.
  • Antique brass may contain lead and toxic metals.
  • Brass can also contain nickel (and aluminium), which means a high risk of skin allergies.

Aluminum

Various pieces of craft and costume jewelry are made from aluminum, either alone or in combination with some other metals. One of the main reasons for the use of aluminum is that this metal has a silver finish with an attractive shine.

Aluminum jewelry can be made brighter or more beautifully colored by anodizing technology, which is one of the reasons why there is a series of aluminum jewelry.

It is very malleable, making it easy for craftsmen to mold aluminum into different beautiful shapes. The malleability of aluminum is the reason for the use of this metal in delicate earring designs, elaborate bib necklaces, bracelets, etc.

pros

  • Malleable, allowing for different delicate jewelry designs.
  • Aluminum is stable and will not tarnish or corrode, even when exposed to most daily activities.
  • Aluminum is affordable; It is the second most common metal on earth.
  • The lightweight design makes it ideal for jewelry.

cons

  • Its extreme malleability means that the resulting jewelery is prone to warping and brittleness.
  • Some people are allergic to aluminum.

Bronze

Bronze is a metal alloy, just like brass. The most common metals that make up bronze include tin, zinc, and copper.

Bronze generally has a distinctive brownish-gold hue, which is warm, and a beautiful metal that works well with various materials, advertisements, and stones. It is durable and its uniqueness is one of the reasons humans have used bronze for thousands of years.

pros

  • Bronze is the ideal metal to use for very detailed work, hence its use to make delicate and some of the beautiful pieces of jewelry.
  • It is affordable and produces largely inexpensive jewelry.
  • It is a strong metal
  • Bronze jewelry is durable.

cons

  • It mists
  • Risk of allergies due to nickel and aluminum that may be in brass.
  • Old brass pieces often have dangerous levels of lead.

Copper

In addition to being one of the most popular metals for Native American jewelry, this warm reddish shiny copper metal is one of the most popular metal choices for handcrafted jewelry. This metal is beautiful and has a number of properties that make it one of the most practical options for jewelry.

pros

  • It is one of the metals that is extremely easy to work with.
  • It has a rich history and was used by jewelers in most ancient civilizations.
  • Copper is quite affordable and significantly cheaper than silver or gold.

cons

  • More expensive than brass or bronze
  • Copper will oxidize over time and its natural warm color will darken over time.
  • It reddens the skin when used for too long; this is puzzling to some people

Alpaca

Also called German silver, nickel silver is the base metal alloy made from zinc, copper, and nickel. While nickel is naturally silver in color, it does not have any sterling silver and nickel-silver wire used in jewelry. Contains 65% nickel, 17% zinc and 18% copper.

It is relatively affordable compared to sterling silver and is one of the most commonly used components in jewelry.

pros

  • Versatile
  • Suitable for many jewelery components.
  • cheap

cons

Stainless steel

This is one of the metals that is readily available. It is durable, affordable and versatile, hence its use in most jewelry on the market. Stainless steel is an alloy of nickel, chromium, copper, titanium and iron, among other metals.

pros

  • Cheap
  • corrosion resistant
  • durable metal
  • Used in all kinds of jewelry

cons

Risk of allergy to stainless steel with nickel

Tungsten

Tungsten, better known as tungsten carbide, is a beautiful black metal that boasts the highest melting point of any metal on earth, being almost as hard as diamond, with a rating of 9 on the Mohs scale ( diamond has a rating of 10), and is about 2 to 3 times harder than titanium.

These characteristics make it one of the best metal options for wedding rings.

pros

  • scratch resistant
  • Lifetime warranty offered by most jewelers to cover (accidental) breakage
  • it’s affordable
  • Easily removed in case of medical emergencies
  • Hypoallergenic
  • different color options

cons

  • Cannot be resized due to its hardness

Pewter

Pewter is the fourth most used metal in jewelry making. It is an alloy of copper and tin, and has a nice, soft silver color.

pros

  • Nice matte or shiny finish for jewelry.
  • Versatile design options and can have an antique finish if chemicals are added to darken it.
  • it’s affordable
  • Pewter has a low melting point and is easy to work with.

cons

  • It can easily be damaged/dented.
  • Vintage pewter jewelry contains lead.
  • It can cause allergies.

Titanium

This 100% hypoallergenic metal is also used to make some kinds of jewelry, specifically the most expensive options on the market. It is affordable and beautiful.

pros

  • Lightweight and ideal for jewelry making.
  • strong and durable
  • Tarnish and corrosion resistant
  • it’s affordable

cons

As one of the hardest metals in existence, it is difficult to work with and, for example, titanium rings cannot be resized.